![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
Youngkin Elected 74th Governor of Va., Red Wave Sweeps Ballot
In the Nov. 2 Virginia election, 3 Republicans and 1 Democrat won the races for their respective offices. Residents of District 10 voted ‘yes’ on all three ballot questions.
In a close election, Glenn Youngkin (R) wins the race for Va. Governor’s office against Terry McAuliffe (D).
November 16, 2021
On Nov. 2, Va. held their gubernatorial election. In addition to the 74th Governor, Virginians elected their next Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and member of the Va. House of Delegates based on their district. The winners of these positions were Glen Youngkin (R), Winsome Sears (R), Jason Miyares (R), and Wendy Gooditis (D).
Governor
The largest and most competitive race in the state was between Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe and Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin. A Liberation Party candidate, Princess Blanding, also ran. In the months up to the election, McAuliffe had maintained a slight lead over Youngkin in Va. polls until Oct. 28, when Youngkin moved ahead. In the afternoon of Nov. 2, RealClearPolitics’s polls predicted that Youngkin had a lead with 48.5% of votes while McAuliffe had 46.8% of votes.
On the morning of Nov. 3, the Associated Press announced that Youngkin was the new Governor of Va. According to NPR, Youngkin won the election with 50.7% of the vote, meaning that 1,674,859 Virginians voted red. In contrast, McAuliffe only received 48.6% of the vote, meaning that 1,603,191
Virginians voted blue in the formerly blue state. The Libertarian runner, Blanding, was able to take 0.7% of the vote with 22,669 ballots cast in her favor.
This election was watched closely nationwide, as Virginia voted blue by a large margin in the presidential election for Joe Biden. Loudoun County specifically was considered a battleground county with such a large number of voters and recent school board events.
Youngkin and McAuliffe both ran with a focus on education. Youngkin’s biggest focus with education was banning critical race theory (CRT), and that parents should have control over what their kids learn. This is in line with the recent parent protests against CRT, which is not currently being taught in Va. schools, during school board meetings. When it comes to the economy, Youngkin promises tax cuts for groceries, property, and income. According to the Associated Press, 34% of Va. voters said that the economy and jobs were the most important issues for the state. Youngkin promises to launch a job program, #JumpstartJobs to help train new workers and help fix post-pandemic job growth.
Lieutenant Governor
Acting as the President of the Va. Senate, two candidates were on the ballot for this position. The Republican candidate, Winsome Sears, was the first Black female Republican to serve in the Va. House of Delegates. Sears faced Democratic candidate and fellow Va. House of Delegates representative Hala Ayala for the position.
As both candidates are women of color, the winner of the Lieutenant Governor race would make history as the “first woman of color to hold statewide office in Virginia and the first woman to serve as the commonwealth’s Lieutenant Governor,” no matter the winner, according to an article from Richmond 8 News.
With 50.79% of votes at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, Winsome Sears was elected the new Lieutenant Governor of Va., replacing Democrat Justin Fairfax.
Attorney General
Virginians also elected the next Attorney General. The Attorney General acts as the lawyer for state agencies, members of the Va. General Assembly, and other government officials, providing legal advice and representation.
Democratic candidate Mark Herring, who had served as Attorney General in Va. since 2014, was up for reelection. Jason Miyares, a member of the Va. House of Delegates since 2015, was on the Va. ballot as the Republican candidate.
Wednesday evening, Miyares was declared the 49th Attorney General, defeating incumbent Herring by a margin of about 46,000 votes.
Va. House of Delegates, District 10
Also on the gubernatorial ballot for Nov. 2 was the election of a Va. House of Delegates member. In Virginia’s district 10, which includes Rock Ridge, Republican Nicholas Clemente and Democrat Wendy Gooditis were running for this position.
After a close race, incumbent Gooditis won the seat in the Va. House of Delegates for District 10 with 50.99% of the vote on Fri., Nov. 5.
Loudoun County Ballot Questions
As part of the District 10 ballot, Loudoun residents also had to answer 3 questions concerning finances for school, transportation, and public safety projects.
Loudoun residents voted ‘yes’ on taking on debt for school improvements and construction of a new elementary school, ‘yes’ on taking on debt for the improvement of local roads, and ‘yes’ on taking on debt for the construction of a new fire and rescue training facility and station.
![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-600x400.jpg)
![Senior Fatima Qaderi grew into the person she wanted to become when she was younger and continues to work towards growing more confident in using her voice when it matters. “I didnt get treated the way I wanted to be treated, and I realized that it wasnt just them treating me the wrong way, it was me treating me the wrong way,” Qaderi said. “I forced them to like to look at me in a way where Im someone who needs to be respected; they cant just disregard me, they cant just look over me because I have a different opinion, because Im a woman, because Im Afghan, because Im Muslim, or whatever. It just took going through different experiences to figure out how [I wanted to] be heard.” Photo courtesy of Fatima Qaderi.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3870-600x471.jpeg)
