AFP is backing Vega and Miyares responds to Loudoun School Board ruling
AFP is backing Vega and Miyares responds to Loudoun School Board ruling
Two of Virginia’s far-right elected officials who have a shared interest in auditing the 2020 election are endorsing each other in their bids for the state Senate.
This is a daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider becoming the ultimate political insider by supporting non-partisan, independent news and becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter today.
Executive Schedule
11:00 AM: GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN RECEIVES BRIEFING FROM SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND TRADE CAREN MERRICK AND ACTING SECRETARY OF NATURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES TRAVIS VOYLES
Americans for Prosperity Action-Virginia Announces Support for Yesli Vega in VA-07
J.C. Hernandez, senior advisor for AFP Action-Virginia, issued the following statement:
"Yesli Vega will be a principled leader who will work to restore the government to its proper size and scope. The big-government approach of over-the-top spending and regulations isn't working and it's having detrimental effects on our economy by driving skyrocketing inflation. Vega will put the power back in the hands of the American people, so we can overcome the great challenges we're facing as a country from the ground-up. AFP Action will be relentlessly knocking doors and making phone calls to mobilize voters in support of Yesli Vega for Congress through Election Day."
Del. McGuire and Sen. Chase endorse each other
Two of Virginia’s far-right elected officials who have a shared interest in auditing the 2020 election are endorsing each other in their bids for the state Senate. Sen. Amanda Chase is seeking reelection to the chamber for a third term next year and Del. John McGuire is seeking a newly opened seat where there is no incumbent due to redistricting.
McGuire is running against Louisa Supervisor Duane Adams and Jack Dyer in SD-10 for the Republican nomination.
Chase is seeking reelection and facing a challenge for the nomination from former state Senator Glen Sturtevant and Tina Ramirez in SD-12.
McGuire’s endorsement statement:
“I’m proud to endorse Senator Amanda Chase for re-election to the Virginia Senate in district 12. Everyone knows Amanda is a fighter who stands strong and doesn’t waiver on our conservative issues. She has a lifelong 7 year voting record you can trust. 100 percent rating with the Family Foundation, 100 percent rating with the Virginia Citizens Defense League and an 'A' rating with the NRA. She’s also been one of the top rated conservative Senators, if not the most conservative in most years, at CPAC by the American Conservative Union. As Chairwoman of the National Election Integrity Caucus she has led the efforts in Virginia to put the guardrails back on our elections and even introduced a bill calling for a full forensic audit of Virginia. It was an honor to work with her and successfully pass legislation that Governor Youngkin asked us to both carry to exempt retired military benefits for our veterans up to $40,000. This was a bill she originally introduced in the Senate in 2021 and I was proud to work with her and see this bill finally pass under a Republican Governor. Amanda has represented Chesterfield and Colonial Heights for well over 7 years and even successfully survived the blue wave of 2019. Please do everything you can to support her as she runs for re-election in 2023. We need her.”
Statement from Chase:
“I am proud to endorse Delegate John McGuire for the Virginia State Senate District 10. Please join me in supporting a Navy SEAL with a solid conservative voting record including a 100 score with the Family Foundation and the VCDL. He has introduced legislation to protect life, protect voter integrity, improve the lives of law enforcement, veterans, and small local owned businesses. John will never stop fighting to improve the lives of all Virginians and to make our Commonwealth the best place to live, work and raise a family. We are working hard to protect life, prevent voter fraud, and improve the Virginia economy.”
Swagger to film season 2 in Virginia
Governor Youngkin announced Monday that season 2 of the series Swagger, produced by Imagine Television Studios and CBS Studios, is set to film in Virginia this summer. Swagger is loosely based on Kevin Durant and life on the AAU basketball circuit. It airs on Apple TV+.
“We look forward to welcoming the team behind this engaging series back to the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said. “Virginia has a rich history of great basketball players, and this window into the AAU path of today’s aspirational players is compelling.”
Swagger began filming the pilot episode in Central Virginia in 2019 and returned to the Commonwealth to film Season 1 throughout 2020-2021. The series premiered in October 2021.
The series is eligible to receive a Virginia film tax credit and grant. The exact amount will be based on the number of Virginia workers hired, Virginia goods and services purchased, and deliverables including Virginia tourism promotions.
Judge lets grand jury keep investigating sexual assaults in Loudoun schools - WAPO
by Rachel Weiner
A Loudoun County judge ruled Monday that a grand jury investigation of the Loudoun County Public Schools’ handling of two sexual assaults can move forward, despite a legal challenge from the county school board.
“We cannot know where this will lead,” Judge Jim Plowman said in Loudoun County Circuit Court, explaining his ruling. He concluded that while the grand jury’s work is ongoing, it would be “premature” to say the school system has been damaged: “I do not believe that there is a cognizable, irreparable harm here.”
Attorney General Jason Miyares issued the following statement regarding the ruling in Loudoun County:
“We are pleased with the court’s ruling dismissing the School Board’s complaint and affirming Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order Number Four. This is a win for parents and students across the Commonwealth. I will never stop fighting for justice and to protect the families of Loudoun County, and the Commonwealth.”
GOP looks for ways to curb abortions even without a ban - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Mel Leonor
Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposal to ban women from obtaining legal abortions in Virginia after 15 weeks of pregnancy isn’t likely to get past Democrats in control of the Senate. But Republicans are seeking ways to advance their agenda on abortions outside of outright bans.
Del. Dave LaRock, R-Loudoun, for example, is urging Youngkin to consider conditioning some funding for state-funded universities like Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia on those institutions halting the procedure at their medical facilities.
Will state employee exodus affect state services? - Wavy
by Stephanie Hudson
From roads, to public health to unemployment, we all rely on the state for a variety of things we need. Now that more than 300 state employees have called it quits, what does that mean for us?
“Sounds like a big deal until you place it into context that there are about 95,000 full-time workers in Virginia state government so we’re talking about a third of one percent of workers,” said Old Dominion University Economics Professor Robert McNab.
No more Confederate flags at Hollywood Cemetery - Virginia Mercury
by Rex Springston
Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, a longtime shrine of the South and home to thousands of Confederate graves, has quietly banned the flying of Confederate flags.
Visitors first noticed the absence of the flags in summer 2020, when anti-racism protests rocking Richmond and much of the U.S. often targeted rebel symbols. Two people familiar with the cemetery said then they understood that Hollywood had taken down the flags, widely seen as symbols of racism, temporarily to remove potential vandalism targets.
Wealthiest Virginians are benefiting most from contributions to school voucher program - VPM News
by Megan Pauly
Virginia lawmakers didn’t approve an array of new education voucher program proposals this year. But an attempt to limit an existing voucher program also stalled, due to a budget amendment from Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
The Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credits Program allows individuals to receive a tax break for contributing to foundations and private schools to fund tuition scholarships for low- and middle-income students there. More lenient income restrictions exist for students with disabilities.
