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McClellan urges constituents to ‘speak up’ to save democracy

By BILL ATKINSON, Progress Index (Metered paywall - 10 articles a month)

Several times during Rep. Jennifer McClellan’s town hall meeting June 2 at Virginia State University, the same question was asked but in different ways: “What can Democrats do to keep Donald Trump and the Republicans in check?” Most of the time, McClellan, D-Virginia, responded with the same answer. Claiming she did not want to get political in a meeting designed to inform constituents about passed and proposed legislation, McClellan said the best thing to do was “mitigate the harm” during the next four years, then go back to the ballot box and vote in the next round of leadership.

VaNews June 4, 2025


Trump-supporting communism survivor jumps into race for Connolly’s seat

By ELIZABETH ELKIND, Fox News

A survivor of Soviet Union-era communism is jumping into the race to replace late Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. Karina Lipsman told Fox News Digital that her family fled the USSR when she was a child and that her childhood in the U.S. began with a single mother raising her in low-income housing in Baltimore. "We ran from socialism and toward the American dream. We came here because America stood for freedom, hard work and the chance to build something better," said Lipsman, a Republican.

VaNews June 4, 2025


Youngkin schedules special election to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly as new candidates join race

By JARED SERRE, FFXnow

Fairfax County voters will return to the polls this fall to choose a representative for the Virginia’s 11th Congressional District seat. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a writ of election today (Tuesday) scheduling a special election for Sept. 9 to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Gerry Connolly’s death on May 21. Candidates must file to enter the race by July 11. So far, 10 major party candidates have launched bids for the seat.

VaNews June 4, 2025


Field grows as Youngkin sets special election for Connolly’s congressional seat

By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Subscription Required)

The race to succeed Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-11th, began before his death two weeks ago, but it intensified on Tuesday when Gov. Glenn Youngkin set a Sept. 9 special election for the 11th Congressional District seat. Candidates must file by July 11 to run for the seat, and the field already includes 10 people — seven Democrats, two Republicans and one political independent.

VaNews June 4, 2025


Youngkin sets Sept. 9 special election to fill Connolly’s seat

By MARKUS SCHMIDT, Virginia Mercury

Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday set a special election for Sept. 9, 2025, to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Gerry Connolly, a longtime Democratic fixture in Northern Virginia who passed away May 21 after a recurrence of cancer. The writ of election, issued by Youngkin’s office, triggers a high-stakes contest in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, a region that leans solidly Democratic and is home to a large population of federal workers. Candidates hoping to compete must file by July 11, with eligibility details available on the Department of Elections website.

VaNews June 4, 2025


Dominion and Clean Virginia flood statewide races with millions

By BRANDON JARVIS, Virginia Scope

Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest public utility company and one of state’s most prolific political donors, is once again flexing its power in politics — giving more than $2.6 million to candidates from both parties between April 1 and May 25. At the same time, Clean Virginia, another major donor organization with a stated mission to promote clean government and clean energy, continues to fund candidates who do not accept Dominion’s money, giving more than $1 million during the same time period. While the gubernatorial race is top of the ticket for Virginians this year, Dominion appears to be focused more on down-ballot contests.

VaNews June 4, 2025


Clean Virginia places six-figure attack ad against Shannon Taylor in AG race

By ANNA BRYSON, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Subscription Required)

Clean Virginia, a nonprofit that advocates for clean government and clean energy, is launching a six-figure ad campaign targeting Shannon Taylor, a Democratic candidate for attorney general, because she has accepted $375,000 from Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest public utility. The 30-second ad will air in the expensive Washington, D.C. media market, aimed at reaching Northern Virginia voters ahead of the June 17 primary.

VaNews June 4, 2025


Special election to fill Rep. Connolly’s seat officially set

By TEO ARMUS, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

In what is already a banner year for political campaigns in Virginia, voters in the 11th Congressional District will make an extra trip to the polls in early September to choose a successor to the late Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) announced on Tuesday that a special election for the congressional seat will be held Sept. 9, formally opening another competitive race in a state that will also pick a new governor and elect two more statewide officials and 100 state delegates.

VaNews June 4, 2025


In Fairfax, Earle-Sears pushes Trump agenda with national GOP leader

By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Subscription Required)

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears came to deep-blue Northern Virginia with the leader of the national Republican party on Tuesday to push the agenda of President Donald Trump — particularly in protecting voter ballots — to volunteers in her campaign for governor. Earle-Sears and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley told about 40 campaign volunteers they want them to reach into every Virginia community — regardless of race, ethnicity, gender and age — in statewide and House of Delegates elections this year to carry Trump’s message on energy, education, jobs and public safety, while ensuring the integrity of elections.

VaNews June 4, 2025


Virginia law offers hope for U.S.-born children of parents facing deportation

By BRAD KUTNER, WVTF-FM

As President Donald Trump deports the parents of U.S. born children, advocates are pushing a Virginia law that was designed to provide hope for families the administration is targeting. The law, authored by Senator Creigh Deeds, allows a parent to name a specific person as a standby guardian in case there is a “qualifying event” which disposes of the parent. It was originally passed in the 90’s to help the children of those dying from AIDS. But in 2021, at the urging of activists, Deeds updated the law with unanimous legislative support to include parents who are undocumented and facing deportation.

VaNews June 4, 2025