INSIDER
Virginia Democrats advance efforts to protect abortion, voting rights, marriage equality
Read full article: Virginia Democrats advance efforts to protect abortion, voting rights, marriage equalityDemocratic lawmakers who wield control of the Virginia Legislature are hoping to make good on promises made on the campaign trail, including becoming the first Southern state to expand constitutional protections for abortion access.
Supreme Court's conservative justices leave in place Virginia's purge of voter registrations
Read full article: Supreme Court's conservative justices leave in place Virginia's purge of voter registrationsThe Supreme Court's conservative majority is allowing Virginia to leave in place its purge of voter registrations that the state says is aimed at stopping people who aren't U.S. citizens from voting.
Virginia asks US Supreme Court to reinstate removals of 1,600 voter registrations
Read full article: Virginia asks US Supreme Court to reinstate removals of 1,600 voter registrationsVirginia has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene to allow the state to remove roughly 1,600 voters from its rolls that it believes are noncitizens.
Harris makes scandal-plagued Republican the star of her campaign to win North Carolina
Read full article: Harris makes scandal-plagued Republican the star of her campaign to win North CarolinaThere’s an unlikely star in Kamala Harris’ fight to make history in North Carolina: Mark Robinson, the state’s scandal-plagued candidate for governor.
Project 2028: GOP officials jockey during Republican National Convention for future White House runs
Read full article: Project 2028: GOP officials jockey during Republican National Convention for future White House runsThere is plenty of jockeying happening at the Republican National Convention among the party's potential 2028 presidential contenders.
Navy vet has Trump's nod ahead of Virginia's US Senate primary, targets Tim Kaine in uphill battle
Read full article: Navy vet has Trump's nod ahead of Virginia's US Senate primary, targets Tim Kaine in uphill battlePolitical observers have already placed their bets on U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, predicting the Democrat will win his third term in November.
A comment from Trump and GOP actions in the states put contraceptive access in the 2024 spotlight
Read full article: A comment from Trump and GOP actions in the states put contraceptive access in the 2024 spotlightRepublican state lawmakers across the U.S. have been knocking down efforts by Democrats to ensure access to various forms of birth control.
Campus protests over Israel-Hamas war scaled down during US commencement exercises
Read full article: Campus protests over Israel-Hamas war scaled down during US commencement exercisesProtests over the Israel-Hamas war have spread across U.S. university and college campuses in recent weeks, leading to disruptions and arrests.
Virginia law allows the state’s colleges and universities to directly pay athletes through NIL deals
Read full article: Virginia law allows the state’s colleges and universities to directly pay athletes through NIL dealsVirginia’s governor has signed a law that allows state colleges and universities to directly pay athletes through name, image and likeness endorsement deals.
Collapse of NBA, NHL arena deal prompts recriminations, allegations of impropriety in Virginia
Read full article: Collapse of NBA, NHL arena deal prompts recriminations, allegations of impropriety in VirginiaThe collapse of a proposal to relocate the Washington NBA and NHL teams to northern Virginia has set off an extraordinary round of bitter recriminations among some of the officials and companies that were parties to the deal.
Youngkin vetoes Virginia bills mandating minimum wage increase, establishing marijuana retail sales
Read full article: Youngkin vetoes Virginia bills mandating minimum wage increase, establishing marijuana retail salesRepublican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed two top Democratic legislative priorities.
NHL's Capitals and NBA's Wizards are staying in Washington after Virginia arena deal collapses
Read full article: NHL's Capitals and NBA's Wizards are staying in Washington after Virginia arena deal collapsesThe NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals are staying in the District of Columbia.
These Republicans won states that Trump lost in 2020. Their endorsements are lukewarm (or withheld)
Read full article: These Republicans won states that Trump lost in 2020. Their endorsements are lukewarm (or withheld)Former President Donald Trump dominated the Republican presidential primaries on his way to a third consecutive nomination.
