Virginia lawmakers clash over voting access: Democrats advance a package of election and campaign finance bills — one designed to create a state-run platform like VPAP — and block GOP proposals to limit early voting. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/21/v...

NEW: Democrat Garrett McGuire defeated Republican Christopher Cardiff in a special election in #HD17, keeping the Fairfax-based seat in Democratic hands after former Del. Mark Sickles joined Gov. Spanberger’s administration as secretary of finance. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/20/d...

NEW: In her first address to the Virginia legislature, Gov. Spanberger backs four constitutional amendments already passed — including redistricting — and presses lawmakers to act on a broad affordability agenda. #valeg #vagov virginiamercury.com/2026/01/19/s...

NEW: Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor — and the first woman to hold the office — invoking unity, warning of “recklessness” coming out of Washington and moving quickly to define her agenda. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/17/s...

#breaking Abigail Spanberger is sworn in as Virginia's 75th governor, becoming the first woman to serve in this role. Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Attorney General Jay Jones were sworn in moment earlier.

Happening now: Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger arrives at her inaugural ceremony at Virginia’s state Capitol

NEW: Virginia Senate Democrats advance a controversial amendment allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting.  New maps would be drawn in a special session and shown to voters ahead of a possible April referendum. #valeg virginiamercury.com/2026/01/16/v...

NEW: In my exit interview with Gov. Glenn Youngkin, he says his four years in office were “a comprehensive transformation” of Virginia — and that he has “no regrets.” Critics, however, see a far more mixed legacy. #vagov virginiamercury.com/2026/01/16/y...

#breaking On the first day of the 2026 General Assembly, Va. House Democrats advanced 4 proposed constitutional amendments, including a controversial measure that could allow mid-decade congressional redistricting. The proposals now head to the Senate. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/14/v...

Happening now: Speaker Don Scott takes his oath of office for the second time, leading a House of Delegates with a 64-seat majority. #valeg

Good morning from the state Capitol in Richmond! On day 1 of the 2026 session, Democrats are celebrating their new 64-seat House majority, which Speaker Don Scott calls “a new era for the commonwealth.” Later today, @GovernorVA will address the legislature for the last time. #vagov #valeg

NEW: Democrats hold two Virginia House seats in Tuesday’s special elections, with Gretchen Bulova winning #HD11 and Margaret Franklin winning #HD23 after vacancies tied to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s cabinet picks. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/13/d...

#breaking Former Del. Mike Jones wins Tuesday’s special election for the Richmond-area Senate District 17 seat vacated by Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi, while Democrat Charlie Schmidt captures Jones’ former House District 77 seat.  virginiamercury.com/2026/01/06/d...

Virginia lawmakers are reviving a bid to rein in FOIA fees in the 2026 General Assembly session, after similar legislation stalled last year. @pwcdanica says her proposal would make public records more affordable and accessible. #VAleg virginiamercury.com/2026/01/05/p...

Inbox: @kaine.senate.gov, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, responds to U.S. strike on #Venezuela, calling it “a sickening return to a day when the United States asserted the right to dominate the internal political affairs of all nations in the Western Hemisphere.”

NEW: Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger names Del. Mark Sickles as secretary of finance and Traci Deshazor as secretary of administration, adding two senior cabinet members and setting up another special election in Fairfax County. virginiamercury.com/2025/12/23/a...

Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger on Thursday rolled out her “Affordable Virginia Agenda,” outlining a slate of legislative proposals aimed at lowering health care, energy and housing costs as lawmakers prepare for the upcoming General Assembly session. virginiamercury.com/2025/12/18/s...

NEW: Outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin rolled out his final 2-year budget Wednesday, pitching pay raises for teachers and state workers, $730M in tax relief and a $50M child welfare overhaul.  He also warned Democrats not to undo his pro-business policies.  virginiamercury.com/2025/12/17/y...

