Youngkin Launches National Education Policy Group

Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican widely viewed as a potential 2028 presidential contender, has launched a national policy group aimed at expanding school choice across the United States. The initiative, called Empowering America’s Parents, will begin with a multimillion-dollar advertising blitz targeting several battleground states, according to NBC News.

The group will focus on promoting the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), a federal program created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2025. The program allows taxpayers to donate up to $1,700 to scholarship-granting organizations in participating states and receive a federal income tax credit. Scholarships can cover private school tuition, tutoring, transportation, educational technology, and services for children with disabilities.

The Battleground Strategy

The advertising campaign will target Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — all key battleground states that went for Trump in the 2024 election and are currently led by Democratic governors who have not opted into the program. According to CBS News, the group plans to “aggressively target persuadable voters, primarily in the suburbs, who support school choice.”

Internal polling cited by Youngkin’s team suggests that while public awareness of the tax credit remains low, support increases significantly once people learn about the program. The tax credit officially launches in January 2027, and 30 states have already adopted it, while 20 have declined to participate.

“Regrettably, 20 states have refused to opt-in to these scholarships,” Youngkin said in a statement announcing the launch. “Empowering America’s Parents will recognize the strong leaders who embraced this program and aggressively call out far-left governors who won’t stand with parents and are instead playing politics.”

Youngkin’s Education Legacy

Education has been a defining issue for Youngkin since his successful 2021 run for governor of Virginia, when he attacked his Democratic opponent for vetoing bills related to parental oversight of school curricula. The former governor helped the Treasury Department write regulations for the tax credit and was the first governor in the nation to sign up for the program, according to a source familiar with his operation cited by the Daily Caller.

Youngkin left office in January 2026 due to Virginia’s unique state law prohibiting governors from serving consecutive terms. He told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in April that he has “more to give” regarding his political future, intensifying speculation about a potential presidential bid. Notably, Youngkin does not appear in the group’s 30-second launch video, a detail that sources suggest reflects a deliberate effort to keep the focus on policy rather than his personal ambitions.

The Program’s Reach and Opposition

According to an American Federation for Children report published in July, approximately 90% of K-12 students — families earning up to three times the median income — are expected to be eligible for the program. The U.S. Department of Education has stated that over 50 million children have access to the scholarships.

The program has drawn fierce opposition from the nation’s two largest teachers unions. In an open letter to Democratic governors in June, AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA President Becky Pringle called the program “a Trojan horse carrying near-universal K-12 private school vouchers into every state that participates,” warning of a potential $50 billion annual price tag and cuts to federal programs for vulnerable students.

Political Implications

The launch comes as the 2028 Republican presidential field begins to take shape. Vice President JD Vance leads most early polls, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis among other potential candidates. Youngkin’s education-focused initiative positions him to build a national profile while staying on policy terrain that resonates with suburban voters — a key demographic in presidential elections.

As Washington Examiner columnist Salena Zito noted in an interview with Youngkin, the former governor frames the issue as a kitchen-table concern rather than partisan combat: “Overwhelmingly, parents want this,” he said. “There’s no reason not to support this other than pure politics.”

What to Watch

With the program set to launch in January 2027, the coming months will reveal whether Youngkin’s pressure campaign can move Democratic governors who have so far resisted. Three state legislatures have already overridden their governors to join the program, suggesting that the issue may continue to generate political friction at the state level. The success of the initiative — and Youngkin’s role in it — could significantly shape the contours of the 2028 Republican primary.