Chase loses censure lawsuit, an Op-Ed in support of McClellan, & Youngkin admits Biden was "legitimately elected our president."
The latest in VA politics
Attorney General Mark Herring wins in lawsuit filed by Amanda Chase
Sen. Amanda Chase’s attempt to overturn the censure she received from her colleagues in the state Senate earlier this year has failed after her lawsuit was dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge Thursday.
The senator from Chesterfield received the censure for her participation in pushing election conspiracy theories and her attendance at the Jan. 6 rally that resulted in the insurrection. She was given a chance to apologize for everything by her colleagues during the legislative session, but they were not satisfied with her words and moved forward with the disciplinary action.
Chase then took the matter to court in an attempt to have it overturned. She argued that she was “singled out and selectively penalized for taking unpopular political positions.”
The argument failed.
In his motion for dismissal of the lawsuit, Attorney General Mark Herring said Chase “participated in a rally that directly preceded an insurrection that ‘led to multiple deaths, including that of a United States Capitol Police officer; injured numerous others; desecrated the United States Capitol; resulted in property destruction; threatened the lives and safety of those who are entrusted with carrying out the will of the American people; and required an emergency response from 200 Virginia State Troopers and 1,300 members of the Virginia National Guard, who were put in harm’s way to quell the violence and restore order.’”
Herring also concluded his statement by pointing out that the censure was a political move made by the senators in the General Assembly. The courts have no real authority to step in. “Because censure is fundamentally a political proceeding conducted by a legislative body, plaintiff’s remedy for any alleged wrongs must be a political one rather than ‘a public fight in a court of law,” Herring argued in his motion.
Chase declined to comment.
After walking the line Wednesday, Youngkin admits Biden was elected legitimately Thursday
“I have said before that Joe Biden was legitimately elected our president. He took the oath and was sworn in. He's sleeping in the White House,” Youngkin said. “He's unfortunately signing executive order after executive order. But the reality here is, I'm not going to get lectured by the same people - Terry McAuliffe and all of his liberal friends - who actually said nothing when Hillary Clinton said that Donald Trump was an illegitimate president. The reality is that Terry McAuliffe and his media friends are afraid to talk about the real issues.”
OP-ED: Jennifer McClellan is Virginia’s Next Governor
by Tram Nguyen, the Co-Executive Director of New Virginia Majority and Alexsis Rodgers, the Virginia State Director for Care in Action.
Women of color, the Democratic Party’s base, are organizing to elect McClellan
Families and children in Virginia were already struggling before the pandemic, and many more are facing devastating hardship and instability, unsure of how they will afford food, housing or child care. Our current collection of safety net programs are not enough to protect families. The human toll of the past year has hurt and broken us in so many ways that it’s hard to even describe the loss.
Virginia is facing a health and economic crisis compounded by 400-plus years of racial injustice. It’s clear that many communities are experiencing greater hardships because of existing gaps in our system that favor a few and leave others behind. Unfortunately, people are losing faith in their government to help them. We need a governor who knows how to listen, solve problems and will always uplift the voices of those who have been ignored.
For Care in Action and New Virginia Majority, that champion is Senator Jennifer McClellan.
During a time where families are trying to survive during the pandemic, McClellan has been leading the fight to rebuild the state’s economy and safety nets. Her legislation during session prioritized relief to families, small business and workers; focusing on direct investments to support women and communities of color.
Her first policy rollout as a candidate was for universal child care, ensuring parents can work outside the home and children have access to high-quality care and education. She is the most productive legislator in the race, having passed more than 300 bills during her 15-year tenure in the General Assembly, expanding access to Medicaid and reproductive health in addition to passing a Tenants Bill of Rights.
McClellan shows up and fights for us in a way that no other gubernatorial candidate has ever done. The way she leads and centers people is a direct translation into what we will see as governor.
Over the last decade, we have ushered in sweeping change such as restoring the civil rights of over 250,000 formerly incarcerated people, expanding Medicaid for nearly 400,000 Virginians, increasing police transparency and accountability, and showing the world that Virginia can be a welcoming place for immigrants.
We’re seeing this significant progress because Virginia voters elected new state legislators that more accurately reflect the diversity of the Commonwealth, and those representatives are successfully advocating for people that historically have been left behind.
After this year’s General Assembly, Virginia made national headlines for all of the “first in the South” progress being made, including a Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, the abolition of the death penalty, and a comprehensive state Voting Rights Act that expands access to the ballot box —all legislation sponsored by McClellan in the Senate during session.
