AARP encourages Youngkin to debate; McDonnell endorsed in VA-07; $250 million investment in school ventilation; and more from Virginia
The latest in Virginia politics
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AARP Virginia encourages Youngkin to participate in The People’s Debate
AARP Virginia released a statement Monday encouraging Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin to participate in their sponsored debate.
“We were disappointed to see that The People’s Debate wasn’t among the forums Mr. Youngkin has announced he will participate in,” said AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau. “As a courtesy to the Youngkin campaign, we extended the deadline to accept our invitation to July 30, but due to the lead time needed to prepare for the broadcast, we can’t wait longer.”
The announcement says that Dau sent invitations to Youngkin and Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe following their respective nomination victories. McAuliffe accepted the invitation. The People’s Debate, which has been sponsored by AARP Virginia for gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races for 15 years, will be televised and distributed across the Commonwealth.
“AARP has a proud 60-year history of nonpartisan voter engagement,” Dau said. “AARP Virginia has worked for decades to make sure voters have the information they need on issues important to them to make their own choices when casting their ballots.”
AARP Virginia’s media partner for The People’s Debate is Richmond’s WTVR-CBS 6. The People’s Debate, which began in 2006, is Virginia’s oldest and most widely broadcast statewide, televised debate. CBS 6 will distribute the debate to broadcasters statewide to make the forum available to voters across Virginia.
“It’s vital that voters get to hear directly from the candidates on issues that matter to them and their families,” Dau said. “The People’s Debate offers the candidates an opportunity to speak to voters so that they can make up their own minds in this election.”
Former Governor Bob McDonnell endorsed his former staffer’s congressional bid
Bob McDonnell, the former governor of Virginia is endorsing one of his former administration’s staffers in Taylor Keeney as she runs for congress.
Keeney served as McDonnell’s press secretary during his time as governor in the early 2010s. Now she is seeking the Republican nomination to run against Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in Virginia’s seventh congressional district.
“Taylor has a servant’s heart and a unique understanding of the issues most important to people in Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District,” McDonnell said in the announcement. McDonnell was convicted of corruption but that conviction was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court.
“Taylor has long been dedicated to improving the lives of Virginians across the Seventh District and the Commonwealth,” McDonnell continued. “Look no further than her public service and nonprofit leadership for children and families as evidence of her commitment to her community. She will take that same problem solving experience and understanding of the policy challenges we face to bring conservative leadership that Central Virginia wants and needs.”
Republicans have made Spanberger’s seat a priority for the 2022 midterm elections. Spanberger won the seat in 2018 when she defeated former Congressman Dave Brat. Prior to Spanbergber’s victory, the seat was held but a Republican for more than 60 years.
The growing list of Republicans in the race already includes Tina Ramirez, who recently announced her candidacy; plus John Castorani and Guatam Barve who have both filed paperwork as well. Last year, Ramirez came in third for the VA-07 nomination that Del. Nick Freitas eventually earned, Castorani was a Republican candidate in Alabama’s first congressional district, and Barve appears to have been a city council candidate in Santa Clara, California.
Other potential candidates for the Republican nomination include state Del. John Mcguire (Goochland), state Senator Amanda Chase (Chesterfield), and state Senator Bryce Reeves (Spotsylvania).
‘Investment week’ begins with a $250 million match offer for school ventilation upgrades
Hopewell, Va. – Governor Ralph Northam announced Monday that the Commonwealth will use COVID relief money to match localities’ investment into their school ventilation systems.
According to the governor’s office, the Commonwealth will allocate $250 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for necessary ventilation upgrades, which will be matched 1:1 by local ARP or other relief funding.
“Air quality is a key part of maintaining safe and healthy learning environments for our students across the Commonwealth,” Governor Northam said in his announcement from Hopewell High School Monday morning.
The announcement marks the beginning of “Investment Week,” during which the governor and legislative leaders plan to highlight proposals for allocating the $4.3 billion in ARP funding available to the Commonwealth.
Legislators are convening for a special session on August 2 to determine how to allocate the ARP funds.
“When the special session convenes next week, the Commonwealth has the opportunity to invest in its future, beginning with its students,” said Senator Janet Howell, Chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. “This investment is another prime example of how we will be utilizing American Rescue Plan funding to move Virginia forward and build on the investments of last year’s CARES Act funding.”
AAPI Victory Alliance says Voting Rights is an AAPI issue and the White House should prioritize meeting with AAPI leaders
AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore issued the following statement:
“Voting rights is an AAPI issue. We account for the highest voting bloc increase over the last 100 years. For far too long, the AAPI community has been overlooked and underinvested in—even though the AAPI electorate continues to determine more elections than any other racial or ethnic group across the United States. Our community is the primary reason why Democrats maintain control of the White House and Congress, and it’s time AAPI voters be recognized as a powerful political force. We are calling on the White House to speak with AAPI leaders about the volleys of restrictive voting rights legislation disenfranchising eligible voters. AAPIs are a force to be reckoned with and we demand a seat at the table on issues of voting rights.”
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