As his four-year term as governor of Virginia came to a close last week, Glenn Youngkin left behind a record widely regarded as one of the strongest state-level efforts in the United States to confront antisemitism in education and public life.
The conclusion of Youngkin’s tenure was marked by the release of a comprehensive report issued under Executive Order 48, which he signed in May 2025 to strengthen protections for Jewish students and combat antisemitism across Virginia’s K–12 schools and institutions of higher education. The order built on Executive Order 8, signed on Youngkin’s first day in office in 2022, which established a state commission dedicated to addressing antisemitism.
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), which has worked closely with state leaders across the country, praised Youngkin for what it described as “exemplary leadership” and a sustained commitment to translating principles into policy.
“Since Day One, I have made it clear that we will not rest until antisemitism and anti-religious bigotry are driven out of our campuses, classrooms, and Commonwealth,” Youngkin said upon the report’s release. “This report not only lays out the history of our efforts since the first days of our administration, it also details the progress we have made since our comprehensive EO 48. While we have great work yet to do, I am proud that my team is handing off one of the strongest programs to combat antisemitism in the country.”
The report outlined a wide-ranging series of measures adopted across Virginia’s education system. Among them was guidance issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction requiring school divisions to incorporate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism into student codes of conduct, alongside clear prohibitions against harassment and discrimination targeting Jewish students.
The guidance also reinforced enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Department of Education and Department of Justice regulations, and relevant state anti-discrimination laws. School divisions were encouraged to strengthen curricula addressing Jewish history, the Holocaust, and contemporary antisemitism, using accurate and high-quality educational materials.
At the higher education level, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia adopted a model resolution recommending that public colleges and universities incorporate the IHRA definition into their student codes of conduct. As a result, institutions across the state began reviewing and voting on the resolution’s adoption.
Executive Order 48 also established a working group tasked with designing a statewide reporting and tracking mechanism for incidents of antisemitism and other forms of religious bigotry — a move intended to improve transparency, accountability, and response coordination.
The Youngkin administration’s efforts extended beyond policy documents. Over the past four years, Virginia updated campus codes of conduct to balance free speech protections with clear consequences for harassment and intimidation. The state also hosted regular briefings with campus police chiefs, expanded safety and extremism-prevention training, and, in 2023, adopted updated History and Social Science Standards that significantly expanded instruction on antisemitism, Jewish history, and the Holocaust.
Youngkin’s commitment was also visible through his close engagement with Jewish organizations and community leaders. In May 2025, he delivered the keynote address at CAM’s “Faith, Freedom, and Legacy: Honoring Virginia’s Jewish Heritage” gala in Richmond, where he spoke about the responsibility of leadership in confronting hatred.
“Jewish American Heritage Month is a moment to recognize the incredible contributions Jewish Americans have made to our nation,” he said at the event. “But it is also a time to acknowledge how much work remains. Where there is darkness, we must allow the light in. Every day we must press forward — because if we stand still, we fall behind.”
Youngkin also participated in CAM’s “A Tribute to Our Military: Honoring the U.S.-Israel Alliance” gala in Virginia Beach and addressed the Virginia Summit to Combat Antisemitism in Norfolk in 2024.
“The work in front of us is to undo so much of the hate that has become embedded in our culture,” he told attendees. “We owe it to our future to stand strong in this moment — together.”
In recognition of his efforts, Youngkin received CAM’s Civil Leadership Award, honoring his commitment to combating antisemitism and religious bigotry.
One of the defining moments of his governorship came in May 2023, when he signed legislation formally adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism during a Jewish American Heritage Month ceremony outside the Executive Mansion in Richmond.
“We will not allow this hatred to grow in Virginia,” he declared at the time.
That same year, Youngkin joined Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt in a joint New York Post op-ed calling on state leaders nationwide to take decisive action against antisemitism.
“It’s time for leaders of conscience to draw a bright line,” the governors wrote. “Taking firm action against antisemitism can unite all citizens of good will in a righteous effort to restore the American promise for a new generation.”
As Youngkin leaves office, Jewish leaders and civil rights advocates say his administration has set a benchmark for how states can respond to the rising tide of antisemitism — not with rhetoric alone, but with concrete policies, education, and moral clarity.
For CAM and its partners, the message of his tenure is clear: confronting hatred requires leadership, consistency, and the courage to act.