NORFOLK, VIRGINIA - MARCH 01: Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe speaks during a campaign event of Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden at Booker T. Washington High School March 1, 2020 in Norfolk, Virginia. After his major win in South Carolina, Biden continues to campaign for the upcoming Super Tuesday Democratic presidential primaries. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Democrats are accusing Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin’s campaign of employing antisemitic tactics after an offensive email was released under his name.
Haile Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said: “Virginia Republicans are using bigotry and antisemitism to try to score political points, and Youngkin is not disassociating himself from it.”
Youngkin, currently locked in a dead heat race with Democratic nominee and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, has gained an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
But charges of antisemitism lodged against him and his campaign have made the future of the race even murkier.
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On Monday, Youngkin appeared on Sebastian Gorka‘s radio show. Gorka is a former Trump official who has been linked to antisemitic groups in Hungary.
On Tuesday, an email was sent out under Youngkin’s name, calling out Jewish billionaires George Soros and Mike Bloomberg for their contributions to Democratic candidates.
The email reads: “The out-of-touch politicians know they’re in trouble, which is why they’re calling on the likes of George Soros and Mike Bloomberg to bankroll their failing races.”
Though it is unclear whether or not Youngkin approved this message, the candidate has been trying to maintain distance from far right-wing supporters. He recently skipped a rally with former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon.
Back in July, Youngkin’s PAC donated $3,000 to Julie Perry, a Republican candidate who compared being a conservative teacher in Virginia to being Jewish in Nazi Germany.
Manuel Bonder, the Democratic Party of Virginia’s spokesman, released a statement criticizing Youngkin’s funding of antisemitic candidates. “Glenn Youngkin’s decision to fund antisemitic attacks all across Virginia is despicable and completely disqualifying. This commonwealth can’t afford a governor who is willing to peddle vile antisemitism in order to empower his right-wing allies and drag us backwards,” he said.
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