NEW: Rep. Jen Kiggans backed DOGE from day one. Now Elon Musk says the program was only “somewhat successful” and he wouldn’t do it again — complicating her reelection bid in one of the nation’s most competitive House districts. virginiamercury.com/2025/12/17/m...

NEW: Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger has tapped veteran environmental lawmaker Del. David Bulova to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Natural & Historic Resources. virginiamercury.com/2025/12/11/v...

NEW: Former Congressman Tom Perriello is running for Congress again, launching a Democratic bid in #VA5 to challenge GOP Rep. John McGuire. Perriello says “this is an all-hands-on-deck moment,” blasting tariffs, rising costs of living. virginiamercury.com/2025/12/09/p...

Sen. Mark Warner renews push for Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth’s removal after an IG report found he shared classified strike details in Signal chat. Warner says that, plus Hegseth’s shifting account of a deadly Sept. 2 boat strike, warrants his ouster. virginiamercury.com/2025/12/04/w...

New Roanoke College Poll: Most Virginians back no-excuse mail voting and photo ID rules. Trump’s disapproval climbs to 63%; Youngkin’s approval holds at 54%.  Political anxiety barely moves, but distrust in Washington and the media remains high. virginiamercury.com/2025/12/04/p...

Virginia’s joint cannabis commission rolled out a revamped retail plan — no local opt-outs, tougher ownership rules and a target launch of Nov. 1, 2026. Lawmakers say it boosts small businesses and safety as the GA readies for a 2026 showdown. #valeg virginiamercury.com/2025/12/03/j...

🚨A high-school assistant principal in Va. Beach and his brother were arrested after allegedly plotting to “kill police officers and ICE agents.”  According to DHS, one brother planned to fly to Las Vegas to meet like-minded individuals and buy weapons. virginiamercury.com/briefs/va-as...

After years of vetoes, Virginia is finally on track to launch legal adult-use cannabis. Lawmakers say a retail market could open as soon as fall 2026 — aiming to shift sales from the underground economy to a regulated one. 🌿 virginiamercury.com/2025/11/17/a...

A federal judge has ordered ICE to release three young immigrants held in Virginia after finding they were unlawfully denied bond hearings despite qualifying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/13/t...

In a NYT op-ed, Sen. Tim Kaine fires back at critics who say he “sold out” by voting to reopen the government: “I have close knowledge of key actors, and I do not believe Republicans would have conceded on health care during the shutdown.” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/o...

Sen. Tim Kaine breaks ranks with most Senate Democrats to back a bipartisan deal reopening the federal gov’t — securing job protections + back pay for federal workers and a future Senate vote on ACA tax credits. He calls it “a tough call, but the right one.” virginiamercury.com/2025/11/10/k...

“This is a great country, and as a constitutional republic, the people elect their leaders,” Gov. Youngkin says as he congratulates Abigail Spanberger and reflects on his own victory four years ago. Youngkin also vows to support Spanberger during the transition phase. #VAGov

🔴 Gov. Youngkin is about to hold a media briefing following last night’s sweeping Democratic victory in Virginia — as Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones secured the state’s top offices and Democrats picked up 13 seats in the Va. House #VAGov

#breaking Democrats sweep Virginia’s statewide races, reclaiming full control of the executive branch as the Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones victories wrap a year defined by federal layoffs, reproductive-rights battles and scandal. #VAGov virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/d...

Catch @mschmidtrva.bsky.social break down the latest on the Virginia gubernatorial race as voters cast their ballots. www.wnyc.org/story/virgin...

Tonight I’ll be joining @12OnYourSide’s live panel from 8–10 p.m. to break down the Va. returns coming in. On set w/ @RachelDePompa, @JasmineTurnerTV & UR’s @ErnestMcGowen — should be a fun, nerdy, fast-moving night of vote math and hot takes. Watch ⬇️ www.12onyourside.com/2025/11/04/d...

