Republican LG nominee John Reid crashed a press conference being held by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, resulting in a friendly exchange between the two. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Accusations of racist texts, legal threats and an unaired campaign ad are fueling controversy in a Chesterfield County House race. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

A new poll shows Spanberger and Jones with significant leads, while it is a tighter race for LG. Former Gov. Doug Wilder says this is a sign that Gov. Youngkin has little influence with Virginia voters. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Spanberger and Earle-Sears appear to have their sights set on a Hampton Roads debate open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

FCPS told me that they are prepared to fully cooperate with the state police investigation, but did not provide further comment specific to the issue. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Gov. Youngkin campaigned with John Reid in New Kent County tonight. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Miyares filed with the Virginia Supreme Court to appeal a July court decision that affirmed Senate Democrats’ rejection of some of Youngkin’s university board appointees. Miyares is citing multiple reasons for filing the appeal. @andrewkerley.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

I love a good debate about debates open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Meteorologist Sean Sublette launched his campaign today for the Democratic nomination to run against Rep. Rob Wittman in VA-01. Watch me interview with him here: open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

New commentary from Bill Bolling: "It is ultimately up to Winsome Sears to bring unity to the GOP ticket. If she refuses to do so she will prove that she is not qualified to serve as governor." virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/commentary...

“Ultimately, unified beats divided anytime,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth. “And the Republican Party’s inability to really get together is yet another problem for a party that's already looking at a difficult year.” open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

I am reserving sponsorships for the newsletter during the 2026 session now with a discounted rate. During the 2025 session, this newsletter averaged more than 42,000 views per day. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Earle-Sears attacks the media as her campaign continues to struggle open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-VA04, is seeking answers from federal immigration officials after agents detained mostly nonviolent individuals at the Chesterfield County Courthouse. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/mcclellan-...

A new poll shows blue skies in statewide races open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

The latest campaign filings for statewide races open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

A new report from JLARC today found that some school districts are misinterpreting a 2022 law when citing it as a reason for removing a book from a school library. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/jlarc-repo...

George Mason’s president appears to be the Trump administration’s next target virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/george-mas...

Democrats are making moves to block Youngkin — who ran on education issues and has focused on removing race and gender-related concepts from K-12 — as they fear he may try to further his legacy of reforming higher education during the last year of his term. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Statewide nominees react to Virginia being ranked fourth in CNBC’s Top States for Business open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Thanks to @jaaavis.bsky.social for talking with me about weather, climate, and energy for his story this afternoon.

Earle-Sears or Spanberger will have to guide Virginia as new concerns over energy supply and demand arise in the commonwealth. There is also the aspect of the impact on the environment. Read more here: open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Watch the GOP statewide ticket hold their first joint event. Gov. Glenn Youngkin is speaking right now open.substack.com/live-stream/...

A look back at Virginia Scope's stories from this week. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Reports: UVA President to step down after pressure from Trump's DOJ. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/reports-uv...

-Ebbin and Henson respond to Reid opposing amendment to repeal same-sex marriage ban. -DLGA invests $1 million in Hashmi’s campaign. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/dlga-inves...

Jay Jones is receiving a $1 million investment in his campaign for attorney general www.virginiascope.com/jones-is-rec...

@bradkutner.bsky.social and I talk about the Chesterfield ICE situation open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Chesterfield becomes focal point in Virginia Immigration enforcement debate www.virginiascope.com/chesterfield...

Chesterfield’s Sheriff Karl Leonard confirmed to Virginia Scope that ICE agents detained six people inside the courthouse on Friday, along with another six on Monday. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/ice-agents...

Five years ago, I launched Virginia Scope with one goal: to provide clear, consistent, and independent reporting on Virginia politics. As we mark our fifth anniversary, I am asking for your help so Virginia Scope can continue to grow. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

I talked to Clean Virginia's Executive Director, Brennan Gilmore, this morning. Last week, Clean Virginia celebrated that zero candidates on the Democratic statewide ticket accept contributions from Dominion Energy. Listen to the full conversation here:

President Donald Trump announced Saturday night that the United States bombed three sites in Iran that are used to create nuclear weapons. Gov. Glenn Youngkin applauded the decision from Trump, while Sen. Tim Kaine criticized the action. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/virginia-l...

Commentary from former two-term Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican. "Republicans need to bury the hatchet and become a united force if they’re going to have any chance of winning in November." virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/commentary...

The Democratic statewide ticket held its first joint event Saturday afternoon at Abner Clay Park in Richmond, launching an eight-day bus tour. Spanberger, Hashmi, and Jones emphasized party unity and standing up to President Donald Trump. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/democrats-...

A look back at everything happening in Virginia politics this week. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

RGA is prepared to spend millions on Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ campaign to become Virginia’s next governor. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

James Walkinshaw is the favorite in the crowded Democratic primary for VA-11's special election. His opponents are expressing concerns that the nomination process favors establishment candidates and also limits voter access. By: @andrewkerley.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Oh yeah so I’m interning with Virginia Scope and the Virginia Political Newsletter this summer to cover state elections and politics! I’m super stoked. Here’s my first byline: Hashmi wins. www.virginiascope.com/state-sen-gh...

I talked to Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, about the primary, responding to attacks from his Republican opponent, Attorney General Jason Miyares, and what Democrats need to do to win in November. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/jones-talk...

Today feels like a good time to take a look back at the deep dive I did on the gubernatorial race between Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger in April. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/a-look-bac...

Republican gubernatorial nominee John Reid and his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, painted each other as extreme and out of touch with mainstream Virginians on Wednesday. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/virginia-l...

The clash between Clean Virginia and Dominion Energy was on full display in Tuesday night’s Democratic primaries — and Clean Virginia came out on top. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

If someone is just now tuning in for the primary elections, you can send them this to find out everything about the candidates running. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

The event, held just hours before Democrats select nominees for other statewide races, signaled her intent to steer the party clear of the internal conflicts currently dogging the Republican ticket. www.virginiascope.com/spanberger-l...

My final story on the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Virginia House Democrats surge in fundraising ahead of bellwether 2025 elections virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/virginia-h...

With this announcement, there are now two Democrats running against Rep. Rob Wittman in VA-01 www.virginiascope.com/lisa-vederni...

Virginia House Democrats surge in fundraising ahead of the bellwether 2025 elections. In districts that both Democrats and Republicans are hoping to flip, Democrats have a fundraising advantage. www.virginiascope.com/virginia-hou...

-A look at fundraising totals in statewide primary races. -A member of Congress and a long list of state legislators sent a letter to Shannon Taylor asking her to recuse herself from Dominion Energy-related matters if she becomes attorney general. open.substack.com/pub/virginia...