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Spanberger eyes solar, batteries in Virginia energy plan
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Abigail Spanberger is focusing on technologies like solar energy and battery storage in her new energy platform. Spanberger, a former House member hoping to flip control of the governor’s mansion and succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), is also putting an emphasis on the growing data center sector in Virginia, with a goal of making sure the facilities and their energy demand do not lead to increased electricity prices.
Second Democrat seeks to challenge Wittman
A second Democrat, Lisa Vedernikova Khanna, president of the Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats, says she hopes to challenge Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, in 2026. Earlier this month, Amanda L. Pohl, clerk of the Chesterfield County Circuit Court, filed her statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission, a first step toward raising funds for a federal election campaign.
Yancey: Spanberger has almost 5 times as much campaign cash as Earle-Sears
Virginia Democrats enter the summer with a towering cash advantage over Republicans in many key races. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor, has almost five times as much cash on hand as her Republican opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears. Two of the Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor have four times as much money as Republican nominee John Reid; two others have more than twice as much, although it’s unclear how much money any of those Democrats will still have once next week’s June 17 primary is over.
Virginia appeals court rejects Second Amendment challenge in Richmond machine gun case
The Virginia Court of Appeals has rejected a Richmond man’s challenge to the constitutionality of a state law regulating machine guns. “The Second Amendment,” wrote the court in its June 10 opinion, “does not protect the right to possess dangerous and unusual weapons like machine guns.” The case, which came out of Richmond Circuit Court, stemmed from the July 2023 arrest of Rasheed Fleming on a charge of unlawfully possessing a machine gun for an offensive or aggressive purpose.
Norfolk commonwealth’s attorney race one of most expensive, divisive in city’s history
The race to be the city’s next top prosecutor has been a divisive and expensive one, with both candidates on the attack and raising record amounts of money. And with just two Democrats vying for the position, voters won’t have to wait until November to find out who gets the job. The race will be over next week, when the June 17 Democratic Primary is held. Competing for the seat are incumbent Ramin Fatehi, a longtime Norfolk prosecutor and former public defender who’s seeking a second term, and John Butler, a former federal prosecutor and Navy judge advocate general running for elected office for the first time.
Babur Lateef wants to take his Prince William school successes statewide as lieutenant governor
Babur Lateef wants to take what he says are his successes as the chair of Prince William County’s school board and apply them to state politics. Lateef, an ophthalmologist, has also held board positions on the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors and UVA Health System. Now, Lateef is one of six candidates running to earn the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in the June 17 primary; the winner will face Republican John Reid for the office currently held by Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle Sears.
Army to restore names of seven bases that lost Confederate-linked names in 2023, including three in Va.
Seven Army bases whose names were changed in 2023 because they honored Confederate leaders are all reverting back to their original names, the Army said Tuesday. The announcement came just hours after President Donald Trump previewed the decision, telling troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, that he was changing the names back. Fort Bragg, which was changed to Fort Liberty by the Biden administration, was the first to have its original name restored after the Army found another person with the same last name. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was with Trump at Fort Bragg, signed an order restoring the name in February.
Detainees more than double at Farmville Detention Center since October of 2024
The number of people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Farmville Detention Center in Prince Edward County has more than doubled since October of 2024, according to the agency’s data. According to data collected by ICE on May 27, 2025, there were reportedly 542 detainees at the Farmville Detention Center, located in Prince Edward County, which is more than double the number of detainees recorded by ICE on Oct. 7, 2024 — with that figure being 241.
Legislators call on Shannon Taylor to recuse herself from Dominion-related matters if she wins attorney general race
Multiple state legislators and a member of Congress have called on Democratic primary candidate Shannon Taylor to recuse herself from any matters related to Dominion Energy if she is elected attorney general. The attorney general’s office is tasked with regulatory oversight of Dominion, Virginia’s largest public utility company. “As elected officials, we write to express our serious concerns regarding the unprecedented campaign contributions you have received from Dominion Energy Virginia, totaling approximately $650,000 according to recent reports,” the letter begins, which is signed by 14 current and former elected officials. ... Taylor’s campaign pointed to several other powerful Democrats who receive Dominion’s money.
Alexandria becomes first in Virginia to ban gas leaf blowers
The City of Alexandria became the first jurisdiction in Virginia to approve a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers at City Council’s May 17 public hearing in a unanimous vote to go into effect starting July 1. Council decided to phase out the use of gas-powered leaf blowers after one year for the city and after 18 months for residents and businesses. Council previously discussed the issue at their May 13 legislative meeting, where they reduced the ban’s phase-in period to 18 months from two years. The ordinance will go into effect July 1, according to a May 13 city staff presentation.