Debate over debates, new McAuliffe ad, and Republicans continue to launch congressional campaigns
The latest in Virginia politics
This is a daily newsletter covering Virginia politics with a special focus on the gubernatorial race. Please consider supporting independent journalism and Virginia Scope by becoming a paid subscriber today!
The debate over debates continues
The debate over debates continued Tuesday between gubernatorial candidates Terry McAuliffe (D) and Glenn Youngkin (R). McAuliffe accused Youngkin of ducking debates after an article from the conservative digital outlet Breitbart highlighted a $250 donation to the Clinton Foundation’s Haiti relief project from a PBS anchor that moderated the Virginia Bar Association (VBA) debate for the last two election cycles. (The moderators have not been announced for this cycle.)
“Glenn Youngkin’s refusal to agree to join me in one of Virginia’s most time-honored traditions, the Virginia Bar Association debate, is an insult to the people of the Commonwealth,” McAuliffe said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “Youngkin doesn’t want to face me and speak directly to Virginians at a debate because he doesn’t want to answer questions about his record of sending jobs overseas, his threats to funding for public education, his extreme anti-abortion agenda or the fact that he is Donald Trump’s handpicked candidate.”
A spokesperson for the Youngkin campaign says that they are communicating with the VBA. “Terry McAuliffe’s dishonesty continues, and now it appears he is trying to sabotage our ongoing communications with the VBA. We look forward to getting to a resolution soon.” Virginia Scope has reached out to the VBA for an update on conversations and will provide an update if any new information becomes available.
McAuliffe has committed to five debates while Youngkin has previously stated that he is hoping to participate in three debates.
The VRA debate is scheduled to take place July 24 in Hot Springs, Virginia.
McAuliffe releases new ad tying Youngkin to Trump
CASA In Action Endorses Terry McAuliffe for Virginia Governor
“Terry McAuliffe is committed to making health care more accessible and affordable for all Virginians and expanding pre-K, two top priorities for CASA in Action members,” said Alonzo Washington, CASA in Action executive director. “But perhaps even more importantly, he understands the critical role that Virginia plays in showing the nation that the divisive Republican playbook of Trumpism and nativism doesn't resonate in Virginia or anywhere. We are eager to work with him and his campaign to once again prove to this country that Immigrants Are Virginia!”
New TV and Digital Ads in Virginia Encourage Reps. Spanberger (VA-07) and Luria (VA-02) to Continue to Fight For Clean Energy and Climate Investments Necessary to Meet the Moment
Climate Power and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) announced the launch of new TV and digital ads in Virginia. These ads are part of an additional $10 million paid media boost to their nationwide Great American Build campaign.
“We are out of time to act on the climate crisis and environmental justice and voters across the country know it,” said LCV Senior Vice President of Campaigns Pete Maysmith. “It’s imperative that Congress invests in climate, clean energy and high-quality union jobs at the scale science and justice demand in order to meet the moment, put our nation on the path to 100% carbon-free energy powering our electricity grid and new cars, buses, and buildings by 2035, and build healthy, safe communities.”
This new spending over the next six weeks comes on top of nearly $10 million in paid media spending by the groups since January. This also comes on top of a new $8 million field organizing effort announced last week by LCV.
Tina Ramirez says she has already raised $100k for congressional campaign
After announcing last week that she is seeking the Republican nomination to run against Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, Ramirez says that she has raised $100k already.
“I am humbled by the outpouring of support from throughout Virginia’s 7th district,” Ramirez said in a press release Wednesday.
Clay Percle announced congressional campaign against Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton in VA-10.
Could a School-Board Fight Over Critical Race Theory Help Turn Virginia Red? - Politico
by Maya King
Before Covid-19 forced its students into online classes, Loudoun County’s bimonthly school board meetings were often dry exercises in bureaucratic wrangling: Haggling over AP textbook availability and public construction projects. Poring over budget proposals for custodial supplies and debating about whether to renew the contract for a company supplying milk to cafeterias.
Only a handful of parents showed up on a regular basis, says Julie Garrett, a mother of two school-aged children in the school district. Some, like Garrett, one of the growing numbers of liberal parents in the wealthy Northern Virginia exurb, were committed to helping the district work to overcome its segregationist past.
Lawsuit Seeks Three-in-a-Row Elections for Virginia House of Delegates - VPM News
by Ben Paviour
Candidates for Virginia’s House of Delegates could face three-in-a-row elections from 2021 to 2023 if judges agree with a lawsuit filed in federal court last week.
The complaint from Richmond attorney Paul Goldman argues the state would violate portion of Virginia’s Constitution as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution if it waits until 2023 to hold House elections on maps updated drawn using 2020 Census data.
The Va. Redistricting Commission is down one GOP citizen member. Here’s how the vacancy will be filled. - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw
A former coal mining executive from Bristol is resigning from the Virginia Redistricting Commission, leaving the bipartisan body temporarily down one Republican citizen and forcing the politically delicate body to fill a vacancy for the first time.
The resignation of Marvin W. Gilliam Jr., a Wise native whose family-owned coal company was acquired by Massey Energy, is effective Wednesday, according to an announcement at the end of a redistricting meeting Tuesday.
Official: VEC only responding to ‘small portion’ of calls - Associated Press
by Sarah Rankin
Workers at the beleaguered Virginia Employment Commission are still responding to only a “small portion” of calls for help related to unemployment benefits, a state official told lawmakers Tuesday, presenting troubling preliminary findings from an ongoing agency audit.
Lauren Axselle, who is leading a review of the commission for the state’s legislative watchdog agency, also raised concerns during her presentation in Richmond about staffing turnover, a technology modernization project and whether real progress was being made in working through a backlog of claims requiring adjudication.