The Impact of Parents' Rights on School Board Elections

Republican candidates in Virginia, including gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, focused on parents' rights as a campaign issue, particularly regarding education policies such as critical race theory and transgender student guidelines. However, in the recent elections, Democratic-endorsed candidates won a majority on the Loudoun County school board, indicating that the message of parents' rights did not resonate with voters. The Democrats' wins in Loudoun County and across the state suggest that Republicans may need a new message as they look ahead to future elections.