At least this Republican believes that, when God forgives any sin, society should too. I don't know if Northam has made this sin right with the Lord or not, but I believe he has moved past this. In general, I don't care what someone did decades ago (this goes for Northam, but also Roy Moore and Brett Kavanaugh), but only about who the person is today (that's where Northam fails in my opinion).
My issue about Moore and Kavanaugh is that they are unrepentant.
I'm amazed that I have found myself taking up for Northam. I've never liked him. But I would people here who wish to drive him from office to cite any racist actions taken by Northam in his public life. Indeed, I would like someone to point out any other incidents of Northam demonstrating racism, other than the "blackface" incident (which was tasteless, but I see no evidence of it being done in the spirit of, say, Cindy Hyde-Smith).