Virginia governor election LIVE results – Glenn Youngkin wins tight race against Terry McAuliffe in disaster for Biden

REPUBLICAN Glenn Youngkin has defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the tight race to be Governor of Virginia, with the race having massive implications for President Joe Biden.

McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, failed to stave off disaster in a state that has become reliable Democratic territory in recent years.

Joe Biden carried Virginia by a comfortable 10 percentage points last year, but Youngkin’s campaign has succeeded, with Youngkin becoming the first Republican to win a statewide race since 2009.

“This is a moment for Virginians to push back on this left, liberal, progressive agenda,” Youngkin, a former private equity executive, told a rally at an airport hangar outside Richmond.

Voters were also poised to decide a New Jersey governor’s race Tuesday, as well as mayoral elections in many of the nation’s top cities.

Donald Trump, who slammed McAuliffe as part of what he called the radical Democratic Party that is out of touch with the state’s voters, said a GOP victory would send “a great, great, strong message” to President Joe Biden and other Democratic leaders in Washington.

Read our Virginia election live blog for the latest news and updates…