From the Democratic Party of Virginia:
BREAKING: Glenn Youngkin Funding Dangerous Anti-Vaccine Extremists
Richmond, VA — Glenn Youngkin has already made clear he intends to imitate Ron DeSantis’ disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, new reporting is highlighting how Youngkin is bankrolling extreme anti-vaccine Republicans in his efforts to drag Virginia backwards.
See key excerpts below and read the full report here.
“Virginia’s Republican nominee for governor has donated $16,500 to GOP state lawmakers and candidates for the Virginia Legislature who have spread anti-vaccine messaging or fought against vaccine requirements intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to campaign finance records.
The funds came from Youngkin’s Virginia Wins PAC, which he launched in March with the goal of “electing Republicans up and down the ballot across Virginia in 2021 and future elections.”
[…]
Among the candidates who have received money from Youngkin’s PAC is Tim Anderson, the GOP nominee for the House of Delegates district in Virginia Beach. According to the financial disclosures, Virginia Wins gave $1,500 to “Friends of Tim Anderson.”
In a Facebook video back in May, Anderson used a literal flamethrower to burn what he described as “Democrats radical agenda,” which he said includes “vaccine passports” and “mandatory vaccination for kids in schools.” While he’s vaccinated himself, Anderson has said getting the COVID-19 vaccine was a “personal decision,” and said he’d fight any vaccination requirements in court.
Youngkin’s PAC also gave $3,000 to GOP House of Delegates nominee Scott Pio, who falsely said the flu is deadlier than COVID-19, and questioned the need to get the COVID-19 vaccination.
[…]
In February, Pio tweeted, “It doesn’t matter how much it spreads. We all will get it whether by vaccine or by another person. What matters is the ability to recover. To not die. I thought democrats believed in science? . 1% will die. Not even 1% of people on contract it will die.”
Pio’s claim is not based in reality…
Youngkin’s PAC also gave $3,000 to state Del. Michael Webert. In an August 2020 Facebook post, Webert lamented a Democratic vote striking religious exemptions for vaccines during public health emergencies, saying in a comment beneath the post, “It’s not about science. It’s about the freedom of religion.” In a separate comment, he suggested, “some years the flu vaccine works in some years it doesn’t.”
Three other Republican delegates — Ronnie Campbell, Matt Fariss, and Carrie Coyner — each received $3,000.
In July, the three lawmakers signed a letter along with other GOP state lawmakers, including right-wing conspiracy theorist Amanda Chase, that said they oppose the “mandatory experimental inoculation of students.”…
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