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Republican candidates in states across the country are seizing on critical race theory as a talking point in their effort to appeal to cultural conservatives.

Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin vowed to expel the academic movement from schools, while Ohio GOP Senate candidate Jane Timken took it on as part of a statewide listening tour.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisRon DeSantisPalm Beach prosecutor says DeSantis could delay hypothetical Trump extradition Republicans seize on conservative backlash against critical race theory Journalism dies in newsroom cultures where 'fairness is overrated' MORE (R) and South Dakota Gov. Kristi NoemKristi Lynn NoemRepublicans seize on conservative backlash against critical race theory Government indoctrination, whether 'critical' or 'patriotic,' is wrong Montana governor approves restrictions on transgender athletes in schools MORE (R), both potential presidential candidates in 2024, have also knocked critical race theory. Noem recently started a petition on her campaign website to keepit out of classrooms.

It offers Republicans a great opportunity to educate people about what we actually believe about race, said Terry Schilling, the executive director of the conservative think tank the American Principles Project.

Schilling added that his organization was considering wading into the fight over the academic movement by running and testing the effectiveness of ads ahead of 2022.

The Republican effort comes after the party exceeded expectations in the 2020 elections, holding on to a number of crucial Senate seats and gaining seats in the House. Some Democrats argued the GOPs unexpectedly strong performance was due in part to conservatives tying Democrats to progressive policies like calls to defund the police.

Now, Republicans are looking to tie Democrats to critical race theory in an effort to paint them as radical.

Critical race theory was developed in the 1970s and 1980s by a number of American legal scholars who argued racism is rooted in the nations founding and that systemic racism continues to have a negative impact on the opportunities and treatment of people of color at all levels of society today.

But opponents of the theory say it teaches students to disparage the U.S. and works to sow racial divisions in classrooms.

White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiBiden's quiet diplomacy under pressure as Israel-Hamas fighting intensifies Overnight Defense: Administration approves 5M arms sale to Israel | Biden backs ceasefire in call with Netanyahu | Military sexual assault reform push reaches turning point CDC mask update sparks confusion, opposition MORE said that it was responsible to teach about systemic racism when asked about a proposal from Sen. Tom CottonTom Bryant CottonRepublicans seize on conservative backlash against critical race theory Tim Scott sparks buzz in crowded field of White House hopefuls Opposition to refugees echoes one of America's most shameful moments MORE (R-Ark.), another potential presidential candidate, opposing critical race theory.

I dont think we would think that educating the youth and next and future leaders of the country on systemic racism is indoctrination. Thats actually responsible, Psaki said at a White House briefing on Thursday.

The debate over the issue has already swept across the U.S., with GOP-controlled legislatures in half a dozen states taking up measures that would limit or ban the theory in schools.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signed a bill that would keep funding from schools that taught viewpoints that are often found in critical race theory, while the Texas state Senate approved similar legislation. Tennessees state House advanced its legislation on the issue earlier this month, and lawmakers in Arizona, Arkansas and Oklahoma are drafting legislation that would combat the movement being taught in classrooms.

Republicans are also pushing the issue at the federal level, with roughly 30 GOP representatives signaling their support for Rep. Dan Bishops (R-N.C.) Stop CRT Act, which would ban federal employees from having to receive racial equity and diversity training.

Particularly over the last year in lockdown, education has really rocketed to the forefront of definitely suburban mothers minds, said Nicki Neily, president of the conservative group Parents Defending Education.

A lot of this new stuff was sprung on them with no heads up, no buy-in, no introducing it to the community, she continued. They feel like theres sort of no input into the process.

A poll released last month from Parents Defending Education found that 58.3 percent of respondents said they did not believe students should be taught that the country was founded on racism and remains structurally racist today.

The debate reached a boiling point during a tense school board meeting this week in the Washington, D.C., suburban enclave of Loudoun County, Va., after the interim superintendent announced he was launching an equity plan. The superintendent has insisted that critical race theory is not a part of the school districts curriculum.

Virginia Republican candidates have taken the issue head-on ahead of the commonwealths elections later this year.

Its going to be detrimental to our schools and its not what we want, Virginia GOP lieutenant governor nominee Winsome Sears told Fox News on Thursday. It supposedly is to help someone who looks like me and Im sick of it. Im sick of being used by the Democrats, and so are many people who look like me.

Youngkin has campaigned frequently on education issues, including the reopening of schools and school choice, as well as critical race theory. He vowed during the campaign leading up to the state GOP convention that he would take critical race theory out of Virginias public schools if elected.

While the issue has shown its potential to galvanize the conservative base, some strategists say leaning into critical race theory may not be the right messaging move in growing and diversifying suburban areas, which could play a determining factor in upcoming races.

Conservatives also say they are unsure of how the issue will play in suburban enclaves, pointing to Democratic successes in those areas in the 2020 cycle.

I dont know how its going to play with suburban America, Schilling, of theAmerican Principles Project, said. Suburban America has been becoming more and more woke over the last four years.

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