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Yancey: 25 more places on the western side of the state that Spanberger, Earle-Sears should visit for policy lessons
By the time you read this, Democrat Abigail Spanberger will be rolling somewhere between Martinsville, Wytheville, Blacksburg and Roanoke on her eight-day bus tour. Alas, that’s as far west as her bus tour goes, so that makes this a good time to remind her, and readers, about the list of 25 places in Southwest Virginia that candidates should see because they all might help inform future policy choices. She won’t get to any of them on this campaign swing. This is also a good time to remind everyone that you can drive three hours west of Wytheville and still not be in the state’s westernmost corner. On the other hand, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears doesn’t put out a campaign schedule — or many policy statements, either, for that matter.
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 Shannon Heckt of the Virginia Mercury, Teo Armus of The Washington Post, and Graham Moomaw of The Richmonder. They discuss the week's top headlines: the results of the Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor and attorney general, Richmond voters turning against former mayor Levar Stoney, and Virginia's patchwork data center regulation policies. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Winsome Earle-Sears, John Reid speak to each other for first time in weeks
After not speaking to each other for eight weeks, Republican nominees Winsome Earle-Sears and John Reid have spoken to each other. Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee for Virginia’s governor, spoke to John Reid, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, on Wednesday after eight weeks since they last spoke, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Vital sites in Williamsburg’s Black history take steps forward on Juneteenth
Two important sites in Williamsburg’s Black history took the spotlight on Thursday as the region observed the holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. Dozens of people gathered on Nassau Street on Juneteenth for a groundbreaking ceremony that will kick off the rebuilding of one of the nation’s oldest Black churches. Nearby, visitors were welcomed inside the Bray School, one of the oldest surviving schools for Black children that has been recreated to look as it did in the 18th century.
Va. leaders react to U.S. bombing three nuclear sites in Iran
Virginia lawmakers on both sides are either showing their concern or their support after President Donald Trump announced the United States had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, entering war. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump posted on Truth Social. This news comes just two days after the White House said Trump would decide whether to get involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel “in the next two weeks” to give a window for negotiations.
Sen. Tim Kaine says President Trump is waging ‘unconstitutional’ war against Iran
Sen. Tim Kaine said Sunday that it was “unconstitutional” for President Trump to launch a military strike against Iran without congressional approval. Mr. Kaine, Virginia Democrat and a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, said Mr. Trump cannot rely on the 2001 Authorization of Military Force, which was enacted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and he expects Congress to vote on a new AUMF this week. “We will have all members of the Senate have to declare whether or not the U.S. should be at war with Iran,” Mr. Kaine said on “Fox News Sunday.” “It is unconstitutional for a president to initiate a war like this without Congress. Every member of Congress needs to vote on this.”
Republican Governors Association to invest in Earle-Sears
The Republican Governors Association is investing $500,000 in Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears. RGA also released a new digital ad attacking Earle-Sears’ Democratic opponent, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger. The RGA is prepared to spend “several million dollars to keep Virginia red,” Punchbowl reported [Saturday] morning. Earlier this month, the Democratic Governors Association announced its plans to make a $5 million initial investment in Spanberger’s campaign.
The fall of Levar Stoney: How Richmond cost him the race for lieutenant governor
In 2016, the city of Richmond elected a 35-year-old upstart Democrat named Levar Stoney as its mayor. In 2020, the city elected him again. But on Tuesday, Richmond voters summarily rejected him in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. He finished second among six candidates statewide and lost the race to Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield. It was a close but stunning defeat for a candidate who was once a protégé to then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe and remains well-funded and well-connected.
Democrats push unity in first day of bus tour
The Democratic statewide ticket held its first joint event Saturday afternoon at Abner Clay Park in Richmond, launching an eight-day bus tour. Gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, lieutenant governor nominee Ghazala Hashmi and attorney general nominee Jay Jones emphasized party unity and standing up to President Donald Trump. “Today is a really fun day,” Spanberger said. “We are starting our bus tour across the commonwealth to make sure that everywhere we travel, people get to hear from us about the things that we are for, the policies we wish and will work to pursue.” The ticket was introduced by United States Senator Mark Warner and Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-VA04, who both stressed the importance of standing up to Trump.
Shields, Deane, Redican, Broening, Quach and Miller: How that ‘big, beautiful bill’ discards RVA’s children
On May 21, the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made deep cuts to the country’s social safety net. The list of programs that would be changed and/or reduced is steep and significant: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and many others. If the bill passes the Senate, the impact would be enormous and fall mainly on low income families, caregivers and children. The “one big beautiful bill” would significantly cost-shift the funding of these programs to the states.