Supporters of Glen Youngkin, Republican candidate for Governor, at an election night party in Chantilly, Virginia, November 2, 2021 (AP)

Using the myth of “culture wars” and the false specter of critical race theory in schools, Republican Glen Youngkin wins the election for Governor of Virginia.

Youngkin took almost 52% of the vote to defeat Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe, an ally of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

The Republican based his campaign on the falsehood that critical race theory was corrupting the education of Virginia’s schoolchildren.

In fact, critical race theory is not taught in the state’s education system. The scholarship began in university law schools in the 1970s. It analyzes how elements of race have shaped legal practice and social and economic systems.

During the Trump years, right-wing media outlets and sites whipped up the myth of critical race theory indoctrinating children in racism. After the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020 and Black Lives Matters marches, the effort escalated. Donald Trump used it as a cornerstone of his Presidential campaign, proclaiming in front of Mount Rushmore on July 4 that “culture wars” was the gravest threat to the US.

Youngkin was careful not to mention Trump’s name, but his supporters invoked Trumpian themes including the “stolen election” of last November. In one incident, they pledged allegiance to a flag which was at the January 6 “Stop the Steal” rally that culminated in the attack on the US Capitol.

Youngkin, a former executive at the Carlyle Group private equity firm, portrayed himself as a political outsider challenging a liberal elite. He nodded to his campaign tactics with the declaration to an audience on Tuesday night.

We are going to restore excellence in our schools….We are going to introduce choice in our public school system….Friends, we’re going to embrace our parents, not ignore them. We’re gonna press forward with a curriculum that includes listening to parents’ input.

McAuliffe struggled to connect Youngkin with Trump as “culture wars” dominated coverage of the election. He said on Tuesday night.

The fight continues. We’ve got to make sure we protect women’s right to choose here in the commonwealth of Virginia. We’ve got to make sure everyone gets quality, affordable healthcare here in the commonwealth of Virginia. Everybody’s entitled to a world-class education here in the commonwealth of Virginia and we are going to continue that fight tonight, and every day going forward.

Virginia is seen as a “purple” state, where a long-time Republican advantage had given way amid changing demographics and support for Democrats in cities and suburbs. No Republican had won statewide office since 2009, and Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in November by 10%.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee asserted:

Terry McAuliffe sadly can blame his loss on a few corporate-aligned obstructionist Democrats who blocked bold action in Congress, plus his own reliance on backward-looking Trump messaging.

Democrats won’t win simply by branding one opponent after another as a Trump clone, and then hoping to squeak out a razor-thin win. When Democrats fail to run on big ideas or fulfil bold campaign promises, we depress our base while allowing Republicans to use culture wars to hide their real agenda.