by James A. Bacon

Governor Glenn Youngkin, not known for his political pugilism, punched back today against Senate Democrats who nixed six of his nominees for the boards of George Mason University, the Virginia Military Institute and the state School Board.

For his first three years in office, Youngkin eschewed contentious rhetoric — at least regarding the issues that I was tracking. Perhaps he’s concluded that adopting a temperate political tone has gotten him absolutely nowhere.

“For three years, my administration has stood for excellence by appointing outstanding leaders to Virginia’s university and state boards,” he said in a press release issued late this afternoon. “And yet today, Senate Democrats rejected highly qualified, nationally recognized individuals who have already been serving with distinction on a volunteer basis. What reasons did they offer for their actions other than their own extreme partisanship? None. Repeatedly, they could not articulate a single substantive reason to reject them.”

Referring to Kenneth Marcus, a George Washington University professor and expert in antisemitism, Youngkin said: “Stunningly, Senate Democrats rejected a George Mason University board member who is one of the nation’s leading legal experts in combatting antisemitism. His leadership at the University is invaluable at a time when there is an ongoing investigation into activities that warranted actions to protect Jewish students on campus and a student has been arrested for plotting a terrorist attack on the Israeli consulate in New York.      

He continued: “Other rejected board nominees include recognized leaders at the top of their fields in law, psychology, finance, law enforcement and education with significant personal and professional distinction, including service in both Republican and Democrat administrations.  

“Senate Democrats have rejected excellence,” the governor concluded. “This isn’t just simply petty politics; their actions hurt Virginia and institutions like George Mason University and Virginia Military Institute. “Virginians are looking to the House to right this wrong.” 

For details on who got the axe, see my post, “Dems Delete Six Youngkin Appointees.”