It is Election Day
Here are the latest headlines and statements from candidates on Election Day
Happy Election Day! If you haven’t yet voted, you have until 7 p.m. tonight to get in line at your polling location.
Below are election-day statements from Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07) and state Sen. Jen Kiggans, the Republican nominee in VA-02. (The only statements I have received.) Also, I’ve included the latest headlines from around Virginia and the country. Unless something major happens during the day, there will be no more updates from this newsletter until the polls close and results begin rolling in.
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Today’s Sponsor
Spanberger’s E-Day statement
Rep. Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement marking Election Day 2022.
“Today, in schools, places of worship, and community centers across the Seventh District, Virginians — following 45 days of early voting — will have the opportunity to cast ballots that will help decide the future direction of our communities, our Commonwealth, and our country.
“Throughout this campaign, I have heard from Virginians who want progress. I have heard from Veterans and military families about the need to protect those who have bravely served our country. I have heard from families and small businesses who support my continued work to tackle inflation and work with both parties to fix our supply chains. I have heard from Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike who want us to defend women in the wake of the Dobbs decision. And I have heard from Virginia seniors who want us to keep working to lower prescription drug prices. These are just a few of the priorities that guide my work every day in Congress.
“Virginians know that I have a record of finding common ground and delivering real results on the issues that matter — including lowering costs, investing in our infrastructure, and protecting our rights. Among these rights is the right to vote, the bedrock of our democracy. I encourage all Virginians to exercise this right and make their voices heard — and I thank them for their continued support.”
Kiggans’ E-Day Eve statement
On the eve of the mid-term elections, Senator Jen Kiggans released the following statement regarding her closing message to voters as they prepare to head to the polls in Virginia's 2nd District tomorrow.
“It has been an honor to travel all across the Second District for the last eighteen months, sharing my vision with voters on how we are going to stop the Biden-Pelosi agenda and restore American strength in our economy, at our borders, in our communities and on the world stage. Virginians know voting with Nancy Pelosi 99% of the time will not fix our economy or keep us safe -- and tomorrow is our chance to fight back and take back control of our country. I can't wait to continue fighting for Coastal Virginia in the Halls of Congress and I encourage everyone to get out and vote before the polls close on Tuesday at 7:00 PM!"
McCarthy zeroes in on Virginia battlegrounds in 'last stop' before the midterms - Politico
Kevin McCarthy chose an election-eve destination and campaign partner that perfectly fit his party’s confident mood, rallying here Monday night alongside Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican who flipped the commonwealth red one year ago.
The House GOP leader appeared with Youngkin to stump for Jen Kiggans, the state senator trying to topple Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) in this battleground district, alongside a crew that included another Republican congressional challenger as well as former Speaker Newt Gingrich — who has advised McCarthy on this fall’s House GOP agenda.
3 Virginia Democrats in Congress fighting GOP challengers - Associated Press
By MATTHEW BARAKAT and BEN FINLEY
Three Democratic congresswomen in Virginia are looking to survive tough reelection bids Tuesday in a midterm election season where Republicans are looking to regain control of the House of Representatives. Elaine Luria, Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton were all elected to Congress in 2018. All three are top targets of the GOP in this election cycle.
Luria’s race against state Sen. Jen Kiggans and Spanberger’s race against Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega, in particular, are among the highest-profile congressional races in the country.
Republicans Aim to Retake the House, With Many Democratic Seats Imperiled - NYT
Republicans need a net gain of just five seats to take control of the House of Representatives, putting them on enviable terrain given that in the 22 midterm elections from 1934 to 2018, the president’s party has averaged a loss of 28 House seats.
Virginia might be the canary in the coal mine with its early results. Representative Elaine Luria, a Democrat, saw her district redrawn to favor Republicans. If she loses, it will not be much of a signal. If she wins, Democrats can feel confident. But Representative Abigail Spanberger’s district became more Democratic through redistricting, and yet she is in a brutal fight for re-election. If she loses, Republican gains might exceed 20 seats.
Effort to block Virginia from using voting machines fails - WRIC
by Dean Mirshahi
A last-minute push to upend how Virginia counts its votes was dismissed Monday after the man behind the legal effort didn’t show up to court.
James Renwick Manship filed an injunction to temporarily block the use of electronic voting machines used to count ballots in Virginia for years and have the Department of Elections “implement a state-wide Hand Count of Paper Ballots.” In his injunction, Manship called machines used to tabulate ballots in Virginia “exploitable” and “flawed” but did not provide specific evidence to back his claims.
Virginia report documents steep learning loss, teacher departures - RTD
by Michael Martz
Virginia must make up for steep learning losses in public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the state is losing teachers far faster than it is replacing them, a new study concluded on Monday, challenging lawmakers to invest more funds to retain school staff, while boosting math and reading achievement.
The study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission confirmed steep declines in fourth-grade math and reading achievement, but also documented a widening gap between the number of qualified teachers leaving and entering the profession that’s on the front line of helping students recover from their losses.
CNN video: Stuarts Draft pastor ousted for attacking wrong politician, Donald Trump
A Baptist Church in Augusta County is making national news for apparently firing its pastor after the last election cycle.
The minister, William Kopp, went off on the extreme politician during an outdoor sermon. CNN played snippets of the sermon during their news video package about the church. It is nothing new for a Baptist minister to mix strong political feelings into a sermon from the pulpit.
More links
Luria, Kiggans deliver final pitch for votes in 2nd Congressional District
Loudoun Sheriff Office plans to have an "enhanced presence" on Election Day
National
Biden’s and Trump’s Performances on the 2022 Trail Sow Doubts About 2024
Pennsylvania voters scramble to cast new ballots after GOP lawsuit
Chatter grows over potential Rick Scott GOP leadership challenge to Mitch McConnell
‘I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP’: Election workers brace for a wave of threats
GOP activists and candidates set stage to claim elections they lose are stolen
Specter of midterm wipeout threatens Dem plans to shake up presidential primaries
