A fight over a tax break for data centers has pushed VA budget negotiations to the last possible minute, with a resolution by Saturday unlikely. New from the @vpm.org Capitol Correspondents Gruesome Twosome (reporter extraordinaire @jahd.bsky.social & photo god/master of secrets @theshabomb.com):

The Virginia House and Senate will not have a budget today, Speaker of the House Don Scott tells me.

@jahd.bsky.social @vpm.org www.vpm.org/generalassem...

A PAC campaigning against the Virginia redistricting amendment is clearly targeting Black voters. This mailer I got today uses "ancestors" to reference the civil rights movement, and is using photos of the KKK and police targeting young Black girls.

The Supreme Court of Virginia has ordered the Republican-leaning SWVA county to open early voting for the redistricting amendment. Prior to Wednesday's order, state and local election officials had been blocked from the work by a lawsuit brought by national GOP organizations. via @jahd.bsky.social

Workers, Speaker Scott criticize plan to axe data center tax exemption as budgets advance by @shannonheckt.bsky.social virginiamercury.com/2026/02/27/w...

Data center tax break takes center stage in Virginia budget plans www.vpm.org/generalassem...

ICYMI live wamu.org/story/26/02/...

Tune in shortly! I'm the first guest up on The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi and Tom Sherwood | @wamu.org @vpm.org wamu.org/show/the-pol...

You can join the conversation by commenting your questions below or calling in during the live show at (800)-433-8850.

Supreme Court of Virginia greenlights redistricting referendum www.vpm.org/npr-news/202... @vpm.org

Richmond Free Press ceases publication after 34 years by Keyris Manzanares www.vpm.org/news/2026-02...

The Richmond Free Press is ceasing publication, according to its latest edition. richmondfreepress.com

Well, nevermind - committee recommends continuing this bill to next year (a means of killing the bill, for now). It would take this bill of Del. Convirs-Fowler's, too lis.virginia.gov/bill-details...

Behemoth of a tax bill being heard in House Finance Sub #3 rn. It would cut taxes for lower and middle income by making 2 new tax brackets: on income above $600k and income above $1 mn lis.virginia.gov/bill-details...

Here's some zoomed-in example of new borders (in Black). The different colors note the sections came from different districts (current ones)

The new congressional map that Virginia Democrats are proposing is here. Here is a link to data tables with racial, ethnic, and political breakdown. lis.blob.core.windows.net/lisfiles/202...

Virginia Democrats propose potential 10–1 congressional map for 2026 midterms @vpm.org www.vpm.org/news/2026-02...

Scenes from the Virginia State Capitol 2026: a dispatch by @theshabomb.com www.vpm.org/generalassem...

Gov Spanberger has directed Virginia’s state law enforcement agencies to end 287g agreements with ICE, saying the agreements "improperly cede accountability and discretion over VA law enforcement" to the feds.

Pentagon warns it could take 'extraordinary measures' in fight over VMI's future by @bethabeyer.bsky.social cardinalnews.org/2026/02/03/p...

Federal judge orders widespread voting rights restoration for Virginians by @deanmirshahi.bsky.social www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

BREAKING: Tazewell judge rules against Virginia Democrats' redistricting amendment www.vpm.org/generalassem...

The Virginia Senate is debating setting the date for the redistricting amendment. there's a lot of legal arguments that are coming up. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkUt...

Youngkin pardoned Fairfax police officer in 2023 shooting, attorney says www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Attorney General Jones, Governor Spanberger flex powers on Day 1 www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Here are the 10 executive orders Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Day 1 www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Abigail Spanberger sworn in as Virginia's 75th governor www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Abigail Spanberger is now the 75th Governor of Virginia and the first woman to serve in the office

WATCH: Inaugural interviews with Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Watch our live coverage of the 2026 Virginia Inauguration here www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH8-...

Abigail Spanberger is breaking long-held inauguration traditions by my WAMU colleague Margaret Barthel www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Federal judge rules Dominion can resume work on Virginia Beach offshore wind farm www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

The Virginia Senate (and now the whole General Assembly) approves the text of an abortion/reproductive healthcare amendment for voters. Technically the referendum date still needs to be set

The Senate of Virginia is currently debating four proposed constitutional amendments on abortion, marriage equality, the automatic restoration of rights, and mid-decade redistricting www.youtube.com/watch?v=whv7...

HB415 - Designates the pawpaw fruit (Asimina triloba) as the official state fruit lis.virginia.gov/bill-details...

Roundup: 2026 inauguration weekend events www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Renovations to the Governor's offices in Virginia are going to keep incoming Gov. Abigail Spanberger out of that space for "the next few weeks," a Department of General Services spokesperson tells me.

From @jahd.bsky.social: Votes on four constitutional amendments on abortion, voting rights, marriage equality and mid-decade redistricting were the opening act of the 2026 legislative session for the Virginia General Assembly. The state Senate is expected to pass the amendments later this week.

In his final joint address, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin paints the picture of a Virginia that is “stronger than she has ever been.” General Assembly Democrats disagree. via @jahd.bsky.social #VApol #generalassembly #Virginia

Virginians will be able to see a proposed congressional map by Jan 30, say the chairs of the legislature’s elections committees. This would come before an April referendum on redistricting here.

For those of those wondering if the redistricting amendment (if it passes again) will be heard alongside the others, here is an answer: Senate Caucus Chair Mamie Locke has filed a bill setting the referendum for Nov 3 for the voting rights amendment lis.virginia.gov/bill-details...

Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes itself out of existence apnews.com/article/publ...

Dog attacks persist in Virginia prisons despite 2024 law change • Virginia Mercury virginiamercury.com/2025/12/11/d...

While reporting this story, I asked Senator Mamie Locke about a court putting a hold on TX's maps. She predicted - correctly - that SCOTUS would uphold the maps

A couple of days ago I looked at what the 25 elections/uncertainty nationwide means for redistricting. Spoiler: not much. VA dems wanted to keep options open for this kind of situation vpm.org/generalassem...

Sen. Mark Warner has a list of endorsements for his releeection bid - all but three Democratic members of the 2026 General Assembly are backing him. I see Sen. Danica Roem Missing, as well as Delegates Cia Price and Sam Rasoul. www.markwarnerva.com/endorsements/

Youngkin said executives advising him on how many taxes the economy will generate are "cautiously optimistic." It comes days after the VA House and Senate's money committees heard that the commonwealth could need to dip into a one-time surplus to cover projected expenses. www.vpm.org/news/2025-11...

Really enjoyed this week's episode of the Virginia Press Room with Liz Crampton of Politico, Michael Martz of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Keyris Manzanares of @vpm.org www.vpm.org/vapressroom

VCU changed scholarship for descendants of the enslaved to align with anti-DEI policies Great work by my colleague Megan Pauly www.vpm.org/news/2025-11...