Former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is launching a new conservative policy organization focused on expanding a federal school choice tax credit program, his first significant public move since leaving office in January.
The group is called Empowering America's Parents. Its immediate target is the Education Freedom Tax Credit, a federal scholarship tax credit that has already been adopted in 30 states. According to CBS News, which cited a source familiar with internal planning, the organization will pursue a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign aimed at the 20 states that have not yet joined the program.
The states on the target list include Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, all of which are competitive swing states that voted for President Trump in the 2024 election.
The tax credit program does not officially launch until January 2027. Under its terms, taxpayers can donate up to $1,700 to scholarship-granting organizations in participating states and receive a federal income tax credit in return. Supporters say the credits help fund K-12 tuition scholarships for families who want options outside of public schools.
A source familiar with the group's internal polling told CBS News that awareness of the program remains low, and that the organization sees an opening to build support before the launch date. The group plans to focus outreach on persuadable suburban voters who are open to school choice policies.
Youngkin's political future remains an open question. He has a substantial donor network built during his time as governor, and he has not publicly stated whether he intends to run for president in 2028. In April, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he has "more to give" when it comes to his political future. The new organization gives him a visible platform and a national issue heading into the next presidential cycle.
