Thread by @GovernorVA

We are only here for a short time—especially governors. But every day is an opportunity to help someone, to make their life better. And that is how we have governed. #VASOTC

If you asked me who we are in Virginia, I would tell you we are people who care about each other. We try to treat each other right. We want our neighbors to succeed, just as much as we want that for ourselves. #VASOTC

Virginians choose leaders who will make our commonwealth work better for them and their families, no matter who they are or where they live.
 
I can confidently say that we have done that. We are leaving this Commonwealth better than it was when we came into office. #VASOTC

I'm leaving you with the strongest state budget Virginia has ever seen. Thanks to our strong economy we are at a unique moment—we have the funding to catch up on long-delayed investments while also putting money back into the pockets of the hardest working Virginians. #VASOTC

From Amazon making Virginia its 2nd home in 2018, to Micron’s $3 billion investment to build semiconductors, to Blue Star’s commitment in Wytheville to make billions of medical gloves, Virginia is the state where companies want to invest, put down roots, and grow. #VASOTC

I’ve listened to Virginians who told me they couldn’t support themselves on $7.25/hour. They were always one paycheck away from losing the roof over their head. That’s why we’re raising the minimum wage—an increase to $11/hour just kicked in, and we’ll get to $15 by 2026. #VASOTC

For the past four years we have increased our investments in K-12 education. We’ve put historic amounts of support into at-risk students. We’ve raised teacher salaries more than 10 percent, the largest increase in 15 years. #VASOTC

We cannot pick and choose history based on how it makes us feel. We need to understand the full and true story—and put a Black child’s right to have her history included in our textbooks before our own desire to feel comfortable. #VASOTC

We must embrace clean energy, because the cost of not doing so is devastating.
 
If you want more floods, more fires, more storms, more disaster—and more destroyed property, lost jobs, and devastated communities—then do nothing. But a stable future requires us to act. #VASOTC

Our law enforcement do an incredibly difficult, and often dangerous job. That’s why I sent you a budget that provides pay raises and bonuses meant to not just reward our officers, deputies, and jail officers for the tough jobs they do, but also to make pay scales fairer. #VASOTC

Too often, our modern-day punishments and practices have their roots in a more discriminatory and unfair past.
 
That’s why we’ve made marijuana use legal. That’s also why we have ended use of the death penalty in Virginia—the first southern state to do so. #VASOTC

Our administration has restored the civil rights and voting rights for nearly 126,000 people, and issued more than 1,100 pardons—more than all past governors combined. #VASOTC

Voting is fundamental to our democracy. Many Americans have fought—and some paid the ultimate price—to protect the freedoms we have under our democratic system, including the right to vote.
 
We've worked together to make Virginia a leader in voting access. #VASOTC

Our elections are fair and transparent.
 
It does tremendous damage when elected officials use false claims to undermine faith in our elections. Voters deserve better, and our elected officials need to do better, and not perpetuate anyone’s big lie. #VASOTC

As the nation’s only doctor-governor, I'm proud of how Virginia has handled this pandemic.
 
We've followed the science to keep Virginians safe and healthy. We've seen fewer cases and fewer deaths than many of our neighbors. Nearly 90% of adults have had at least 1 shot. #VASOTC

In just four years, we’ve moved broadband investments from $4 million a year, to $2 billion. We’re on track to have universal broadband on its way to every community by 2024—far faster than expected, and faster than most other states. #VASOTC

I was born and raised on the Eastern Shore. And one of my goals as governor was to put more focus on the needs of rural Virginia. Too often, rural communities feel left behind.
 
I've made rural Virginia a priority. #VASOTC

One in 12 Virginians is a military veteran. I’m one of them.
 
In the past four years, we’ve promoted the V3 program to hire more veterans and taken a number of steps to help ease the transition to civilian life. I hope we continue to care for veterans as they deserve. #VASOTC

Four years ago, I stood here, in this room, on this dais, in front of many of you.
 
I told you where I wanted to take Virginia. And I asked you to work with me to get us there. #VASOTC

At every turn, we’ve looked for ways to help people.
 
We are leaving you with a Virginia that treats people right, helps neighbors when they need it, rectifies past wrongs, and helps everyone have the opportunity to thrive. #VASOTC

Are we going to keep up this progress? Or will we retreat, become people who are more worried about ourselves than each other?
 
I hope we will not. #VASOTC

I hope the spirit of helping other people continues to prevail.
 
I hope we’ll continue to be people who want to serve the world, rather than conquer it. People who sow kindness and hope, rather than anger and fear. #VASOTC

You put your trust in me to lead our Commonwealth as the 73rd Governor. And I promised to make the best decisions I could for you.
 
Every day of the past four years, my team and I have tried to live up to that trust. And every day I've felt so proud and grateful for you. #VASOTC

It has been the highlight of my life to serve you. As a past governor rightly said, there is truly no higher honor, than to serve as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
 
From the bottom of my heart – thank you.