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Trump looms over Virginia governor’s race: What to know on primary day
Virginians are heading to the polls in one of this year's banner election fights where President Donald Trump's name isn't on the ballot but his second-term policies are very much top of voters' minds. The most consequential of the June 17 primary races center around who will be the next governor of the Old Dominion, a state that has seen its share of the federal government workforce shrink at the hands of Trump and former DOGE leader Elon Musk.
Yancey: 4 trends in the early voting that could determine who wins Tuesday’s primaries
Some things should not be lumpy. Mattresses and mashed potatoes, for instance. Some things often turn out lumpy, anyway. Mattresses and mashed potatoes — and elections. It looks as if we’ll have some lumpy results tonight in primary elections across the state. By “lumpy,” I mean some places will vote at higher or lower rates than others. That’s the case in every election. Case in point: In the 2021 governor’s race, 71% of registered voters in Goochland County cast ballots, while only 38% of those in Petersburg did. Every other locality in the state fell somewhere in between.
Republicans Fight Uphill in Virginia Race That Will Test Anger at Trump
The politics of Washington nearly always bleed across the Potomac River and into Virginia’s odd-year elections for governor, long seen as the first sign of how the country is feeling about its new president. This year in particular, that is a big advantage for Democrats. In Virginia, they have fully united behind a candidate they view as ideal to win a Trump-era election in purple Virginia: former Representative Abigail Spanberger, a onetime C.I.A. officer who has raised buckets of money and defined herself as a moderate willing to buck her party’s leadership. She is widely seen as the favorite against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a socially conservative Republican who has struggled to remain competitive financially in the early months of the race.
Coalitions in Virginia, 16 states challenge restrictions on federal grants for domestic violence victims
Amid new restrictions imposed on federal grants that aid victims of sexual or domestic violence, multiple groups from 17 states including Virginia signed onto a complaint challenging its legality. In a complaint filed this week against the U.S. Department of Justice and others, several victims’ service groups from multiple states are seeking an injunction on new restrictions that the federal government has placed on the grants. Plaintiffs include the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance along with entities from 16 other states. ... The new restrictions placed on the federal grants for sexual and domestic violence victims mean that organizations deemed to “promote gender ideology” or operate DEI programs could have funding blocked.
Six Democrats battle for Virginia Lieutenant Governor nomination
As Virginians head to the polls Tuesday, six Democratic candidates are competing for their party's nomination for lieutenant governor,. Whoever wins the nomination will go up against the only GOP candidate on the ticket, Republican John Reid in November's general election. The Democratic field includes current and former elected officials, attorneys, and advocates. They're all emphasizing a range of issues from healthcare and education to housing and labor rights.
Spanberger to launch 40-stop bus tour across Virginia
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, is launching a 40-plus-stop, eight-day bus tour across Virginia in her campaign for governor, beginning on Saturday in Richmond and ending on June 28 in Virginia Beach. Spanberger, who was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, expects to appear at several campaign stops with her running mates, once voters determine the party nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general in primary elections on Tuesday.
Trump not on ballot but president influences Tuesday’s high-stakes primary
Virginia, one of only two states to hold gubernatorial elections this year, conducts high-profile primaries on Tuesday that may grab national attention. Voters in Virginia, a competitive state in American political elections, will cast Democrat and Republican primary ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and for state lawmakers in the House of Delegates. And while President Donald Trump isn't on the ballot, his sweeping and controversial agenda has been a key part of the conversation on the Virginia campaign trail.
States’ $7.4B settlement with Purdue Pharma nears closure
Fifty-five attorneys general have agreed to sign on to a $7.4 billion nationwide settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, the Virginia attorney general’s office announced Monday. If the settlement is approved by the federal bankruptcy court, Virginia would receive up to $103.8 million over the next 15 years. According to state Attorney General Jason Miyares‘ statement, the Sackler family has “indicated its plan to proceed with the settlement,” allowing them to resolve litigation for Purdue’s alleged role in causing widespread opioid abuse.
Virginia’s governor’s race could be a barometer for how voters feel about Trump
It's primary election day in Virginia, and the state is gearing up for a big election year. In November, Virginians will vote for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 seats in the lower house of the legislature. Political watchers will eye the campaigns for clues about how voters in the purple-ish state are feeling about the Trump administration ahead of the 2026 midterms. The major-party candidates in the race for governor are already set; neither faced a serious primary challenge. The race pits Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who previously represented Virginia's 7th Congressional District on Capitol Hill, against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor.
‘Option C’ for new Rappahannock River crossing gets regional endorsement
The Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s policy committee voted 9-1 on Monday night in favor of “Option C” for a new road and bridge over the Rappahannock River. The road would run from Celebrate Virginia Parkway in Stafford County, cross the river west of the quarry and connect with Gordon Shelton Boulevard in Fredericksburg from the west. FAMPO, a regional transportation planning body, has been studying the proposed construction of a river crossing west of Interstate 95 for more than a year.