Democrats stress healthcare, Youngkin speaks in Chesterfield about parole board, LG candidates unite after primary, and more.
The latest in Virginia politics
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Swecker, Filler-Corn, McClellan, and Dr. Wendy Klein discuss healthcare and the November election
Democratic heavyweights held a press conference Wednesday to discuss healthcare and why they believe Terry McAuliffe should be elected in November. They also took every opportunity to knock the Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin for his comments about healthcare.
“But Glenn Youngkin is opposed to this progress. Amidst the worst public health crisis in any of our lives, Youngkin said these measures in the American Rescue Plan were unnecessary,” said Susan Swecker, the chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia. “He described Medicaid expansion - which has given over half a million Virginians affordable insurance - as a sad thing...And he has attacked the Affordable Care Act.”
State Senator Jennifer McClellan also spoke in support of McAuliffe after losing in a primary race for the nomination earlier this month. “We know that a governor Terry McAuliffe with a Democratic-controlled General Assembly will continue expanding access to health care so that no Virginian will be one illness or accident away from economic devastation, and they know they can get quality care when and where they need it,” McClellan said at the press conference.
The Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn also spoke in favor of Terry McAuliffe. The Speaker has been been a supporter of McAuliffe since the beginning when she endorsed him in the primary race over a member of her caucus, Jennifer Carroll Foy. “Virginians cannot afford a Youngkin Administration working in tandem with a Republican House and that is why Democrats all across the Commonwealth are fired up about this election,” Filler-Corn said at the press conference. “They're fired up and ready to fight to ensure and keep Virginians healthy and make sure that our Commonwealth is on a road to recovery.”
Youngkin Addressed the McAuliffe-Northam Parole Board Scandal with former Richmond Police Officer Cheryl Nici
Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin’s campaign stopped in Chesterfield earlier this week to hold a press conference with former Richmond Police Officer Cheryl Nici. Nici is advocating against the release of the man who killed three people and nearly killed her by shooting her in the head decades ago.
In 1984, Nici was shot and nearly killed in Richmond while on duty.
Here are some highlights from Youngkin and Nici in Chesterfield:
“Today I had the honor and privilege of meeting with former Richmond police officer Cheryl Nici. What an amazing woman. She shared her story of survival following a brutal shooting at the hands of a killer when she was 24 years old and serving as one of our finest,” Youngkin said. “The man who shot Cheryl shot her in the face and tried to kill another police officer and murdered three other people in cold blood was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. But last week, that killer received a hearing before the McAuliffe-Northam parole board. The idea that a man who was sentenced to three life sentences plus 116 years could be granted parole and given back his freedom is just wrong.”
Watch the full event below:
Former Democratic lieutenant governor candidates hold a unity rally after Del. Hala Ayala won the nomination
The Democratic candidates who competed for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination came together in Prince William County for a unity rally behind the nominee, Hala Ayala.
“I'm so excited to welcome our many incredible Democratic candidates for Lt. Governor to Prince William County tomorrow for a Unity Rally,” Ayala said the day before the unity rally. “We have a lot of work to do before November and it will take each and every one of us.”
Princess Blanding qualifies for the ballot in Virginia governor's race - Richmond Times Dispatch
by Mel Leonor
Princess Blanding, a Richmond activist whose brother was fatally shot by a city police officer in 2018, will be on the ballot this November as a third-party candidate for governor.
Virginia election officials confirmed that Blanding qualified for the ballot by submitting the required paperwork and signatures. She will face Democrat Terry McAuliffe, the former governor, and Republican Glenn Youngkin, a former private equity executive.
Morrissey wins restraining order against former president of Virginia Oath Keepers - Virginia Mercury
by Ned Oliver
Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, won a two-year restraining order this week against a Rockingham County man with ties to a far-right militia who had filed a Freedom of Information Act Request with his office.
The bizarre case involved a violent tweet, a threatening phone call and a long-running feud between the defendant and Morrissey’s biggest political donor, Nexus Services, a Virginia-based company that has faced repeated accusations of exploiting vulnerable immigrants.
A law that bans masks will be back in effect in July. Civil rights advocates say conflicting guidance could lead to dangerous interactions with police. - Richmond-Times Dispatch
by Mel Leonor
By the end of the month, Virginia will no longer be under a state of emergency due to COVID-19, and as a result, a state law banning masks will go back into full effect.
Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration says it is still encouraging unvaccinated Virginians to wear masks — relying on informal statements from law enforcement officials that people wearing masks for health reasons won’t be penalized. Northam is also asking lawmakers to take another look at the law when they meet in August.