Education was at the forefront of many parents’ minds for the gubernatorial race in Virginia on Tuesday, November 2. They made it clear that they want a say in their child’s education, which has been a key talking point of Glenn Youngkin’s campaign, enabling him to beat Terry McAuliffe in the election.

“We’re going to press forward with a curriculum that includes listening to parents’ input,” Youngkin shared at his acceptance speech on the night of the election. “A curriculum that allows our children to run as fast as they can… We are fighting for parents and students and teachers in our schools.”

Parents became concerned about their rights in education once Youngkin’s opponent, McAuliffe, made a controversial statement during a gubernatorial debate. McAuliffe stated, “I’m not gonna let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decisions…I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”

McAuliffe’s statement turned away many voters. Outside the polls on Tuesday, one voter explained to MSNBC that, “I believe McAuliffe hurt himself a lot with saying parents had no place to talk about education. That hurt him a lot, and that took away my support.”

The election also comes in the wake of school board meetings making national headlines in Loudoun County, Virginia with parents concerned about a recent series of sexual assaults and a politically charged curriculum. Youngkin’s campaign capitalized on the issue, telling parents that “We’re going to take the power of our children’s education.” 

“Parental rights in education were on the ballot this election,” Laura Zorc, the director of education reform at Building Education for Students Together, shared with Fox News. “Parents across the country have been saying, ‘We don’t want your politics in our schools.’ Tonight, parents delivered on their promises to vote these elites out of office.”

On Tuesday, Glenn Youngkin won at 50.83% over Terry McAuliffe’s 48.40%. But the fight for parental rights didn’t end at the polls. Citizens must continue to hold their elected officials accountable to change the story of American education. Take charge of your child’s education at www.NWEF.org.