Republican Glenn Youngkin wins race as Virginia governor

Virginia is set to become a red state, after Republican Glenn Youngkin was elected as the next governor, defeating former Democrat Governor Terry McAuliffe

U.S. media outlets CNN and NBC projected that Youngkin had won the state election on Wednesday in a demoralising setback for Democrats ahead of next year’s nationwide congressional elections.

Youngkin is a former private equity executive who’s never held elected office.

The 54-year-old surged in the polls in the weeks leading up to the election, closing his gap with McAuliffe by gaining ground with independents and women voters.

More to come