By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Republicans are hoping to retake Congress’ two houses in the next year. They plan to use Glenn Youngkin’s strategy to win Virginia’s governor race. This would make schools the frontline in U.S. culture conflicts, several legislators said Wednesday.

Youngkin, a former Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:) Inc’s chief executive defeated Terry McAuliffe, former governor, on Tuesday partly because he focussed on – and encouraged – parent anger about the school system and how it has dealt with race, gender and the COVID-19 epidemic.

It is a different approach to former President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Republicans for wanting cuts in education, and trying pay for Trump’s border wall with Mexico by using money budgeted for schools or childcare centers.

On Wednesday, several prominent Republicans indicated that they appreciated a campaign message directed at parents.

Kevin McCarthy, House of Representatives Republican Leader said that “the one thing you’ll find is that the Republican Party will become the party of Education.” According to McCarthy, the House Republicans would shortly issue a bill of parental rights.

Republicans were encouraged by Youngkin’s win in Virginia (a state that has drifted towards Democrats in recent decades) and strong Republican performance in other states on Tuesday.

The Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives have razor-thin majority Democrats. Historical trends and President Joe Biden’s flagging poll numbers gives Republicans an advantage next year in the contest for control of Congress.

McCarthy predicted that more than 70 Democratic-controlled House seats will be competitive next year.

    Youngkin latched onto concerns from parents that schools are teaching left-wing ideas to fight racism at the expense of more traditional subjects.

    He vowed to ban the teaching of “critical race theory,” a legal framework that examines how racism shapes U.S. laws and policies. Officials from Virginia schools say that critical race theory is not being taught in school classrooms.

Republicans tried to use anger about Biden’s $1.75 trillion climate-change and social-spending legislation that provides universal preschool for children aged 3 and 4.

“Democrats need to listen to their voters. “Stop this spending and reckless taxing,” said Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader. He made the remarks in a speech to the floor on Wednesday.

The Republican rhetoric was rejected by Democrats

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy stated that Republicans can claim it is evidence Democrats are too ambitious, while Democrats can argue it proves we should have passed this legislation prior to the election. “Everybody can spin this.”

Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito stated that the Youngkin message about education resonated well with parents who were engrossed in educational issues for months while at home during the COVID-19 epidemic.