Riggleman stars in an ad for Spanberger
The former Republican congressman stars in an ad for the Democratic congresswoman
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Ousted former Republican Congressman Denver Riggleman is supporting Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger in VA-07
Former VA-05 Republican Congressman Denver Riggleman is starring in a new ad for Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07) as we reach the final weeks of a tight race between her and Yesli Vega.
“This is not a typical political ad, Riggleman says. “I’m a Republican Congressman, saying nice things about a Democrat. In Congress, the parties sit apart and don’t work together. Except Abigail Spanberger, she’s trying to change Congress and make it work.”
Riggleman served one term in Congress from 2018-2020 before being defeated in a nomination convention by Rep. Bob Good. Riggleman took heat from his party for officiating a gay wedding between two of his staffers. He was even censured by a committee in his district for participating in the wedding.
“[Riggleman] endorsed our campaign, because he understands what’s at stake in this election — and he knows how committed I am to serving our country and the Virginians I represent,” Spanberger said in a statement Monday. “I appreciate his endorsement and his willingness to put country over party.”
Watch the ad below:
Vega also released a new campaign ad
Vega announced the launch of her new tv ad, “Familia Budget” featuring her and her father, on Monday.
A reminder of the electorate in VA-07 after analysis from VPAP:
Glenn Youngkin won VA-07 with 52% of the vote in 2021
Tim Kaine won VA-07 with 55% of the vote in 2018
Ralph Northam won VA-07 with 52% of the vote in 2017
United States Sen. Tim Kaine to barnstorm VA-07 with Spanberger Tuesday
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger and U. S. Senator Tim Kaine will hold a roundtable discussion with “local small business leaders to discuss growing Virginia’s economy and lowering healthcare costs in Virginia.” They will also make several other campaign stops in the area.
10 am: “The Future of Virginia Healthcare and Jobs” Roundtable Discussion
Potomac Shores Clubhouse
12:30 pm: Prince William County Early Voting Stop
Woodbridge
2 pm: Stafford County Early Voting Kick-Off Event
George L. Gordon Government Center
3:30 pm: Spotsylvania County Early Voting Kick-Off Event
Spotsylvania County Office Of Elections
Governor Glenn Youngkin Joins State of the Union
Governor Youngkin was interviewed for more than 15 minutes by CNN on State of the Union this weekend. Watch the full interview below:
VPAP provides a graphic showing the difference in fundraising between Glenn Youngkin and other governors
More analysis from VPAP shows that the majority ($2,403,700) of money given to Youngkin’s PAC comes from Virginia donors.
Youngkin appears to have released a new ad
Fact Check: Do Fetuses Feel Pain at 15 Weeks as Youngkin Claims? - Newsweek
BY JESS THOMSON
Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced his support for a ban on abortions in Virginia after 15 weeks, reasoning that after this point, "the child can feel pain."
This comes in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, removing the legal protection of abortion rights across the U.S.
Top Pulaski County official is outspoken about Del. March, Red Barn dispute - Roanoke times
by Yann Ranaivo
A red Chevrolet tailed Jonathan Sweet one morning, an occurrence the baffled local government official captured on video.
“Brenda Blackburn is following me to work. Unbelievable,” Sweet, the Pulaski County administrator, can be heard saying before asking the person filming to zoom in to try to get the license plate number.
“Unbelievable,” Sweet again said.
Blackburn is the manager of the Big Red Barn, a venue on Lee Highway that belongs to Del. Marie March, R-Floyd, who owns a number of businesses in the New River and Roanoke valleys.
New witness identified in alleged incident, as Stanley urges candidates to ‘return to civility’ - The Enterprise
In a Thursday podcast, “Leaning Right and Turning Left with Sadler and the Senator,” State Sen. Bill Stanley urged the two delegates embroiled in a legal battle to resolve their differences outside of court.
Dels. Wren Williams, R-Stuart, and Marie March, R-Floyd, are embroiled in a legal battle after March alleged that she was assaulted as Williams, his wife and his legislative aide left a recent fundraising event.
Stanley said he respects both lawmakers, adding that he will support the winner of the nomination regardless. For now, he encouraged Williams and March to take the lead and work together to settle their differences out of court. “I don’t see anybody winning in a court case. I just don’t see a scenario where anybody wins,” Stanley said. “… I advise them to come together, return to civility … and find a way to move forward.”
Candidate asked to cease and desist as tensions escalate - Henry County Enterprise
State Sen. Bill Stanley said two candidates have been ‘nipping’ and ‘pecking’ at each other since the redistricting that will pit them against each other in a contest to secure the GOP nomination in the newly formed 47th House District.
Dels. Marie March, R-Floyd, and Wren Williams, R-Stuart, “have been nipping at each other, pecking at each other back and forth and it seems to be escalating,” Stanley, R-Moneta, said in his podcast, “Leaning Right and Turning Left with Sadler and the Senator.”
Glenn Youngkin defends support of election denier Kari Lake in Arizona - CNN
By Devan Cole
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Sunday defended his support for fellow Republican Kari Lake, an election denier running for governor in Arizona, arguing that their party needs to be inclusive of a wide range of members in order to be successful.
“In order for us to press forward in the Republican Party, we, in fact, need to do that, look forward, not backwards,” Youngkin told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” when asked about his plan to campaign for Lake.
“What I found in Virginia was that we could bring together ‘Forever Trumpers’ and ‘Never Trumpers,’ and libertarians and tea party members, and, oh, by the way, lots of independents and lots of Democrats,” said Youngkin, who catapulted into the national spotlight after winning the governorship in blue-trending Virginia last year. “And I think that the Republican Party has to be a party where we are not shunning people and excluding them, because we don’t agree on everything.”
Youngkins plan further access to enslaved workers memorial garden at Executive Mansion - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Charlotte Rene Woods
If the theory is true, the staircase is just one of several physical manifestations of the different treatment enslaved people faced in America and at the mansion that has been home to Virginia’s governors since 1813.
Macaulay Porter, spokesperson for the governor, said the governor and first lady Suzanne Youngkin plan to let visitors further explore where enslaved people lived on the property through a planned virtual tour option and updated physical access.
Earle-Sears advocates for school choice at Lynchburg education rally - The News and Advance
by Bryson Gordon
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears spoke Thursday afternoon at an educational choice rally put on by two political advocacy groups at downtown Lynchburg’s Tresca on 8th.
The event followed Earle-Sears’ appearance Wednesday at Liberty University to speak at convocation and at the university’s CEO Summit Week event. Gov. Glenn Youngkin appeared Monday in Lynchburg to announce the rollout of his 2022 Virginia Energy Plan, which among other things puts Lynchburg firms BWX Technologies and Framatome in the spotlight with its focus on nuclear energy.
Reeves: Repeal in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants - Culpeper Star-Exponent
State Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) is drafting a bill to repeal Virginia’s in-state college tuition for undocumented immigrants, according to Friends of Bryce Reeves.
Reeves is seeking to overturn the measure adopted in the 2021 special session and signed into law by former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, his campaign said in a statement Thursday.
Former Va. election official says prosecution is politically motivated - Washington Post
by Justin Jouvenal
The former head of a Virginia county elections office who is facing corruption charges said her prosecution is a politically motivated effort by the state’s Republican leadership to try to justify the creation of a unit to investigate voter fraud in the state.
Michele White, the ex-Prince William County registrar of voters, said in her first comments on the criminal charges against her that the case is an attack on Virginia’s election officials and could have a chilling effect on their ability to do their job.