Ralph Northam sworn as governor, pledges less toxic politics
Speaking to a crowd of 4,000 gathered in dreary, cold weather on the south portico of the state
"It can be hard to find our way in a time when there's so much shouting, when nasty, shallow tweets take the place of honest debate," Northam, the state's 73rd governor, said. "We are bigger than this."
"You don't have to be loud to lead," he said earlier.
Full text of Gov.
The folksy pediatric neurologist, who grew up on the
Northam leaned heavily on his background in his inaugural address, invoking his childhood and his time as a student at the
The speech also presented a progressive agenda, including Medicaid expansion, gun reform, economic development in rural
As a doctor, Northam said he often offered a sympathetic ear to patients. He said he'll bring the same approach as governor.
"Virginians didn't send us here to be
Northam also made several promises: to visit every city, county, public college and university during his tenure; continue to care for patients at Remote Area Medical that gives free care to low-income Virginians; and personally welcome home
Lastly, he said: "My door will always be open to you."
"The (inaugural) speech was as warm as the weather was cold," Stanton said. "I think I reacted as most of (the) crowd did -- it is an absolute need and moral imperative to expand Medicaid."
He also was excited to hear Northam cite the VMI Honor Code.
"He's a down-to-earth guy," Stanton said. "He's not going to lie or steal from you and won't put up (with) policies that hurt
Northam also pledged to govern in the mold of former Gov.
Northam, who has kept many of McAuliffe's staff in senior positions, has pledged to push for many of his predecessor's priorities, including expanding Medicaid and enacting stricter gun laws.
A former state senator and lieutenant governor with strong relationships with key lawmakers, Northam will still likely face a tough path pushing those priorities through the
Northam faces a host of others challenges.
An example: a keenly felt split in the state over what to do with its numerous Confederate monuments and statues, which Northam has said he'd like to see moved to museums.
During his speech, he alluded to
"This unique heritage endows us with a responsibility to shape the future -- to leave this place better than we found it," Northam said. "That's the
Before the inauguration, McAuliffe handed off the keys to the
He then joined all 10 living governors for a photo in the
The inauguration was followed by a parade, which included a three-helicopter flyover, 1,500 VMI cadets and 26 groups from around the state, including the
The new governor also signed three executive orders: banning discrimination in state government; enumerating power to his chief of staff,
After the parade, hundreds waited in line to greet the new first family in the
The couple received guests -- the event was open to the public -- in the
"Hi, I'm Ralph," Northam told visitors. "Nice to see you. This is my wife, Pam."
Among the topics discussed in the quick 30-second encounters:
--The cold weather. The Northams said they had heated seats. "At least one part of us was warm," the governor said.
--The campaign. "We helped you with the election," said two young
--The
She's a former patient of the doctor and still keeps in touch.
"He's had a big impact on my life," said Bazemore, of
A framed family photo of the Northams, taken when their son Wes graduated from
Seven hundred and eighty-eight days after he announced his candidacy, the Northams were home.
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