Democrats respond to Youngkin's proposal; new ads from Youngkin and McAuliffe; & Cherry is going up on TV
The latest in Virginia politics.
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Glenn Youngkin's big policy proposal and the Democrat's response
Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin announced new policy proposals on Monday that he said will be funded with Virginia’s surplus and revenue over the next year. Democrats responded to the announcement in their own press conference Tuesday.
With plans to both spend more and cut taxes, Youngkin’s campaign stressed that local funding for things like public safety and education would not decrease. The initial cuts would total $1.8 billion with a recurring total of $1.4 billion a year. Virginia saw a $2.6 billion surplus this previous fiscal year — approximately half of that is required by law to go into Virginia’s rainy-day fund.
“Youngkin’s day 1 plan that he threw out yesterday, from my perspective, it’s a carnival of bad ideas from the last two decades led by this guy who was one of Donald Trump’s lead ringmasters,” said Senate Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Scott Surovell. “Glenn Youngkin has said that Donald Trump represents so much of why he is running and nowhere, nowhere is that more clear than in this Trump-inspired plan to eliminate the Virginia income tax.”
State Del. Jay Jones (D) didn’t hold back either on Tuesday when talking to reporters.
The Virginia Law Enforcement Sheriffs Association endorsed Glenn Youngkin for governor
The Virginia Law Enforcement Sheriffs Association (VLES) is endorsing Republican Glenn Youngkin in the race for governor this cycle. Youngkin is facing Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe, the former governor of Virginia who served from 2014 to 2018. Virginia’s law does not allow for two consecutive gubernatorial terms.
“Glenn Youngkin has pledged that he will ensure our agencies have the funding and resources they need to do their jobs and keep Virginians safe,” said VLES President Grayson County Sheriff Richard Vaughan. “I am confident that when Glenn Youngkin is governor he will tackle violent crime in our communities while working hand in hand with law enforcement, something that democratic leadership has failed to do for years.”
The latest polling released Tuesday shows McAuliffe with a five-point lead as early voting begins in less than three weeks. Joe Biden won Virginia by 10 points last year, but Republicans are optimistic that backlash to a Democratic federal government and eight years of Democratic rule in the Virginia Executive Branch will excite enough voters to come out for Youngkin this year.
“Terry McAuliffe and his Richmond liberal allies are making it impossible to keep our communities safe by pushing a dangerous defund the police agenda,” Vaughan continued.
According to Youngkin’s campaign, The VLES is made up of 1,200 members, 83 of which are sheriffs from across the commonwealth.
“I am honored to have the support of Virginia’s law enforcement community and look forward to working closely with them to make Virginia’s communities among the safest in the nation, not the most dangerous,” said Glenn Youngkin. “Terry McAuliffe has turned his back on law enforcement and embraced the most radical elements of his party that want to defund the police, abolish ICE, and close prisons.”
Chesterfield County’s sheriff Karl Leonard is also starring in a new Youngkin advertisement where he says “Virginia won’t be safe with four more years of Terry McAuliffe.”
“These are more baseless attacks from Glenn Youngkin that have already earned him two Pinocchios from the Washington Post,” said Renzo Olivari, a spokesperson for McAuliffe. “The truth is that Terry McAuliffe made Virginia the fourth safest state in the nation and signed one of the toughest domestic violence laws in the country. Glenn is desperate to distract from the fact that his Trumpian economic plan would defund the police and make Virginians less safe.”
Youngkin has been endorsed by the Virginia Police Benevolent Association as well.
Youngkin releases new ads
McAuliffe releases new ad
PolitiFact VA: McAuliffe Claims Youngkin Against COVID-19 Relief
by Warren Fiske
In a recent TV ad, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe says Glenn Youngkin, his Republican opponent, is out of touch with working families.
The ad says Youngkin “called COVID relief ‘unnecessary,’” a charge the two candidates have been tussling over since June. We fact-checked the claim and found McAuliffe has taken liberty with Youngkin’s position on the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that sent $1,400 checks to many people and aid to state and local governments.
Politifact ruled the statements from McAuliffe as “Mostly False”
Mike Cherry (HD-66) purchases TV ad time for HoD campaign
Republican House candidate Mike Cherry (Colonial Heights) is purchasing TV ad time this week to introduce himself to more HD-66 voters.
“My priorities from the start of this campaign have not changed. I am running to be a voice for our students and communities,” Cherry said in a press release Wednesday. “As your delegate, I’ll continue to ensure our officers have the support and funding to recruit and train the best candidates that will protect our communities.”
The ad, “I Should Know”, will be airing on networks in the district beginning September 3rd.
The ad has been previously released by the Cherry campaign, but this will be the first time TV viewers will be seeing it.
Cherry is running against Democrat Katie Sponsler (Colonial Heights) to fill the seat that Kirk Cox is retiring from after three decades.
Republican Miyares running as the tough-on-crime attorney general candidate in Va. - Washington Times
Republican state Del. Jason Miyares has marshaled a traditional law-and-order campaign to unseat Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.
Mr. Miyares promises to crack down on violent offenders and shore up Virginia’s police forces — objectives that he is quick to contrast with the Democratic incumbent’s social equity agenda.
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Virginia Tech doesn't enroll 134 students due to vaccination non-compliance
Albemarle mask policy keeps some students with disabilities out of buildings
A tornado scare in Blacksburg as remnants of Hurricane Ida roll through on Tuesday evening
National News
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Okla. congressman threatened embassy staff as he tried to enter Afghanistan, officials say
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Man charged with $25M extortion scheme promising pardon for Rep. Matt Gaetz
Jeffrey Epstein accuser asks Supreme Court to uphold victims' rights
This is a daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider supporting non-partisan, independent news by becoming a paid subscriber today.