In a stark demonstration of how fast political fortunes can change, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe flaunted a campaign endorsement from current Gov. Ralph Northam, who McAuliffe previously called on to resign following a blackface and KKK yearbook photo scandal.
McAuliffe, the former governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018, is seeking a second term in this year’s off-year 2021 gubernatorial election. The Virginia Constitution prevents governors from holding consecutive terms. Northam, who was lieutenant governor under McAuliffe, succeeded him in the office.
Following news of Northam’s endorsement on Thursday, McAuliffe said in a tweet that he was “honored to have his support.”
Governor Northam has been leading Virginia through this crisis so he knows exactly what it’s going to take to rebuild from the pandemic: bold plans and tested leadership.
I am honored to have his support. https://t.co/q7ktlLqFpB
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) April 8, 2021
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Two years ago, Northam and McAuliffe had a starkly different relationship.
Northam was the center of national attention and scandal following the revelation of a 1984 medical yearbook photo on his page that showed a man in blackface and a man in a Ku Klux Klan outfit. The Virginia governor faced widespread calls to resign, including from top national figures within his own party.
McAuliffe joined in those calls.
“The situation that he has put himself and the Commonwealth of Virginia in is untenable. It’s time for Ralph to step down, and for the Commonwealth to move forward,” McAuliffe said in a tweet on Feb. 1, 2019.
The situation that he has put himself and the Commonwealth of Virginia in is untenable. It’s time for Ralph to step down, and for the Commonwealth to move forward.
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) February 2, 2019
Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Cox, a former Virginia House of Delegates speaker, was quick to point out the change in tone from McAuliffe.
“Two years ago, McAuliffe called Northam’s actions ‘racist, unacceptable and inexcusable’ and called on him to step down. Today, he gratefully accepted his endorsement. Meanwhile, yesterday, McAuliffe sent out a fundraising email calling me racist for advocating for election integrity and removing partisanship from our state board of elections,” Cox said in a statement.
Entrepreneur Pete Snyder, another Republican gubernatorial hopeful, also had a sharp reaction to the news.
“Ralph Northam, the very man that Terry McAuliffe said was a racist, said that he supported infanticide policies, and said that he should be removed from office,” Snyder said in a video posted on Twitter. “The two of them are elbowing out an entirely new generation of talent in the Democratic Party. But you know what? This is what the establishment does.”
.@VAGov + @TerryMcAuliffe elbowed other Dems aside and cut a deal so they can hang onto power. THE FIX IS IN. Virginia can’t afford 4 more yrs of Northam-McAuliffe rule. We need a problem solver & disruptor to bring change to #RVA, save small biz, +restore rights to citizens. pic.twitter.com/RohZXndtJh
— Pete Snyder (@petesnyder) April 8, 2021
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Other Democrats in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination include Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, state Sen. Jennifer McClellan, former state Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy, and state Del. Lee Carter. The Democratic primary election is May 8, and Republicans will choose their nominee by an “unassembled convention” on May 8.
