In case you missed it
Headlines from the last week in Virginia politics
Here are the headlines for everything that has happened in Virginia politics since Wednesday.
The daily newsletter will be back this week starting tomorrow morning!
IF you missed the last update on Tuesday…here it is.
Statewide news
Biden attacks Trump at Virginia rally, tying McAuliffe’s opponent to ex-president - Washington Post
By Sean Sullivan and Karina Elwood
President Biden on Friday launched a frontal attack on Donald Trump at a campaign rally for Terry McAuliffe, leading a concerted effort to tie the Democrat’s opponent in the Virginia governor’s race to the former president.
“I ran against Donald Trump and so is Terry,” said Biden, speaking in Arlington as the sun set during his first appearance on the campaign trail since taking office. “I whipped Donald Trump in Virginia and so will Terry.”
NRA skips Youngkin endorsement, backs other GOP statewide candidates - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Mel Leonor
The National Rifle Association on Thursday declined to endorse Republican Glenn Youngkin in the Virginia governor’s race, even as it endorsed the two other candidates on the party’s statewide ticket.
The NRA issued endorsements for Winsome Sears, the GOP’s nominee for lieutenant governor, and Del. Jason Miyares of Virginia Beach, the party’s nominee for attorney general, both of whom had received top ratings from the gun lobbying group. The group was mum on Youngkin.
DNC pledges to invest $5 million in Virginia ahead of key off-year elections - CNN
by Dan Merica
The Democratic National Committee announced Thursday that it plans to spend at least $5 million in Virginia ahead of the key off-year elections in the commonwealth, a significant investment that signals how critical Democrats view the November contests.
The investment in Virginia -- which committee operatives said would fund and develop staff inside the party's coordinated campaign, bolster volunteer efforts in the commonwealth and provide voter protection assets to the Democratic efforts -- are a boon for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, whose bid to seek a rare second term in Virginia is the top race in the commonwealth this year.
Youngkins received 95% tax cut due to conservation status of their horse farm - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Patrick Wilson
GOP gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin and his wife last year successfully petitioned Fairfax County to designate their horse farm as an agricultural district, which led to a 95% reduction in the taxes they pay on the 31.5-acre property in Great Falls that surrounds their home.
The tax break for the agricultural district involves the Youngkin farm, but not the house they built in 2005. The Youngkins first applied for the agricultural district in October 2019 for their property, Mane Manor LLC and Normandy Farm LLC. They opted not to include the land that their house sits on, which would have lowered the tax bill even further.
McAuliffe Campaigns Across Loudoun, Focusing on Vets - Loudoun Now
by Renss Greene
Former governor Terry McAuliffe, who is running for the job again, is spending Tuesday in Loudoun, with a focus on veterans’ needs.
McAuliffe began the day attending Eid Prayer marking the completion of Hajj, the traditional Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, a holy city to Muslims. He followed up an event at the Leesburg Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1177, timed to coincide with the rollout of endorsements from more than 150 veterans, followed by a visit to the newest HeroHomes project in Purcellville.
McAuliffe tours Camp amid gubernatorial campaign - Tidewater News
by Titus Mohler
Terry McAuliffe visited the Franklin campus of Paul D. Camp Community College on July 15 as part of his higher education tour amid his campaign to become the governor of Virginia.
McAuliffe previously served as Virginia’s governor from 2014-18. He did plenty of listening and asking questions of Camp administrators and teachers, and he also shared a few details from his new higher education plan.
McAuliffe releases his first general-election TV ad in Virginia governor’s race - Washington Post
by Teo Armus
Glenn Youngkin, the wealthy GOP nominee for Virginia governor, no longer has the state’s airwaves to himself.
Weeks after his campaign bankrolled an early-bird television pitch totaling millions in ad buys on radio and television, his Democratic rival, former governor Terry McAuliffe, countered with the first TV spot of his general election campaign.
General Assembly
Ciarcia to run against King - Inside Nova
by Nolan Stout
Gina Ciarcia, 44, a history teacher at Dominion Christian School, is the GOP nominee for the district, which covers eastern Prince William County, including Belmont Bay and Potomac Shores, Quantico and northern portions of Stafford County.
The seat is held by Del. Candi King, who won a special election in January after Jennifer Carroll Foy resigned to focus on her campaign for governor. King survived a challenge in the June 8 Democratic primary.
Lobbyists load Va. lawmakers onto private jet to kick off push to loosen slots laws - Virginia Mercury
by Ned Oliver
A coalition of gambling companies hoping to get slot machines back into Virginia convenience stores and bars kicked off its legislative push this week with a private flight for four lawmakers to Chicago.
While the plush jet raised some eyebrows — Virginia politicians have generally eschewed gifts of private air travel after scandal consumed former Gov. Bob McDonnell — organizers said it was strictly an opportunity to learn from Illinois, which broadly legalized video gambling terminals in 2009.
More News
Who said it — Rep. Elaine Luria (D) or a Republican? On military affairs, it’d be hard to tell. - Washington Post
by Meagan Flynn
In a political messaging machine where Republicans have sought to paint Democrats as weak on China, Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District might be one of the hardest places for the GOP to grease those wheels.
Largely alone among House Democrats, Rep. Elaine Luria (D) has split with her party to join Republicans in calling for an increase in military spending in President Biden’s proposed defense budget — citing the need to counter threats posed by China.
VDH, VDOE leave masking policies up to local school divisions, recommend masks for elementary schools, unvaccinated people - Loudoun Times
The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education released new health mitigation and masking guidance for PreK-12 schools in the commonwealth on Wednesday, leaving the decision of which specific masking policies to implement up to individual school systems.
According to a press release, VDH “strongly recommends” that elementary schools require students, teachers and staff to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, and that middle and high schools implement indoor mask requirements for students, teachers and staff who are not fully vaccinated.
Virginia Expands Health Coverage To Undocumented Pregnant Women - WCVE
by Megan Pauly
Undocumented pregnant women in Virginia are now eligible for health insurance coverage during their pregnancy and up to 60 days postpartum through the state’s Medicaid agency.
The new coverage went into effect this month as part of a federal waiver application and $4.9 million in state general funds approved by Virginia lawmakers this year. Women who make up to 205% of the federal poverty line are eligible for coverage.
Rep. Luria’s pro-Navy, centrist identity may get Jan. 6 test - Associated Press
by Will Weissert
When members of Congress head home to connect with their constituents, some hit tractor pulls. Others might stop by mom-and-pop stores. For Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, whose Virginia district includes the world’s largest naval base, a recent swing included boarding an amphibious assault ship for a NATO ceremony and a speech by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“The congresswoman right here in front of me asks tough questions all the time, pins my ears against the wall on many, many topics,” Gen. Mark Milley told a recent audience of dignitaries aboard the USS Kearsarge, a reference to Luria’s grilling him on military readiness during committee meetings.
Virginia colleges prepare to welcome back students with eyes on vaccination rates - Roanoke Times
by Amy Friedenberger
Colleges across Virginia and the country are ramping up to have a relatively normal school year.
Students will attend classes in person and not have to wear masks.
Virginia could see up to $530M under opioid settlement - Associated Press
Virginia is expected to receive up to $530 million over many years from a proposed $26 billion national settlement agreement to litigation over the opioid crisis, Attorney General Mark Herring announced Wednesday.
Herring and other attorneys general outlined key details of the proposed agreement that states and municipalities reached with the three biggest U.S. drug distribution companies and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson.
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