Youngkin fuels 2024 speculation with campaign-style video

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) released a campaign-style video Thursday, further fueling speculation about a possible 2024 presidential bid.

“It’s pretty overwhelming to contemplate the future of America,” Youngkin says in the video, which pulled remarks from the governor’s address at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in April.

“It’s such an honor to be here with proud Americans who carry on President Reagan’s cherished legacy. He brought peace by projected strength,” Youngkin said. “At a time when it’s easy for us to lose faith, to worry that we are indeed that one generation when freedom becomes extinct, there are lights shining.” 

“We can usher in a new era of American values,” he continued. “President Ronald Reagan changed lives, and now it’s our turn. A time to choose life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness over oppression and dictatorial rule. That stakes are high and the consequences couldn’t be greater.”

It’s time to usher in a new era of American values. It’s our turn to choose life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. pic.twitter.com/IH8enVaL5B

— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) May 18, 2023

The video, which was paid for by the governor’s Spirit of Virginia PAC, comes after Youngkin said earlier this month that he would not head out on the presidential campaign trail this year.

“I’m going to be working in Virginia this year,” he said at an event at the Milken Institute in Washington, D.C.  

However, the Virginia governor has continued to stoke speculation about a White House run, appearing not to completely rule out a potential 2024 presidential bid, with an aide telling The Hill at the time that Youngkin’s statement about “working in Virginia” was an answer to a question and meant to reiterate that he was focused on his state in 2023.

Youngkin has been floated as a potential Republican presidential contender since winning Virginia’s 2021 gubernatorial election as a first-time political candidate in a state that had consistently moved left in the previous decade.

He continued to raise 2024 speculation earlier this year by traveling outside of Virginia to meet with donors and traveling to Taiwan on a trade mission.