Top White House officials are frustrated with former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, believing he failed to do enough to stop the Democrat’s successful redistricting effort.
“The West Wing believes Youngkin should have done more in Virginia,” said a senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal thinking.
A person close to the White House also declined to be named to discuss the Virginia autopsy.","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/21/democrats-win-redistricting-virginia-00885917","_Identification": :"0000019d-c001-d930-a7fd-ef1960190008","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-c001-d930-a7fd-ef1960190009","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>Virginia postmortemYoungkin is also blamed for opening the door to the state’s redistricting effort in the first place:
“Look, there’s a lot of blame to be placed. But if Youngkin had not left the special session open, Lewis Lucas would never have had the chance to dig into those maps,” the person said, referring to the Democratic state senator who helped lead the charge. “So he bears some responsibility for losing these seats.”
The disappointment comes after another redistricting setback for the GOP, with Republicans in Congress and members of the Trump administration blaming each other","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/23/virginia-redistricting-blame-white-house-gop-00889443","_Identification": :"0000019d-c001-d930-a7fd-ef196019000a","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-c001-d930-a7fd-ef196019000b","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>blame each other For not doing enough. Despite the mistake, the party faces the real possibility that Democrats will win the war generated by Trump, potentially making it more likely for Republicans to win House seats in an already difficult midterm cycle.
Youngkin, whose term ended in January, is rumored to be a candidate for several jobs inside the Trump administration, including secretary of Labor and secretary of the Department of Homeland Security","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/10/trump-aides-and-allies-float-potential-noem-successors-as-speculation-grows-over-her-tenure-00684001","_Identification": :"0000019d-c001-d930-a7fd-ef196019000c","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-c001-d930-a7fd-ef196019000d","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>Secretary of the Department of Homeland SecurityWhich ultimately went to Markwayne Mullin.
But he is unlikely to be considered for that or any other role, according to a senior White House official.
“He doesn’t have enough friends here,” the senior officer said.
Becca Glover, executive director of Young’s Spirit of Virginia PAC, defended the former governor’s efforts, noting that he raised and contributed nearly $500,000 to Virginians for Fair Maps and supported the Congressional Leadership Fund and Fair Maps fundraising efforts.
“The governor campaigned at several stops across the commonwealth, from Wise to Virginia Beach to Leesburg, to get people on the ground to vote no,” Glover said. “He was proud to be part of a team including Speaker (Mike) Johnson and other former governors to get out the vote.”
Glover also pointed to the dozens of interviews Youngkin conducted and his efforts in the retail campaign.
“He continues to call on the Supreme Court of Virginia to strike down this unconstitutional power grab,” Glover said.
Frustration with Youngkin is nothing new. wall street journal","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/virginia-republicans-air-frustrations-with-gop-star-glenn-youngkin-1cb938ba","_Identification": :"0000019d-c001-d930-a7fd-ef196019000e","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-c001-d930-a7fd-ef196019000f","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>wall street journal It was reported more than a month ago that Virginia Republicans were complaining that Youngkin was MIA from the redistricting fight.
But a person familiar with the GOP referendum committee said, “After the WSJ story, Glenn stepped up and did everything that was asked of him.”
Still, the White House is not happy with Youngkin, who is scheduled to speak at the RNC spring retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend over a series of remarks that include his defeat in last year’s gubernatorial election.
“It started with her passing the primary for (Lieutenant Governor) Winsom (Earl-Sears), who was a terrible candidate,” a White House official said. “She was her person and she got smoked. Everyone warned her and she didn’t listen.”
“Youngkin was not involved in the early decision-making process of candidates for statewide election,” Glover said.
