Home Democratic Party Ahead of Youngkin’s Final State of the Commonwealth Address, DNC Chair Says...

Ahead of Youngkin’s Final State of the Commonwealth Address, DNC Chair Says Trump “Bootlicking” Youngkin “will try to gaslight Virginians tonight and paper over the failures of his tenure”

With Youngkin, "Virginia has never had worse leadership"

1

With failed governor, Trump toady, etc. Glenn Youngkin to deliver his final (thank goodness!) State of the Commonwealth address to the Virginia General Assembly this evening, see below for video and a press release from the DNC, which correctly states that Youngkin “will try to spin his abysmal record of higher costs, rising unemployment, and less health care and fewer freedoms for hardworking Virginia families.” Also, as DNC Chair Ken Martin says:

“Ahead of Glenn Youngkin’s final State of the Commonwealth, Virginia has never had worse leadership, and it’s all thanks to Donald Trump and bootlicking Virginia Republicans, like Youngkin. Working Virginians are struggling as costs continue to rise, health care becomes more expensive, and jobs disappear. While Glenn Youngkin will try to gaslight Virginians tonight and paper over the failures of his tenure, the results are clear: Virginia’s Republican leadership has been abysmal. That’s why Virginians elected Democrats like Abigail Spanberger and a Democratic trifecta to right the ship.”

By the way, Youngkin’s a pathological liar, which means that every word that leaves his lips tonight should be assumed by everyone to either be a flat-out lie, a distortion, self-serving drivel and/or b.s. As such, there’s really no excuse for the media to simply act as stenographers or to uncritically amplify Youngkin’s crap. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what most of these “journalists” have done for four years, so it’s highly unlikely they’ll suddenly change their behavior tonight. But they SHOULD.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2026

Glenn Youngkin’s State of the Commonwealth Means Higher Costs for Virginia Families, Soaring Unemployment, and Fewer Freedoms

Youngkin’s Virginia put billionaires first, and working Virginians last

Tonight, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will deliver his final State of the Commonwealth address, where he will try to spin his abysmal record of higher costs, rising unemployment, and less health care and fewer freedoms for hardworking Virginia families.

Thanks to Donald Trump and Glenn Youngkin, Virginia has never been worse off: Unemployment is up, working families are on track to lose over $590 per year due to Trump’s Big Ugly Bill and failed economic policies, and 350,000 Virginians are set to lose their health care, while an additional 300,000 Virginians face skyrocketing premiums. Meanwhile, Youngkin tried to move Virginia backwards wherever he could, including trying to implement an abortion ban before getting thwarted by Virginia voters.

By nearly every measure, Donald Trump and Glenn Youngkin have turned Virginia into a punchline — a staggering failure of leadership. 

In stark contrast, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger will stand up for working families across Virginia and focus on lowering their costs, creating jobs, and protecting health care.

DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Ahead of Glenn Youngkin’s final State of the Commonwealth, Virginia has never had worse leadership, and it’s all thanks to Donald Trump and bootlicking Virginia Republicans, like Youngkin. Working Virginians are struggling as costs continue to rise, health care becomes more expensive, and jobs disappear. While Glenn Youngkin will try to gaslight Virginians tonight and paper over the failures of his tenure, the results are clear: Virginia’s Republican leadership has been abysmal. That’s why Virginians elected Democrats like Abigail Spanberger and a Democratic trifecta to right the ship.”

Glenn Youngkin has been a disaster for Virginia

Costs:

  • Virginia working families have already lost at least $553 in higher costs due to Trump’s inflation.
  • Virginia families will lose a combined $590 each year from Trump and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill and Trump’s reckless tariffs.

Unemployment:

  • Virginia’s unemployment rate has increased by 0.5 percentage points since Donald Trump took office.

