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Virginia AG Hopeful Was Outraising His Rival — Then Dominion Energy Tipped the Scale
Both candidates for Virginia attorney general in Tuesday’s Democratic primary have much in common. They’ve both promised, for instance, to fight against Donald Trump and DOGE, and to protect abortion rights. When it comes to who is funding their campaigns, though, there’s one source of cash that marks a striking difference between the candidates: Dominion Energy, the Fortune 500 utility company that has long thrown around huge sums to shape politics in Virginia. In the attorney general primary this year, local prosecutor Shannon Taylor has accepted $650,000 in donations from Dominion, while former state delegate Jay Jones has not taken any from the company.
Va. is posed for economic growth, but thirsty for stability
Gov. Glenn Youngkin remains steadfast in his belief that Virginia’s economy can deftly navigate abruptly shifting federal tariff policies and growing fears of an economic recession. Early data suggests the situation is precarious, however, and business leaders have voiced the need for greater stability and predictability. Despite those challenges, one thing is clear: The commonwealth is fortunate to have considerable resources and successful programs in place to make this an attractive place to build a business and enjoy financial success. So long as that remains true, Virginia will be well positioned to compete, whatever may come.
Big turnout for Democrats in Virginia’s early primary voting gives party hope
Early voting was strong across Virginia this year in the 45 days leading up to Tuesday’s primary elections, in which voters will choose Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general and, in a handful of districts, candidates from both parties for the House of Delegates and local offices. Nearly 158,000 people had cast votes in Democratic primaries as of Thursday — up from 124,000 at the same point in Democratic primaries four years ago, when the party had a hotly contested, five-way primary for governor, according to analysis of the latest available data by the Virginia Public Access Project
‘No Kings’ Protest Draws Estimated 1,700 in Loudoun
The Loudoun County courthouse lawn on Saturday afternoon was overflowing with people taking part in a ‘No Kings’ protest organized by Indivisible NOVA as part of a nationwide initiative to protest actions taken by President Donald J. Trump and his administration. Event organizers estimated the turnout to be between 1,700 and 2,200 people. That included several local elected officials including Sen. Russet Perry (D-31), Del. Marty Martinez (D-29), Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27), County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large), Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk and other Loudoun supervisors and Town Councilmembers and former 10th District Rep. Jennifer Wexton.
From VPAP New Episode: The Virginia Press Room Podcast
In the latest episode of the podcast from VaNews and VPM, Michael Pope is joined by Margaret Barthel of WAMU 88.5, Ryan Murphy of WHRO Public Media, and Jahd Khalil of VPM News. They discuss the week's top headlines: campaign stances on housing policies and data centers, lieutenant governor candidate profiles, and primaries for Norfolk commonwealth's attorney and Chesapeake sheriff. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Suing Trump is key issue in Va.’s Democratic AG primary
President Donald Trump’s massive cuts to the federal workforce have become the backdrop to the Democratic primary for attorney general in Virginia, with both candidates in the race criticizing Attorney General Jason S. Miyares (R) for not challenging the administration’s moves in a state that hosts much of the federal government’s infrastructure and nearly 200,000 of its employees. The two Democrats competing in Tuesday’s primary — Jerrauld C. “Jay” Jones, a former state lawmaker from Norfolk who unsuccessfully sought the party’s nomination four years ago, and Shannon Taylor, the longtime elected prosecutor in the Richmond suburb of Henrico County — both say they would immediately shift course and join several ongoing lawsuits filed by a coalition of Democratic attorneys general across the country.
Democrats running for lieutenant governor make final arguments before primary
With few major policy differences separating them — save for a sharp split over a proposed casino in Tysons Corner — the leading Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor are emphasizing their life stories and political résumés, hoping personal experience will help them earn votes in what is expected to be a low-turnout primary on Tuesday. Democratic contests to pick nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general are the only two statewide races on the ballot Tuesday.
Tuesday primary features five House contests in Richmond area
Richmond-area voters will pick Democratic nominees in five contests for the House of Delegates on Tuesday, in addition to Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Democrats now hold a 51-49 edge in the House. All 100 House seats are up for election in November. Three of the five Richmond-area contests will pick Democratic nominees in districts where the party is targeting Republican incumbents in November — Dels. David Owen, R-Goochland, Mark Earley, R-Chesterfield, and Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield.
Judge: Virginia registrar charged in failed elections case cannot sue Miyares
A former Northern Virginia elections registrar cannot sue state Attorney General Jason S. Miyares (R) and a top deputy over what she says were bogus charges related to her handling of 2020 presidential election results, according to a federal judge who found the prosecutors have legal immunity from such claims. The judge’s order allows former Prince William County registrar Michele White to continue suing two other defendants — a pair of investigators from Miyares’s office who White says fabricated evidence against her to build a felony case that cost the registrar her career but ultimately crumbled before it could go to trial.
Loudoun Supervisor Sees New ‘Reality’ Amid Unprecedented Power Growth
Loudoun Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Michael Turner (D-Ashburn) has been voicing concerns for years about the challenges and impacts of supplying power to the area’s data centers. After the latest report from the region’s energy coordinator, he is stepping up that alarm. PJM Interconnection, the entity responsible for coordinating power throughout 13 states including Virginia, is seeing demand for electricity grow more rapidly than predicted just a year ago—at a rate that, it said, that could not have been foreseen.