It’s not a coincidence the most progressive legislative victories in Virginia have been led by women of color.
Virginians need more elected officials who live and understand the intersections of communities of color, women and other marginalized groups. It is at those intersections that they can carry our experiences into the rooms where decisions are being made. And voters are responding positively to Democratic policies that McClellan is championing.
A Wason Center poll shows that Virginia voters want greater access to health care, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and wage equity for workers. An overwhelming 82% of Virginia voters showed the greatest support for renewable energy investments, an issue where McClellan has already led the passage of the Virginia Clean Economy Act — making Virginia again the first Southern state with a 100% Clean Energy Standard.
Time and again Black women and women of color in Virginia and beyond have organized our communities to elect candidates who reflect our values. We only have to look to Georgia as a case study of the organizing power that women of color bring to elections. Right now, Black, Asian, Latino/x and Indigenous women are organizing to elect Jennifer McClellan as governor. She inspires and energizes voters, something that’s needed to win in November and maintain a Democratic majority.
We need leaders who look like us, have a record of winning for our communities and have the courage to create fundamentally deep policy changes to turn the tide in the commonwealth and set the stage nationally. That’s why our organizations are working to elect Senator McClellan as the country’s first Black woman governor.
The work towards building a Virginia that works for all of us lies with us. You can help make that happen by voting for Jennifer McClellan in the Democratic Primary.
Higher Heights For America Endorses Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor of Virginia
“Jennifer Caroll Foy has shown a deep commitment to ending the status quo that has left painful inequities for too many families and working people in Virginia. As a former public defender, Carroll Foy has advocated for those who often go unheard by our government, including people battling addiction, homelessness and mental illness, poor people and children. Having experienced and witnessed firsthand hardships with poverty, affordable health care, gun violence and education, Carroll Foy is the future we all need, ready to advance the rights and well-being of Virginia’s next generation.
“We acknowledge the great significance of having two deeply qualified Black women running in this race and are optimistic about the precedent this will set for future elections throughout our country, in which we are not only able to vote for Black women, but also have a choice between multiple excellent Black women candidates. Carroll Foy is running a campaign that is building on the momentum of support from countless Virginians and we are optimistic that Foy’s qualifications and background provide a pathway to her election. We know she will provide transformative, long-term leadership for the next generation as Governor.
“At Higher Heights, we are steadfastly committed to eliminating gaps in Black women’s representation across our nation. Our organization looks forward to continuing this momentum with our support for Jennifer Carroll Foy to be America’s first Black woman governor.”
Del. Jay Jones Highlights Justice Reform Plan for Virginia AG Office During Roundtable
“I know that the vestiges of slavery and Jim Crow live on in our Commonwealth’s criminal code, in our judicial system, and in our policing and we have to be aggressive in rooting them out. They criminalize Black and Brown communities and make every Virginian less safe,” said Delegate Jay Jones. “Together, I believe we can tackle the inequities that have plagued us for far too long. The policies we will discuss today will not erase hundreds of years of inequality, but they are a critical next step and I’m so proud to be putting them forth in this campaign.”
“I’m so proud of the Legislative Black Caucus members like Delegate Jones who have been on the forefront of the work that we have done on justice reform,” said Delegate Lamont Bagby. “We worked hard and leaned in on these issues to get things done. We didn’t wait for people to come to us. One of the significant pieces we must address is qualified immunity. I know Delegate Jones and Delegate Bourne led the way on that, and we need a bold Attorney General who is willing to lean in on this issue and more to finish the work we have done.”
Delegate Rip Sullivan Endorses Delegate Hala Ayala for Lieutenant Governor
"I am proud to endorse Delegate Ayala for Lieutenant Governor," said Delegate Sullivan. "Our Democratic majority has produced historic progress and transformed our Commonwealth, and Hala's leadership and commitment to democratic values has played a major role. I know she'll be a Lieutenant Governor for all Virginians and I hope you'll join me in supporting her."
After chaotic Virginia GOP convention, Democrats see extreme ticket while Republicans feel ‘relief’ - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw and Ned Oliver
Despite the early efforts to paint the Republicans’ 2021 ticket as an overwhelming lurch to the right, the slate isn’t nearly as extreme as it might’ve been. Instead of Chase, a self-described “Trump in heels,” becoming the party’s standard-bearer in a state former President Donald Trump lost twice, she logged off and went to the beach.
After failing to win a statewide election since 2009, some Republicans say they feel surprisingly good about where the party stands coming out of a chaotic unassembled convention marked by procedural confusion, mysterious attack ads and infighting.