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Democrats in Virginia have a hefty fundraising advantage heading into November general election
Democrats in Virginia have built up a hefty fundraising advantage for their effort to reclaim the governor’s mansion in a November election that is seen as a bellwether for the party in power in Washington ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA spy turned congresswoman, has a more than 2-to-1 fundraising advantage over her GOP opponent for governor, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who has struggled to draw support from her fellow Republicans.
State agencies begin moving out of James Monroe Building
The state government has begun moving out of the James Monroe Building. The Office of the State Inspector General recently relocated to a small office complex on Governor Street called Reid’s Row. By the spring of 2026, the state expects the 29-story Monroe building to be empty, Banci Tewolde, director of the Department of General Services, told the state’s Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. General Services handles real estate for the state government.
Gibson, Letiecq and Heinecke: Under Youngkin, Miyares, academic freedom is under assault
When the governing boards of the University of Virginia, the Virginia Military Institute and George Mason University next meet, Virginia could surpass Florida as the most dysfunctional public university system in the country — unless Attorney General Jason Miyares decides to set aside partisanship and follow the law. At the heart of the crisis is a power struggle between the Virginia General Assembly and Gov. Glenn Youngkin. When a Senate committee recently rejected a list of eight of the governor’s recent appointments to university boards, the General Assembly declared that these appointments failed and the appointees must step down immediately.
Andryszak and Hallam: A reliable power grid requires more pipelines
Over the past few weeks, alarms have sounded about potential grid reliability shortfalls and increased energy prices this summer. These warnings come as states across the U.S., particularly in the Northeast, face rapidly growing demand projections, making it clear: The integrity of our electric grids must be prioritized. ... At the center of this challenge is natural gas. The U.S. cannot reliably meet growing demand if we cannot expand our natural gas pipeline network to ensure the adequate energy resources needed to generate the reliable, affordable power American homes and businesses expect and deserve.
Howard: Republican budget has a few big winners, many losers
Government budgets are like box scores in basketball or baseball. If you study the numbers, you can tell who had a good day or bad day. The Republican budget that barely passed in the House will give millionaires a major victory. But millions of working families will be shut out. Republicans are being very selective in the budget numbers they highlight. They claim that almost all Americans will receive a tax cut. ... Under the House budget, the poorest 20% of Virginians, earning less than $31,000, would get an average tax cut of $100 next year. The middle 20% would get a tax cut of almost $2,000. But the richest 1% of Virginians, with incomes greater than $843,000, will benefit to the tune of $78,000 each.
How Black Lung Came Roaring Back to Coal Country
Denver Brock and his son Aundra used to spend early mornings hunting rabbits in the wooded highlands of Harlan County, Ky. But they don’t get out there much these days. They both get too breathless trying to follow the baying hounds. Instead, they tend a large garden alongside Denver Brock’s home. Even that can prove difficult, requiring them to work slowly and take frequent breaks. “You get so dizzy,” Denver Brock said, “you can’t hardly stand up.” The Brocks followed a long family tradition when they became Appalachian coal miners. For it, they both now have coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, a debilitating disease characterized by masses and scarred tissue in the chest, and better known by its colloquial name: black lung.
Senate draft of ‘big, beautiful bill’ could cut funds for Virginia hospitals, also affect Medicaid
Virginia’s hospitals are monitoring congressional budget proposals with concern. While the recently-passed U.S. House of Representatives’ version of the President Donald Trump-backed “big beautiful bill” retained federal mapping that preserves Medicaid access in Virginia, a new draft in the U.S. Senate could alter two critical funding mechanisms that support Virginia’s hospitals and their ability to bolster the state’s expanded Medicaid program. The Senate proposal could change provider assessment rates and state-directed payment programs. The two funding mechanisms are critical to hospital operation in Virginia and how they chip into the expansion of Virginia’s Medicaid program.
Democratic candidates for Connolly’s congressional seat debate fairness over Walkinshaw’s frontrunner status
A crowded field of Democrats is vying for the party’s nomination in the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. James Walkinshaw, [the late U.S. Rep. Gerry] Connolly’s chosen successor, appears to be the clear frontrunner, sparking concerns among rivals that the nomination process favors establishment candidates and also limits voter access. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the special election date for Sept. 9 after Connolly, 75, died in May due to esophageal cancer. It came weeks after Connolly announced he would not seek reelection and would step down as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. The 11th District Democratic committee announced a firehouse primary scheduled for June 28, giving candidates less than a month to make their case to voters.
Virginia professors warn against governance boards politicizing tenure processes
The Virginia Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the largest organization representing university professors in the commonwealth, is raising fresh concerns, after learning the George Mason University’s Board of Visitors inquired in February 2024 about their roles in reviewing promotion and tenure cases. The educators say they fear the pipeline of college professors could contract if more college governing boards seek to influence the process of hiring and promoting professors. The debate has bubbled up as the politicization of governing boards at public colleges and universities nationwide, including those in Virginia, has increased.
Judge facing bribery charge allegedly sought pay raises for court staff
A Fredericksburg-area judge facing a felony charge of bribery of a public official did not attempt to enrich himself, the special prosecutor handling the case said. Richard T. McGrath, the chief judge of the 15th Judicial District of Virginia, which includes the Fredericksburg region, was indicted on June 2. The Mechanicsville resident’s next appearance in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court is scheduled for July 7. He is represented by Richmond-based defense attorney Craig Cooley, who did not return a phone call seeking comment. “What I can share is he was charged with soliciting a bribe, not offering a bribe,” said Special Prosecutor Nate Green, the Williamsburg Commonwealth’s Attorney. “He basically was asking someone to give money, not to give him money.”