In a statement Monday in the wake of the FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe urged all employers in the state to mandate vaccines.

“Today, I am calling on every Virginia employer to require all eligible employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19,” McAuliffe stated. “I have long said that the best way to defeat this deadly virus, keep our students in school and keep Virginia’s economy strong is by getting every eligible Virginian vaccinated as quickly as possible. Today’s announcement puts us one important step closer to reaching that goal.”

In an August 9th statement, McAuliffe’s gubernatorial campaign had notified staffers they would be required to receive a vaccine in order to keep their positions: “In the interest of public health and the safety and wellbeing of our team, Terry for Virginia has made the decision to require full vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment with the campaign.”

Conversely, Glenn Youngkin, McAuliffe’s Republican opponent, has not asked staffers to receive the vaccine. However, he did urge Virginia residents to receive it. “Data show the COVID vaccine saves lives. That’s why I chose to get the vaccine,” Youngkin said recently. “Virginians have the right to decide for themselves, but if you are in a high-risk category, I especially encourage you to get vaccinated.”

And that’s the difference between Republican and Democrat leaders on the vaccine: the former want people to make an informed choice, and the latter demand vaccine compliance — or else.