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Virginia Senate Dems refuse to confirm Cuccinelli, other Youngkin board nominees
In a Monday evening vote, Democrats on a Virginia State Senate committee declined to confirm eight of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointees for three university boards, including former Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli and former state commerce and trade secretary Caren Merrick. Rejected in an 8-4 vote of the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections were eight Youngkin appointees to the boards of George Mason University, the University of Virginia and Virginia Military Institute.
Richmond spent $100K since 2023 on billboards boasting ‘safe, reliable’ drinking water
City officials since December 2023 spent nearly $100,000 on billboards proclaiming the safety of Richmond’s drinking water. But the billboard on display during the city’s second water crisis last month was an error, a city spokesperson told The Times-Dispatch. The six-month ad campaign included messaging on the controversial billboard located in a historic Black cemetery in Richmond’s North Side. Former Mayor Levar Stoney last year requested billboard giant Lamar take down the sign out of respect, but the company declined.
Reports: Virginia Democrats outdoing Republicans in raising campaign contributions
Democratic House of Delegates hopeful Kimberly Pope Adams raised the second-highest amount in Virginia of contributions to House campaigns for the latest campaign reporting period, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. Pope Adams, who has already locked up the Democratic nomination in the 82nd House District, reported a total of $262,048 in money raised for the April 1-June 5 window, based on data from the Virginia Department of Elections that was compiled by VPAP. That trailed only House Speaker Don Scott of Portsmouth, who raised just over $344,000 for the period.
Henrico County adopts new approval process for companies looking to set up data centers
Henrico County has adopted a new approval process for companies looking to set up data centers. The Board of Supervisors voted to change regulations affecting one of Virginia's fastest-growing economic sectors—large warehouses that house servers and data storage equipment. The new regulations create a stricter approval processes for proposed data centers. Now, companies must obtain a provisional use permit, which means there will be public input and final approval from the Board of Supervisors. Previously, only approval from the planning commission was required.
Trump wants Confederates’ names back on Army bases, including 3 in Central Virginia
President Donald Trump wants to return the names of Confederates to several U.S. Army bases, including three in Central Virginia. On Tuesday, June 10, Trump was set to speak at Fort Bragg in North Carolina in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. During his speech, he spoke on a variety of current events, including the ongoing protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles, California. Trump also announced his intent to restore the names of Confederate leaders to several military bases. In recent years, these bases were renamed after other military figures.
David Hogg defies DNC leadership by wading into another primary for open seat
Democratic National Committee vice chair David Hogg, the Gen Z activist at the center of a major intraparty dispute, is wading into another contested primary with an endorsement in the race to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia), a contest that reflects broader generational and ideological tensions Hogg has stoked. Hogg’s political group, Leaders We Deserve, is backing 37-year-old state Del. Irene Shin, who is part of a crowded Democratic field vying later this month to fill Connolly’s seat in Northern Virginia after his death last month. One of Shin’s opponents is Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw, a 42-year-old former chief of staff to Connolly whom the congressman endorsed to succeed him before he died at age 75.
Big money is flowing into Virginia’s primary contests
All those streaming ads you’ve been seeing for political candidates cost money, and broadcasting statewide in Virginia is expensive. The lieutenant governor might be the highest post on the ticket in next week’s primary, but the race for the Democratic nomination for attorney general is attracting top dollar campaign cash. The latest campaign finance disclosures show former Delegate Jay Jones and Henrico County prosecutor Shannon Taylor have both raised more than two million dollars. J. Miles Coleman at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics says that’s because rival interest groups are throwing money at this Democratic primary.
GOP candidates square off in primary for House District 97 in Virginia Beach
Virginia's 97th House District is one of the seats up for grabs in the upcoming election, as two Republicans are vying for the chance to unseat a Democratic incumbent. The House district covers a large portion of Virginia Beach. The Virginia primary is on June 17. Republicans Tim Anderson and Christina Felder are running against each other in the primary for the opportunity to challenge Del. Michael Feggans.
Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor face off for Virginia Attorney General Democratic nomination
Former delegate and attorney Jay Jones of Norfolk and Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor are locked in a spirited Democratic primary contest, both setting their sights on unseating incumbent Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares in November. While their immediate focus is on the June 17 primary election, both campaigns are taking a strong stance against President Donald Trump's policies and Miyares' refusal to challenge them.
After big changes in Virginia’s child care industry, candidates for governor offer more fixes
Parents know getting child care is a challenge, even as Virginia takes steps to improve the system. And while accessibility and quality have both increased thanks to record state spending, the two candidates for governor have their own ideas to meet persisting challenges. “We listen to our friends talk about how much they’re paying for child care and it's an extra mortgage," Tamisha Williams told Radio IQ as she balanced her baby daughter on her lap. "So, we just pause.”