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Connolly will back former aide to succeed him in Congress
Next year’s Democratic primary election contest to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia) in Congress kicked off Tuesday when Fairfax County Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw became the first candidate to announce a bid — with Connolly himself seeking to clear a path for his former chief of staff with an early endorsement. “This is not a moment for on-the-job training. We need a strong representative, experienced in addressing national issues that affect our community, who can stand up to Trump and lead from day one,” Connolly said in an open letter to be sent to constituents Wednesday that was obtained by The Washington Post.
Democrats respond to note from Earle-Sears on an anti-discrimination marriage bill
Democrats are responding to the note left by Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears on legislation last year. The bill, which Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law, prohibits officials from denying marriage licenses based on sex, gender or race. While fulfilling her constitutional responsibility of signing legislation that passes the state Senate, Earle-Sears wrote that she is “morally opposed to the content of HB 174 as passed by the General Assembly.”
Yancey: Republican House primary in Danville draws more opening day voters than any other GOP races in the state
Republican voters in Danville are showing more interest in the House of Delegates primary in their area than voters in any of the other eight Republican primaries in the state. That’s based on the numbers from the first day totals on Friday. While just one day, those first-day totals are often a good indicator of overall interest in a race. There are 17 primaries — eight Republican, nine Democratic — to settle House of Delegates nominations this year.
Youngkin signs bill to protect local pharmacies in Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed into law a bill that creates a single pharmacy benefit manager for the state's Medicaid program. The legislation, part of the Save Local Pharmacies Act, will take effect on July 1, 2025. The move follows a broader effort to rein in the influence of PBMs, which are third-party companies that negotiate drug prices between manufacturers and insurers. Some of the largest PBMs, including Caremark (CVS Health), Express Scripts (Cigna), and OptumRx (UnitedHealth Group), also own pharmacies, a practice critics say creates a conflict of interest.
After Youngkin veto of data center bill, Democratic state senator says governor is ‘misguided’
A measure that would have required developers to study proposed data centers’ impacts on their surroundings has died, at least for this year. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, after a back-and-forth with the General Assembly, vetoed the bill late last week. Youngkin wrote in his veto on Friday that data center decisions belong in the localities where they are proposed. Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, said Monday that his legislation would have benefited those localities by providing important information.
The future of Metro is the bus—and Virginia is on board
The D.C. public transportation system is set to expand dramatically over the next 20 years. But aside from the long-delayed Purple Line, new train tracks aren’t part of the plan. Leaders in and around the Metro system are putting their energy behind the less-loved side of transit: the bus. In June, Metro rolls out its new “Better Bus Network,” remaking the existing system with fewer stops and promises of faster service. Northern Virginia leaders just proposed 28 new bus routes, five of which are already in the works.
After another veto, Virginia Democrats vow to return next year with contraceptive protections
Governor Glenn Youngkin has again vetoed legislation Virginia Democrats say will protect abortion access from future U.S. Supreme Court action. Republicans feared it would open up doctors to legal liability, but the bill’s authors disagree. Senator Ghazala Hashmi told Radio IQ Monday that in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, states need to protect contraception in case federal protections are struck. But Governor Glenn Youngkin disagreed.
Loudoun County schools investigating student for asking why a female was using boys’ locker room
A pro-family, pro-faith legal group is representing a student who is being investigated by Loudoun County Public Schools for asking why a female student was in the boys’ locker room. The Founding Freedoms Law Center said Monday that its client, a high school sophomore, is facing a Title IX investigation for sexual harassment in Loudoun County. Title IX bars discrimination in education based on sex.
Max: Medicine tariffs would put Virginia patients in jeopardy
The Trump administration recently imposed a new round of tariffs targeting imported goods from the European Union, China and dozens of other countries in its ongoing effort to boost domestic manufacturing. The White House announced that tariffs on pharmaceutical products will be next. That means millions of Virginians, many of whom are already struggling to afford their health care costs, may soon face higher drug prices.
Prince William County supervisor’s new PAC gets $100K from data center developer
Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega has received a whopping $100,000 campaign donation—likely the largest single contribution to any supervisor from an individual in the county’s history—from the wife of a local data center developer. Vega, a Republican who represents the Coles District, received the contribution through a political action committee called “YES PAC,” which was set up in December. Vega is the founder and director of the organization. Her county-paid chief of staff, Chelsea Quintern, is listed as the PAC’s treasurer, according to its statement of organization.