Connecticut considering barring legacy admissions at private colleges, in addition to public ones
Read full article: Connecticut considering barring legacy admissions at private colleges, in addition to public onesConnecticut lawmakers are considering banning the use of legacy and donor preferences in admissions to all colleges and universities across the state, including private ones like Yale University.
Virginia budget bill leaves out governor's $2 billion deal to lure NBA and NHL teams from Washington
Read full article: Virginia budget bill leaves out governor's $2 billion deal to lure NBA and NHL teams from WashingtonWork on compromise budget legislation Virginia lawmakers will take up later this week is complete, and the bill does not include language enabling a proposed relocation by the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals to Alexandria.
Top Virginia Senate negotiator vows to keep Alexandria arena out of the budget
Read full article: Top Virginia Senate negotiator vows to keep Alexandria arena out of the budgetA top Democratic Virginia lawmaker is vowing to keep language enabling a proposed relocation by the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals to Alexandria out of the state budget.
Two fragile DC neighborhoods hang in the balance as the Wizards and Capitals consider leaving town
Read full article: Two fragile DC neighborhoods hang in the balance as the Wizards and Capitals consider leaving townThe proposed move of the Capitals and Wizards sports teams to nearby Virginia has stoked concern in a pair of fragile Washington neighborhoods.
Legislation allowing recreational marijuana sales in Virginia heads to GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin
Read full article: Legislation allowing recreational marijuana sales in Virginia heads to GOP Gov. Glenn YoungkinVirginia lawmakers have passed legislation that if approved by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin would allow recreational retail sales of marijuana to begin next year.
Unions oppose plan to move NBA, NHL teams to northern Virginia, another blow to Youngkin-backed deal
Read full article: Unions oppose plan to move NBA, NHL teams to northern Virginia, another blow to Youngkin-backed dealInfluential labor groups now say they are opposing efforts to move two professional sports franchises from the nation’s capital to northern Virginia, partially due to the apparent inability to reach a satisfactory deal for union workers on the construction projects.
Top Virginia Senate Democrats deal setback to legislation to relocate Washington Capitals, Wizards
Read full article: Top Virginia Senate Democrats deal setback to legislation to relocate Washington Capitals, WizardsA leading Democratic Virginia legislator says proposed legislation to help pave the way for the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals to relocate to northern Virginia is dead.
Virginia's Youngkin aims to bolster mental health care, part of national focus after the pandemic
Read full article: Virginia's Youngkin aims to bolster mental health care, part of national focus after the pandemicThere's consensus in Virginia that the mental health care system is in need of reform, due to what Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration says is an overreliance on hospitalization at a time of growing need.
Virginia lawmakers set to take up proposal to help fund new arena for Capitals, Wizards
Read full article: Virginia lawmakers set to take up proposal to help fund new arena for Capitals, WizardsVirginia lawmakers are set to take up legislation to enable Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's plan to build a new professional sports arena and entertainment district in Alexandria.
Plans abounding for new sports stadiums across the US, carrying hefty public costs
Read full article: Plans abounding for new sports stadiums across the US, carrying hefty public costsProposals for new and improved sports stadiums are proliferating across the U.S. and could come with a hefty price tag for taxpayers.
Wizards, Capitals would move to Virginia in tentative deal, Youngkin says. Mystics would stay in DC
Read full article: Wizards, Capitals would move to Virginia in tentative deal, Youngkin says. Mystics would stay in DCVirginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has a tentative agreement with the parent company of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals to move those teams out of D.
Defeated Virginia candidate whose explicit videos surfaced says she may not be done with politics
Read full article: Defeated Virginia candidate whose explicit videos surfaced says she may not be done with politicsThe Virginia Democrat whose legislative campaign was rocked by the disclosure that she had livestreamed sex acts with her husband lost this year's race but isn't giving up on politics.
Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger is running for governor instead of seeking reelection to the House
Read full article: Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger is running for governor instead of seeking reelection to the HouseRepublicans are responding to Democratic Virginia congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's announcement she'll run for governor in 2025.