Health Care:

  • Virginia’s 326,268 ACA marketplace enrollees are seeing their health care costs skyrocket because Donald Trump refused to extend enhanced ACA tax credits.
  • Because of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill and Republicans’ refusal to extend enhanced ACA tax credits, 350,000 Virginians will lose their health care entirely.

Food Assistance:

  • Trump’s SNAP cuts will cause 447,000 Virginia families to lose some or all of their benefits.
###

**************************************************

Here are just a few of the most false, distorted, absurd, ridiculous, etc. things Youngkin said tonight:

  • “The Commonwealth is stronger today than she has ever been.” (FLAT-OUT LIE, UTTERLY RIDICULOUS!)
  • “I was humbled recently when someone described what has taken place over these past four years as ‘The Great Virginia Renaissance.'” (Hahahahahahaha! Totally false and totally self-serving bullshit.)
  • “This was Virginia in January 2022. A Virginia that was lagging, not leading.” (TOTAL CRAP)
  • “We could protect free speech, and keep our campuses safe.” (Seriously, he thinks he actually has been doing that?)
  • “Virginia has been on a tear because we have protected Right to Work…Keeping Virginia soaring means keeping Right to Work right where it is…” (Whatever you think of so-called “Right to Work,” to the extent “Virginia has been on a tear” – which is highly debatable – it’s NOT because of “Right to Work”…nor will Virginia keep “soaring” because we keep “Right to Work” in place. This is just dumb.)
  • “Every corner of the Commonwealth is benefitting from tremendous job growth and business investment.” (In fact, Northern Virginia – and Hampton Roads, etc. – has gotten pounded by Trump’s DOGE cuts, etc. Overall, Virginia’s unemployment rate today is up from 2024.)
  • “we must continue to build gas-powered generation and nuclear power.” (In fact, nuclear power is super expensive and takes many, many years to build; while gas-powered generation is also very expensive, also polluting, and takes a lot longer to build than new solar power capacity.)
  • “Renewables alone – which will drive up costs and risk brownouts – just can’t get it done.” (There’s ZERO evidence that renewables “will drive up costs and risk brownouts,” or that they “can’t get it done” – quite the contrary, which is why renewables are booming around the world, including here in the U.S. Youngkin’s either completely ignorant or just flat-out lying.)
  • “I urge you to undo the Virginia Clean Economy Act.. It simply does not work for Virginians.” (Not only should we not “undo the Virginia Clean Economy Act,” we should work to STRENGTHEN IT.)

I could go on and on with this, but you get the idea. And again, the media should report that Youngkin lied a lot, distorted and exaggerated, etc. But they won’t.

*******************

DPVA Chairman Senator Lamont Bagby Issues Statement Following Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Final State of the Commonwealth Address

Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Senator Lamont Bagby issued the following statement in response to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s State of the Commonwealth Address:

“Tonight’s State of the Commonwealth was Glenn Youngkin’s final attempt to spin a failed record, but Virginians are not buying it. After four years in office, he leaves behind higher costs, weaker economic security, and repeated threats to health care and basic freedoms. Instead of focusing on affordability, including the rising cost of energy, Youngkin fueled division, chased Donald Trump’s extreme agenda, and governed through chaos while working families paid more for groceries, housing, and utility bills.

The speech was heavy on rhetoric and light on accountability. Virginians do not need spin. They have lived the consequences of higher costs, rising energy prices, growing uncertainty, and a governor more interested in culture wars than making life more affordable.

That is why today felt different in the General Assembly. With 85 Democrats now serving, there was real energy and excitement in Richmond focused on affordability, energy costs, stability, and governing. Lawmakers came ready to lower costs, protect health care, and move past the division and chaos that defined the Youngkin years. The contrast could not be clearer.

This Saturday, Virginia will inaugurate Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, Lieutenant Governor-elect Ghazala Hashmi, and Attorney General-elect Jay Jones. Their leadership marks a clean break from the chaos and division of the last four years and the start of a new chapter focused on affordability, accountability, and opportunity for every Virginian.”

###

********************************************************