Cruz defends Youngkin from ‘Dem Karens’ at Alexandria grocery store visit

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has come out in support of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Friday after a video of a woman shouting at Youngkin about his lack of a mask at grocery store in Alexandria went viral.

Cruz, who formally threw his support behind Youngkin in the Virginia gubernatorial race and campaigned for him, tweeted on Friday in response to the incident, criticizing what he referred to as “angry screaming Leftists.”

“Dem Karens want to tell you how to live your life,” Cruz added. “And they’ll fire you, cancel you, or scream at you if you don’t obey.”

Cruz formally endorsed Youngkin in the Virginia gubernatorial race, saying in a video message released ahead of the state GOP convention last year, “Glenn is the best chance Republicans have of winning in Virginia this year.” 

Youngkin was on the receiving end of criticism from a woman at an Alexandria grocery store Thursday while he was there to discuss his plan to eliminate the state’s grocery tax.

The woman confronted him for not wearing a mask, asking, “Governor, where’s your mask?” video posted by a WUSA reporter showed.

Youngkin then engaged with the woman and responded, “We’re all making choices today.”

“Yeah, look around you governor, you’re in Alexandria,” the woman shouted. “Read the room, buddy!” The businessman-turned-politician hit the ground running after his inauguration last month, signing a number of executive orders on his first day in office that lifted mask mandates and banned the teaching of critical race theory in Virginia schools, among other things. The order making wearing a mask optional in public schools has met with resistance from school boards and some parents, with multiple lawsuits being filed against the measure in the weeks since it was issued.

The majority of Alexandria County residents voted for Youngkin’s Democratic opponent, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), in the 2021 state gubernatorial election, according to CNN.