Virginia is approaching legislative elections that will shape the remainder of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s tenure, and a shutdown could imperil the paychecks of more than 140,000 residents.
Francis Chung/POLITICO

Good, a Freedom Caucus member who represents the fewest civilian federal employees in the Virginia congressional delegation, has been part of the group of House Republicans agitating for spending cuts in return for not shutting down the government.

When asked about his conversation with Good, Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for Youngkin’s official office, said in an email that “the governor has regular conversations with members of the Virginia delegation and has a positive working relationship with them so that they can work together on behalf of all Virginians.”

Youngkin, for his part, has not lit into his party in Washington like McDonnell did a decade ago. During a Fox Business appearance earlier this month, he tried to lay the blame at President Joe Biden’s feet. And on the trail last week, he urged patience, saying the state was “in good shape” but acknowledging that people were anxious.

Other Republicans in Washington — especially Virginians — are mindful of how their intra-party squabbling could hurt legislative candidates.

When asked whether the shutdown would hurt Virginia Republicans, battleground first-term Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) — herself a former state legislator who has vocally opposed a shutdown and warned of the ramifications for her military-heavy district — said “I think Virginians are watching.”

“We have a small majority, so we’re demonstrating what Republican leadership looks like, we’re leading by example,” she added. “That impacts all of our state elections. They need us to lead well.”

Ally Mutnick, Brittany Gibson and JC Whittington contributed to this report.