GOP election losses in Virginia are likely to quiet the presidential speculation about Gov. Youngkin
Read full article: GOP election losses in Virginia are likely to quiet the presidential speculation about Gov. YoungkinRepublican Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia had made clear his Election Day expectations.
Newly empowered Virginia Democrats nominate the state’s first Black House speaker, Don Scott
Read full article: Newly empowered Virginia Democrats nominate the state’s first Black House speaker, Don ScottVirginia’s state House will soon have its first Black speaker in its more than 400-year history after the chamber’s incoming Democratic majority on Saturday chose Del.
Danica Roem breaks through in Virginia Senate by focusing on road rage and not only anti-trans hate
Read full article: Danica Roem breaks through in Virginia Senate by focusing on road rage and not only anti-trans hateDanica Roem is accustomed to opponents using her transgender identity as a cudgel in Virginia legislative races.
Virginia Democrats lost in several key swing districts. So how did they win the General Assembly?
Read full article: Virginia Democrats lost in several key swing districts. So how did they win the General Assembly?The election results this week in Virginia suggest that Republicans must essentially run the table in competitive areas in order to find statewide success at the ballot box.
GOP’s David Owen wins Virginia legislative race over Democratic opponent who livestreamed sex videos
Read full article: GOP’s David Owen wins Virginia legislative race over Democratic opponent who livestreamed sex videosRepublican businessman David Owen has won election to Virginia’s House of Delegates against Democratic opponent Susanna Gibson.
Democrats see abortion wins as a springboard for 2024 as GOP struggles to find a winning message
Read full article: Democrats see abortion wins as a springboard for 2024 as GOP struggles to find a winning messageVoters have thrown their support behind abortion rights in races in Ohio, Virginia and elsewhere.
Youngkin expresses disappointment in legislative wins by Virginia Democrats, pledges bipartisanship
Read full article: Youngkin expresses disappointment in legislative wins by Virginia Democrats, pledges bipartisanshipRepublican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has expressed disappointment with election results that allowed Democrats to take control of both the Virginia House and Senate, but pledged to work with the party's new legislative majority on bipartisan priorities.
Democrats won big on abortion rights Tuesday. Here's what the results say for the US going into 2024
Read full article: Democrats won big on abortion rights Tuesday. Here's what the results say for the US going into 2024Democrats have plenty of good news to celebrate from Tuesday’s elections and there's more evidence they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion.
Virginia Democrats sweep legislative elections after campaigning on abortion rights
Read full article: Virginia Democrats sweep legislative elections after campaigning on abortion rightsVirginia Democrats who campaigned on protecting abortion rights have swept this year’s legislative elections, retaking full control of the General Assembly after two years of divided power.
Republican leads over Democrat whose House of Delegates race became embroiled in sex scandal
Read full article: Republican leads over Democrat whose House of Delegates race became embroiled in sex scandalRepublican David Owen held a narrow lead over Democrat Susanna Gibson in a Virginia House of Delegates race that drew attention after revelations that Gibson engaged in sex acts with her husband on a pornographic website, but the margin left the race too early to call.
Why the nation’s eyes on election night should turn to Virginia
Read full article: Why the nation’s eyes on election night should turn to VirginiaIt’s not hyperbole to say that whatever happens in Virginia could determine the course of the 2024 presidential election, and possibly the tenor of government years beyond that.
Virginia school board elections face a pivotal moment as a cozy corner of democracy turns toxic
Read full article: Virginia school board elections face a pivotal moment as a cozy corner of democracy turns toxicOver the past three years, local school board elections have become the place where America’s deep political divisions are on full display.
Gov. Youngkin aims for a GOP sweep in Virginia's legislative elections. Democrats have other ideas
Read full article: Gov. Youngkin aims for a GOP sweep in Virginia's legislative elections. Democrats have other ideasVoters are set to make a critical decision in next week's Virginia legislative elections.
