RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin met with Governor Ralph Northam at the Executive Mansion on Thursday to begin the transition of power.
The politicians from opposing parties came together over some beef tenderloin and pumpkin pie. Northam congratulated Youngkin on his victory and welcomed him to his new home. The leaders met for lunch behind closed doors before addressing the press.
“This has been a tremendous privilege. We look forward to Mr. Youngkin and his wife taking over and continuing on a lot of the good progress that we made,” Northam said.
The governor and future governor talked about their love for basketball and what’s next for Virginia. The first ladies reminisced about their time in Texas, where they are both from.
“Today was the beginning of a friendship and I appreciate that and I think what is most important in a moment like this is to actually be able to have someone you can call and ask questions,” Youngkin said. “To be welcomed with grace into this home is incredibly humbling for Suzanne and me. I am a home-grown Virginian.”
Northam and Youngkin didn’t take questions after their remarks. However, Youngkin said his administration would be “open and accessible” to the press.
On Wednesday when Northam encouraged Youngkin to continue the progress Virginia has begun in a statement.
- bringing $77 billion in new capital investment and 100,000 jobs,
- allocating the largest financial reserves in state history,
- making Virginia the best state for business and for workers,
- investing a record amount in public education,
- expanding access to healthcare, early childhood education and free community college,
- delivering universal broadband and clean energy,
- delivering vaccination rates in the top ten among the states, and
- making voting easier, even as other states make it harder.
Watch the full presser below:
