Election Day 2021 Live Updates: Biden Reacts to Democrats Loss in Virginia – Newsweek

Live Updates

Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the tight Virginia gubernatorial race in a crushing blow to Democrats across the U.S.

In his victory speech, Youngkin said he would start “transformation on day one” and promised “choice within the public school system” – a key debate in the race.

While speaking to reporters Wednesday, President Joe Biden said it was high Republican turnout, not the lack of action on his infrastructure and reconciliation bills, that flipped the state.

“I think it should have passed before Election Day, but I’m not sure that I would have been able to have changed the number of very conservative folks who turned out in the red districts who are Trump voters, but maybe, maybe,” Biden told reporters following his remarks on the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children.

The race is widely seen as a preview for the 2022 midterms and an indication of where the country’s politics stand a year after Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the presidential election.

Biden said he knows “people want us to get things done,” noting that Americans are “upset and uncertain” about COVID-19, schools, jobs and the cost of gasoline.

“That’s why I am continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and Build Back Better bill,” he said, adding that many of those issues will be “ameliorated quickly and swiftly” if he is able to sign those bills into law.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli and Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy are caught in a dead heat. Ciattarelli is already on track to flip several counties that voted for Biden last year.

In a statement, a campaign spokeswoman said Tuesday was a “historic night for New Jersey Republican,” as the GOP won seats in state and local elections.

Follow Newsweek for more live updates