For Virginia's Youngkin, potential presidential run would face logistical hurdles, voter skepticism
Read full article: For Virginia's Youngkin, potential presidential run would face logistical hurdles, voter skepticismSpeculation that Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin might jump in the race for president has long swirled and could be set to further escalate, depending on the outcome of next month's legislative elections in the state.
Virginia Democrats warn Republicans will ban abortion; GOP says their rhetoric is fearmongering
Read full article: Virginia Democrats warn Republicans will ban abortion; GOP says their rhetoric is fearmongeringVirginia Republicans are stepping up their criticism of the rhetoric being used by their Democratic opponents in abortion-focused messaging in this year’s critical legislative elections.
Both parties rally supporters as voting begins in Virginia's closely watched legislative elections
Read full article: Both parties rally supporters as voting begins in Virginia's closely watched legislative electionsEarly voting has begun in Virginia’s costly, high-stakes and closely watched legislative elections after a week in which elected officials and candidates rallied their supporters across the state.
Virginia is the next big battleground for abortion rights and may send a signal for 2024
Read full article: Virginia is the next big battleground for abortion rights and may send a signal for 2024One of the biggest fights over abortion rights this year is in Virginia, where all of the state House and Senate seats are up for reelection.
Candidate in high-stakes Virginia election performed sex acts with husband in live videos
Read full article: Candidate in high-stakes Virginia election performed sex acts with husband in live videosA candidate in a high-stakes legislative contest in Virginia performed sex acts with her husband in live videos posted on a pornographic website while asking viewers to pay them with “tokens" or ”tips” for individual requests.
Why some Republican donors are hoping this potential candidate enters presidential race
Read full article: Why some Republican donors are hoping this potential candidate enters presidential raceSome Republican donors aren't liking their current group of presidential candidates, so they are turning their attention to this man.
How Ron DeSantis used Florida schools to become a culture warrior
Read full article: How Ron DeSantis used Florida schools to become a culture warriorFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis' education policies have faced wide criticism from civil rights leaders and educators, among others, but they also have paid off politically.
Virginia finalizes guidance on transgender students, including rolling back some accommodations
Read full article: Virginia finalizes guidance on transgender students, including rolling back some accommodationsVirginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration says it has finalized new policies on the treatment of transgender students.
Virginia's Youngkin surpasses previous governors' annual fundraising records in a single quarter
Read full article: Virginia's Youngkin surpasses previous governors' annual fundraising records in a single quarterRepublican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s main fundraising apparatus says it will soon report raising $5.75 million in this year’s second quarter.
Ousted incumbents, key matchups set: Takeaways from Virginia's primary election
Read full article: Ousted incumbents, key matchups set: Takeaways from Virginia's primary electionA historic number of state lawmakers were ousted in this week’s Virginia primary, which featured about four dozen legislative races that set the parties’ slate of candidates for what will be a hard-fought general election.
Virginia regulators advance Youngkin plan to leave climate initiative he calls ineffective
Read full article: Virginia regulators advance Youngkin plan to leave climate initiative he calls ineffectiveVirginia regulators have voted to advance Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s plan to withdraw from a multistate carbon cap-and-trade program.
3 more GOP governors sending National Guard troops to US-Mexico border
Read full article: 3 more GOP governors sending National Guard troops to US-Mexico borderThe governors of Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina are joining the growing list of Republican-led states sending soldiers or other state law enforcement officers to the U.S. border with Mexico.
Youngkin in Japan to forge supply chains with 'friends'
Read full article: Youngkin in Japan to forge supply chains with 'friends'Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has said while visiting Tokyo that he hopes to forge “trusted supply chain relationships” with U.S. allies and friends to create supply chains that are not China-dependent.
Probe: Delays in district's schools awards not deliberate
Read full article: Probe: Delays in district's schools awards not deliberateA third-party investigation into delays by a northern Virginia public school district in recognizing student achievements on a standardized test found no evidence the delays were deliberate.
GOP operative who advised Youngkin moves to pro-DeSantis PAC
Read full article: GOP operative who advised Youngkin moves to pro-DeSantis PACA top Republican operative who worked as an adviser on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s winning campaign has signed on to work for a super PAC urging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president.
