Vaccines, abortion, Trump dominate final Virginia governor’s debate

ALEXANDRIA, VA. — Virginia gubernatorial candidates Terry McAuliffe (D) and Glenn Youngkin (R ) participated in a contentious final debate on Tuesday night, which was largely dominated by topics like abortion, vaccine mandates and former President TrumpDonald TrumpJan. 6 committee chair says panel will issue a ‘good number’ of additional subpoenas Overnight Defense & National Security — Presented by AM General — Pentagon officials prepare for grilling Biden nominates head of Africa CDC to lead global AIDS response MORE. 

McAuliffe continued his strategy of tying Youngkin to Trump, saying the Republican is “bought and paid for by the former president. 

But Youngkin fired back against the attack, saying Trump was not on the ballot this year. 

“There’s an over and under tonight on how many times you’re going to say Donald Trump. And it was 10, & you just busted through it,” Youngkin said. “Let’s have Terry McAuliffe vs. Glenn Youngkin, & let’s let Virginia voters decide who they want their next governor to be.”

Youngkin, who was endorsed by Trump after winning the Virginia GOP convention in May, said he would support Trump if he were the nominee in 2024. 

“Who knows who’s going to be running for president in 2024,” Youngkin said when asked by moderator Chuck ToddCharles (Chuck) David ToddLawmakers gear up for spending bill, infrastructure votes Graham told Trump he ‘f’d up’ his presidency: book DHS secretary: We are working in a ‘completely broken’ immigration system MORE. “If he’s the Republican nominee, I’ll support him.” 

McAuliffe attacked Youngkin right out of the gate on vaccine mandates, highlighting his own stance that they are needed to stop the spread of the coronavirus and calling it his “top priority.” 

“I’m running against a candidate who has actually been spreading anti-vax rhetoric across the commonwealth,” McAuliffe said in his open remarks. 

Youngkin has maintained that getting the vaccine should be a personal decision, but one that he strongly supports. 

While defending his position, the Republican accused McAuliffe of working to make life difficult for essential workers through vaccine mandates. 

“He wants employers to fire employees who don’t get the vaccine,” Youngkin said. “We need those health care workers. We need people on the job, not to make their life difficult. That’s no way to serve Virginians.”

Both candidates sought to paint each other as extreme on abortion as the nationwide battle over the future legality of the procedure rages on. 

McAuliffe continued to highlight his abortion rights stance, saying he was a “brick wall” on defending women’s health care and the procedure. Youngkin also tried to go on the offense with the issue, calling McAuliffe the “most extreme abortion candidate.” 

Additionally, both candidates were asked about a number of other issues including education, crime and the economy.

The debate was largely Virginia-focused, but the candidates…