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Reid releases child care policy plan to bolster families
Virginia GOP candidate John Reid, who is running for lieutenant governor, released a new policy plan on Wednesday that will expand access to child care for parents while reducing government spending and bolstering resources for home-based and faith-based providers. National Republicans are riding the wave of victory from President Donald Trump‘s “big, beautiful bill,” which includes increasing the child tax credit to $2,200 for each child, an increase from $2,000.
Hashmi, Miyares have big financial advantage in down-ticket contests
A significant financial gulf has developed in both of Virginia’s down-ticket statewide races with four months until Election Day. Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, holds more than 10 times the cash on hand as her Republican rival, John Reid, while Jason Miyares, the GOP incumbent for attorney general, is sitting on nearly six times the war chest of his Democratic challenger, former Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk.
Youngkin visits Iowa, S.C. as 2028 presidential race looms
Gov. Youngkin is one of several possible GOP contenders for president in 2028 racing to build his national profile, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports. President Trump, who's dominated GOP politics for a decade, can't legally run again, leaving the door open for ambitious Republicans to offer themselves to primary voters and donors as the future of the party. Youngkin, who's term-limited in Virginia, is headed to Iowa to be the keynote speaker at the Republican Party of Iowa's annual Lincoln Dinner on Thursday. Next month, he'll be in South Carolina headlining the Silver Elephant Gala, the state GOP's biggest fundraiser of the year.
Spanberger outraises Earle-Sears 2-to-1 in Virginia governor’s race
Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is opening a financial and polling gap in the race for governor, outraising her Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by nearly 2-to-1 last quarter and entering the final four months of Virginia’s statewide election season with more than triple the cash on hand.
Virginia Dems hold campaign funds advantage — except in one major race
Virginia Democrats appear to have a financial advantage over Republicans heading into this fall’s elections, with one notable exception. Campaign finance reports compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project show the Democratic nominees for governor and lieutenant governor — former US Rep. Abigail Spanberger and state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi of Chesterfield — far ahead of their GOP opponents in both amounts raised and cash on hand as of June 30.
Thousands of Norfolk, Portsmouth residents will have $36M in toll debt erased
Outstanding toll debt will soon be wiped out for roughly 25,000 residents of Portsmouth and Norfolk who use the Midtown and Downtown tunnels. The Virginia Department of Transportation and Elizabeth River Crossings, which oversees the tunnels connecting Portsmouth and Norfolk, reached a deal to cover many drivers’ outstanding balances and fees owed on toll charges for the tunnels. Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and Sen. Louise Lucas announced the agreement during a news conference Wednesday in Portsmouth.
New poll shows big lead for Democratic statewide ticket
The Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University released a new poll Wednesday showing a big lead for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger over her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Democrats in down-ballot races also have a significant lead over their Republican opponents. Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s approval rating is also dropping, and Virginians are largely not supportive of President Donald Trump.
Virginia’s $36 million relief deal clears toll debts for Portsmouth and Norfolk drivers
On Wednesday, House Speaker Don Scott and Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas announced a major deal to clear millions of dollars in old toll debts for thousands of drivers in Portsmouth and Norfolk. At a press conference in Portsmouth, the lawmakers revealed details of a $36 million agreement between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Elizabeth River Crossings to wipe out outstanding toll balances and related fees that had piled up since 2014.
Virginia casinos report $78.5M in June revenue
June gaming revenues from Virginia’s three casinos totaled $78.5 million, down $6.9 million from May, according to a Virginia Lottery report. Last month, Hard Rock Bristol casino reported about $21.44 million in adjusted gaming revenues (wagers minus winnings), of which about $17.24 million came from its 1,397 slots and about $4.2 million came from its 73 table games. ... Rivers Casino Portsmouth ... generated about $18.6 million in June from its 1422 slots and about $7.85 million from its 84 table games, for a total adjusted gaming revenues of about $26.46 million. The state’s newest permanent casino, the Caesars Virginia resort in Danville, reported almost $30.57 million in adjusted gaming revenues ...
U.S. Department of Energy Grid Reliability Report Is Unreliable, Virginia Renewable Advocates Say
Advocates for renewable energy in Virginia took aim at a report that the U.S. Department of Energy issued last week on the reliability and security of the nation’s electric grid, faulting it for dated reliance on fossil fuels to meet skyrocketing energy demands from data centers and lacking public input. They noted that the 73-page report–an evaluation ordered by President Trump that champions coal, oil and gas–came at a time when a Dominion Energy-owned Mount Storm coal plant in West Virginia is costing Virginia ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars and exacerbating problems from the climate crisis.