OPINION:
Gov. Glenn Youngkin left office in January, but the coalition he built in 2021 did not leave with him. It was a broad group consisting of parents, business owners and Virginians who believed they had a voice in their state’s future.
Today, the commonwealth votes on a consequential referendum, one that could alter the balance of power in Washington and shape the remainder of President Trump’s tenure, and Mr. Youngkin’s absence from the public conversation is no longer possible to ignore.
Voters are being asked to approve what is described as a “temporary” change to Virginia’s congressional map. If adopted, it will shift the current delegation from a closely divided 6-5 split to a lopsided 10-1 advantage for Democrats, at least until 2030.
Whichever side one takes in this debate, the stakes are undeniable. With control of the U.S. House separated by only a handful of seats, whatever decision is made in Virginia will not stay in Virginia.
Supporters of the referendum clearly understand that. They have raised nearly $64 million, outpacing Republican-aligned opposition by a 3-1 margin.
National Democratic figures, including former President Barack Obama, have lent their voices to the pro-redistricting effort, appearing in advertisements and helping mobilize voters for what is, typically, a low-turnout election.
Republicans and others in the anti-redistricting camp face a much steeper climb. They enter this fight dealing with a difficult political environment, a diminished presence in Richmond and unified Democratic control of statewide offices and the General Assembly.
Financial advantage aside, the anti-redistricting camp is not just lacking resources or political majorities. It is missing clarity and a credible voice to remind voters just what is at stake.
Mr. Youngkin, to his credit, has publicly opposed the redistricting efforts. Yet beyond a comment here and there, coupled with a few rally appearances, he has been largely absent from the fight.
There has been no sustained effort, no visible push to rally the coalition that once powered his rise.
In a moment like this, that absence is not just noticeable. It’s also consequential.
During his time in office, Mr. Youngkin proved he could connect with voters beyond traditional party lines. He translated complex policy debates, such as school choice and overregulation, into kitchen-table concerns and brought thousands of new participants into the political process.
That approach was the foundation for his unexpected victory in 2021, and it is exactly the kind of engagement this moment calls for.
It’s no secret that Mr. Youngkin has higher political ambitions, as he will likely seek the Republican nomination for president in 2028. That makes his distance from this fight even harder to understand.
If the referendum passes, Republicans will be reduced to just one congressional seat out of 11, roughly 9% of Virginia’s delegation, in a state where President Trump carried 46% of the vote in 2024.
That issue of inherent unfairness alone is a powerful argument. It is one that could be communicated clearly and persuasively from a popular former governor to voters who may not be following the details of redistricting but understand unfairness when they see it.
Yet that case is not being made by one of the few figures in Virginia politics with credibility to make it resonate.
To be fair, former governors are private citizens once they leave office. They are under no obligation to reenter the political arena.
Stepping back is understandable and well deserved.
Still, leadership is not defined by holding office. At pivotal moments, it is demonstrated by the willingness to step forward when it would be easier to remain on the sidelines.
This referendum presents such a moment. It will shape representation in the nation for at least three election cycles.
Virginia voters make their decision today.
In a contest of this magnitude, who shows up matters.
When a leader who once energized a movement, left office with a high approval rating and clearly desires a higher office is missing from the debate, it raises a simple question: If not now, when?
• Jacob Lane is a Republican strategist and commentator whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune and Newsmax.
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