None of the above. McAliffe wanted to and did run a national party ideologue campaign in a state local election. That was one mistake. State Governor elections are local. He wanted to run against Trump as a ready-made villain, wasting more energy talking down trump than combatting what Youngkin was campaigning about. He failed to make Virginians think it was about Trump, as his opponent did not bring Trump into the state, keeping him out, just to thwart McAliffe. He made a huge blunder in public, telling Virginia parents to stay out of their children's education. Everybody knows, it is like touching the third rail, to tell parents to leave education to professionals, for indoctrination of their young.
For a novice, Youngkin ran a disciplined campaign staying on message, relating to the people of Virginia better. Youngkin carried no political baggage.