By Derrick Max,
When I wrote recently that “Virginia’s elections should be about Virginia’s future, not a referendum on President Trump,” I meant it. For months, liberals have tried to nationalize Virginia election – forgoing discussions about schools, taxes, energy, the Youngkin record — focusing instead on endless attacks on Donald Trump. And as the president of a conservative think tank that has criticized the President on tariffs and other issues, it is not that I believe the President is not fair game. What I believe, however, is that the primary focus in a race for governor should be on state issues.
But politics has a funny way of cutting both ways. When national events affirm the conservative principles of strength, moral clarity, and results, those moments can reshape Virginia’s election. The recent release of Israeli hostages to their families and President Trump’s announced peace framework in the Middle East offer just such a moment.
This week, more than any other, reveals a global seriousness and moral leadership that contrasts sharply with the chaos and incoherent mental struggles of President Biden over the last four years. This week could reshape the way Virginia voters now view leadership nationally and here at home.
Trump’s diplomatic breakthrough isn’t just a foreign policy success; it’s a reminder that strength and clarity work. Voters who have grown weary of weakness abroad and moral confusion at home may see a different kind of leadership emerging, one that rewards courage and conviction – and stands against appeasement in both foreign wars and domestic cultural disputes.
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