Today: - All 3 mayoral candidates, Mamdani, Cuomo & Sliwa, will join during the 10 o'clock hour, & we'll take your election day exit polls on the air; - @nancysolomon2.bsky.social on NJ's elections; - @mschmidtrva.bsky.social on Virginia's governor's race Live at 10 on 93.9 FM, AM820 or @wnyc.org

On the eve of the state election, President Trump held a GOP tele-rally for Virginia that included outgoing Gov. Youngkin — but notably left out the party’s three statewide nominees. #VAGov virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/v...

🗳️ It’s Election Day in Virginia — and control of the entire state government is on the line. Governor, LG, AG, and all 100 House seats. The stakes: abortion rights, voting laws, taxes, climate policy & more. Polls are open. Vote. ✅ virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/o...

NAACP and Advancement Project sue Virginia, saying election officials are rejecting student voter registrations over missing dorm-room info that isn’t required by law.  They argue it violates the CRA and could disenfranchise thousands of campus voters. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/03/c...

In a 21–16 party-line vote, the Va. Senate backs constitutional amendment letting lawmakers redraw the state’s congressional map mid-decade. Democrats say it’s a defense against GOP-led map changes in other states; Republicans call it a power grab. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/31/v...

🚨New Roanoke College poll: • Spanberger (D) leads Earle-Sears (R) for governor 51–41% • Hashmi (D) and Reid (R) are neck-and-neck 42–40% • Miyares (R) holds an 8-point edge over Jones (D) for AG virginiamercury.com/2025/10/30/p...

#breaking By a 12-9 vote, the Democratic-led House P&E Committee advances a constitutional amendment letting lawmakers redraw Va.’s congressional map if another state changes its own mid-decade. The measure applies only to 2025-2030 and is now headed to the House floor. #valeg

📄 Va. House Democrats unveil constitutional amendment to let lawmakers redraw congressional maps mid-decade if other states do so for partisan gain. AG Jason Miyares says it’s unconstitutional; Spanberger backs keeping the option open. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/28/v...

NEW: Partisan sparks flew in the VA Senate on Day 2 of the redistricting special session:  Dems blocked Youngkin’s letter as “too political,” Reps warned that a still-unseen constitutional amendment is being rushed through days before Election Day. ⬇️ virginiamercury.com/2025/10/28/d...

NEW: At Monday’s special session of the Virginia General Assembly, Democrats used a procedural move to open the door for a mid-decade redistricting amendment, just a week before Election Day. GOP calls the effort a “power grab.” #valeg virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/d...

📊 New Wason Center poll lands as lawmakers return to Richmond for a redistricting fight one week before the election: Spanberger (D) 50% – Earle-Sears (R) 43% Hashmi (D) 47% – Reid (R) 45% Miyares (R) 46% – Jones (D) 45% virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/p...

Happening now: Members of the GOP’s congressional delegation are pushing back against a last-minute effort by Democrats to redraw district lines. Republicans are framing this as “election interference” and as undermining the will of voters. #VALeg

🧨 Speaker Don Scott has called Virginia lawmakers back to Richmond for a surprise special session Monday — just days before Election Day. Democrats may be eyeing redistricting; Republicans call it a “pathetic, political stunt.” #VAleg virginiamercury.com/2025/10/23/h...

The Virginia General Assembly has launched a redesigned website — vga.virginia.gov — with faster navigation, improved search tools and a cleaner design. Officials say it’s the first of several efforts this year to boost public access and engagement with the Capitol.

JUST IN from our D.C. Bureau: State officials in Monday’s brief to the Supreme Court say the use of military forces to respond to routine crime is a gross violation of the U.S. Constitution’s balance of powers. via @fischler.bsky.social

A Stafford judge has dismissed a GOP-backed lawsuit seeking to remove Democrat Stacey Carroll from the ballot, rejecting claims she doesn’t live in #HD64. Carroll called the allegations “false and insulting” and said her campaign is moving forward. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/21/j...