Youngkin adviser says 2024 race is more than Trump, DeSantis
Read full article: Youngkin adviser says 2024 race is more than Trump, DeSantisA top political adviser to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin says his comments that the 2024 GOP presidential campaign is “a two-person race between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis” does not preclude Youngkin from jumping in in the coming months, should he choose.
Youngkin's early shine faces test as he eyes White House bid
Read full article: Youngkin's early shine faces test as he eyes White House bidVirginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin swept into office as a Republican revelation with a fresh formula for victory as the GOP contemplated its future beyond Donald Trump.
Virginia education tip line sees concerns from parents
Read full article: Virginia education tip line sees concerns from parentsVirginians have used a tip line that Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin set up to submit complaints about curriculum, remote learning, controversial books, mask policies, teachers and other topics.
Virginia students protest Youngkin transgender policies
Read full article: Virginia students protest Youngkin transgender policiesStudent activists have walked out of class across Virginia to protest Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed changes to the state’s guidance on district policies for transgender students.
Youngkin shifts Virginia right, raising profile inside GOP
Read full article: Youngkin shifts Virginia right, raising profile inside GOPVirginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has spent a tightly choreographed first six months in office cultivating his image in a way that’s furthered speculation he has designs on higher office.
No deaths in Virginia flooding that washed out homes, roads
Read full article: No deaths in Virginia flooding that washed out homes, roadsAuthorities in a remote corner of southwest Virginia have located all of the 44 people who were reported unaccounted for after devastating flooding washed out roadways and damaged more than 100 homes.
High court marshal seeks enforcement of anti-picketing laws
Read full article: High court marshal seeks enforcement of anti-picketing lawsThe marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court has asked Maryland and Virginia officials to enforce laws she says prohibit picketing outside the homes of the justices who live in the two states.
Biden teams with East Coast governors to boost offshore wind
Read full article: Biden teams with East Coast governors to boost offshore windThe White House is launching a partnership with 11 East Coast governors to boost the growing offshore wind industry, a key element of President Joe Biden’s climate change plan.
County, governor spar over protests at justices' homes
Read full article: County, governor spar over protests at justices' homesFairfax County officials have rebuffed a request from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to establish a security perimeter around the neighborhoods of Supreme Court justices living in the county who have faced protests outside their homes.
AP interview: Youngkin sees momentum as Democrats push back
Read full article: AP interview: Youngkin sees momentum as Democrats push backGov. Glenn Youngkin’s hefty legislative agenda has been dealt a series of expected blows in the first half of the General Assembly session by the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Senator: Youngkin seems ready to find Wheeler replacement
Read full article: Senator: Youngkin seems ready to find Wheeler replacementA senior Republican state senator says Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin seems ready to move on from a fight with Senate Democrats over the appointment of former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Andrew Wheeler to his Cabinet.
Virginia Supreme Court dismisses mask mandate petition
Read full article: Virginia Supreme Court dismisses mask mandate petitionThe Supreme Court of Virginia has rejected a petition from parents that sought to invalidate Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order prohibiting school systems from enforcing mask mandates in the classroom.
Dispute over mask mandates in Virginia to be heard by judge
Read full article: Dispute over mask mandates in Virginia to be heard by judgeA judge is scheduled to hear arguments over whether local school boards or Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin have the final say on whether students must wear masks at school.
Police: Gunman kills 2 Virginia college officers, arrested
Read full article: Police: Gunman kills 2 Virginia college officers, arrestedAuthorities say a gunman has shot and killed two campus officers at a private college in Virginia, promoting a campus lockdown before the suspect was found and arrested.
Ex-Wheeler colleagues urge his approval to Youngkin cabinet
Read full article: Ex-Wheeler colleagues urge his approval to Youngkin cabinetA group of about 130 former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employees and others who have worked directly with Andrew Wheeler wrote to the Virginia Senate over the weekend to urge lawmakers to approve the former EPA administrator’s nomination to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Cabinet.