Virginia Voters Reject Youngkin’s Climate Rollback, Democrats Gain Control of Legislature in Significant Political Shift.

Voters in Virginia have rebuked Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, effectively ending his efforts to roll back climate policies established by his predecessor, Democrat Ralph Northam. With control of the Legislature up for grabs, Democrats maintained their majority in the state Senate and took control of Delegates from Republicans. This means Youngkin will face a divided government in the final two years of his term. The victory for Democrats was seen as a significant victory for other Democrats, including Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky and New Jersey Democrats who kept control of both houses of the state Legislature. The result has been welcomed by environmentalists, particularly as Youngkin’s attempt to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade program among Northeastern states could withstand a legal challenge.