Two Moderate Governors From Different Political Parties Come Together To Discuss Collaboration And Cooperation.

Governors Wes Moore, a Democrat from Maryland, and Glenn Youngkin, a Republican from Virginia, recently attended a political forum to discuss their strategies for governing their respective states during a time of deep political divisions.

The two moderate governors spoke at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on September 6 and September 7. This annual festival brings together political speakers, newsmakers, and journalists to discuss current events.

Moore, the first black governor of Maryland, emphasized the need to address child poverty and reduce violent crime. He acknowledged that Democrats are not usually associated with tackling crime issues due to some far-left calls for defunding the police. Baltimore, for the first time in a decade, managed to decrease its annual homicide rate by 20 percent in 2023, with fewer than 300 homicides.

Moore’s personal experiences, including being handcuffed at the age of 11 and later serving in the army, shaped his perspective on poverty and race in America. He stressed that blaming one political party for these tensions would be unfair, as there are heroes and villains within both the Democratic and Republican parties.

Moore also highlighted the importance of community involvement with the police as a way to reduce crime. Contrary to popular belief, being pro-community does not mean being anti-police.

On the other hand, Youngkin, a businessman for 25 years before entering politics in 2021, won the Virginia election by capitalizing on the parental rights movement that was sweeping the nation. During the pandemic, parents became aware of what their children were being taught, including left-wing ideologies related to race and gender. This led many parents to attend school board meetings to express their objections to the curriculum in public schools.

Youngkin’s ability to unite Trump supporters with other Republicans played a significant role in his narrow victory against Terry McAuliffe. However, Youngkin recognized that this division has only further polarized society into different echo chambers. He believes that the key to addressing political polarization lies in engaging with those who hold different political views.

One of the focal points of Youngkin’s campaign was school choice for parents in Virginia who wished to opt-out of public schools. However, after the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats gained control of both chambers of the state legislature, blocking his proposed bills. To provide some form of choice, Youngkin suggested the establishment of lab schools, which are public school-university partnerships designed to address local job needs within the community.

In August, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of a lab school in rural Virginia, where counties and colleges collaborate to graduate 100 teachers per year. These teachers will then return to work in the underserved counties that face difficulties in hiring educators. Additionally, Youngkin mentioned other specialized schools, such as a space high school near rocket launch sites and a maritime school close to shipbuilding ports.

Through the program offered by these schools, students can earn their high school diploma along with an associate degree before further pursuing their education for two more years in college. Remarkably, this program is free for the students.

Despite his efforts to negotiate and find compromises, Youngkin vetoed 200 bills during his tenure. He also expressed his belief that former President Donald Trump represents the strength needed to revive the economy and secure the border in 2025. According to Youngkin, progressive policies promoted by the far-left faction of the Democratic party undermine the economy, education, and law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Moore brought up Project 2025 as a reason to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, the current Democratic nominee for president. However, it should be noted that Moore incorrectly attributed this project to former President Trump. Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, and its recommendations included in Project 2025. Moore expressed concerns about the potential impact of Trump’s policies on Maryland, given the high number of federal workers residing in the state. Trump’s tough approach, according to Moore, aimed at reducing the economic burden resulting from overregulation and high inflation rates.