Special election day. Also its Session-eve
Rouse v. Adams are running in a special election today. Also, legislators gear up for session with a day of press conferences.
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Adams v. Rouse
The special election between Kevin Adams (R) and Aaron Rouse (D) in SD-07 is taking place today with implications for the Democratically-controlled state Senate.
Democrats currently hold a 21-18 majority with the pending open seat in SD-07.
The election is to replace Congresswoman Jen Kiggans and finish the last year of her term. She was elected to Congress in November.
Kiggans barely won the seat in 2019 by less than one percentage point.
Democratic state Senator Joe Morrissey has been unclear as to whether he might vote with the Republicans in the chamber to impose stricter restrictions on abortion in Virginia. If he flips, any legislation to impose these new restrictions would likely be a tie vote on the Senate floor. Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears (R) breaks ties in the chamber and she is staunchly pro-life.
Money
According to the latest reports from each campaign last week:
Rouse raised $907,026 in donations and also reported $83,346 of in-kind contributions.
Adams raised $722,055 in donations and also reported $266,975 of in-kind contributions.
There are also two special elections in HD-24 and HD-35, but these special elections are to fill safe seats in each district and will not be competitive or have an impact on the partisan makeup of the House.
If you are eligible to vote in any of these elections, then show up at your typical polling place before 7 pm.
Today’s legislative schedule
9:00 a.m. Conservative Caucus; House Subcommittee Room 300-B, Pocahontas Building
10:00 a.m. Manufacturing Development Commission; House Committee Room, Pocahontas Building (Agenda)(Provide Comment)
10:00 a.m. Virginia Geographic Information Network Advisory Board; Chesapeake Room, 9901 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond
10:30 a.m. Press Conference: Delegate Karrie Delaney and Senator Chap Petersen announcing their legislation to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board; House Briefing Room, Pocahontas Building
11:00 a.m. Press Conference: Announcement of legislation by Delegate Lee Ware and Delegate Rip Sullivan; House Briefing Room, Pocahontas Building
11:00 a.m. Virginia State Crime Commission; Senate Committee Room A, Pocahontas Building (Agenda)
11:00 a.m. Health Insurance Reform Commission; Shared Committee Room, Pocahontas Building
12:30 p.m. Press Conference: Fund our Schools Coalition; House Briefing Room, Pocahontas Building
Filler-Corn endorses Democrats in four House districts
Former House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn announced four Democrats that she is endorsing with her Energized for Change PAC. Being one of the best Democratic fundraisers in Virginia, Filler-Corn is also providing financial support to the candidates she endorses.
"We are about to begin another legislative session where Governor Youngkin and House Republican leadership are already introducing far right bills to ban abortion, roll back gun violence prevention measures, and prioritize corporate tax cuts over support for working families," Filler-Corn said in a statement Monday. "It is more important than ever that we win back the House of Delegates this year, and each of these highly qualified candidates will help us do exactly that."
Former Delegate Alex Askew - District 95
"Alex served in the House during my tenure as Speaker and played an integral role in passing historic legislation to make our communities safer from gun violence, expand voting access, make historic investments in public education, and more. We need his experience back in Richmond to protect and expand our progress from day one."
Askew is running against Rick James for the Democratic nomination. Terry McAuliffe won this district by11 points in 2021 according to analysis from VPAP.
Michael Feggans - District 97
"I was proud to work with Michael and the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee to flip multiple long-held Republican city council seats in Virginia Beach last year and to elect great candidates to the Virginia Beach School Board. His experience in the Air Force and in business makes him uniquely qualified to represent Virginia Beach in the House of Delegates."
Feggans is the only Democrat seeking the nomination in this district. The incumbent is freshman Del. Karen Greenhalgh.
Glenn Youngkin won this district by 2 points in 2021 according to an analysis from VPAP.
Debra Gardner - District 76
"Debra ran a hard-fought campaign in 2021 coming up just three points short of victory against an established incumbent Republican. I was proud to support her campaign in 2021, and I know she will be a strong advocate for working families in Chesterfield County."
Gardner is the only candidate in this safe Democratic district.
Phil Hernandez - District 94
"Phil has been a fierce advocate for our environment, workers, and educators from President Obama's administration to his current work in the nonprofit sector. I was a supporter of his impressive bid for the House of Delegates in 2019, and I am proud to support him once again."
Hernandez is the only Democrat seeking the nomination in this district. According to an analysis from VPAP, Terry McAuliffe won this district by 4 points in 2021. There are three Republicans seeking the nomination.
Former Del. Jay Jones Announces Application for Meet Our Moment's March Training Session in Hampton Roads is Now Open
Meet Our Moment, the leadership PAC launched by former Norfolk Del. Jay Jones, announced its fourth training session will be held on March 25 in Hampton Roads.
"I'm thrilled that Meet Our Moment continues to support diverse candidates across Virginia and I'm exceedingly proud of our alumni, all of whom are ready and able to run and win right now. It's critical that we grow our bench in the Commonwealth not only to put voices that reflect our communities at the table but also to stop Republican extremism at every level of government," said Jones.
This will be the final training session before the 2023 Virginia legislative elections.
Candidates interested in participating in the upcoming training sessions can apply here or directly at https://meetourmoment.com/apply/. Applications for the March training are due by February 28th.
Victor McKenzie’s Campaign for HD-82 Announces First Slate of Endorsements
Victor McKenzie, Jr, A Democratic candidate in HD082 announced several endorsements for his campaign Monday. Here are some of the names from the list:
Sen. John Bell – Virginia State Senate
Sen. Jennifer Boysko – Virginia State Senate
Del. Nadarius Clark – Virginia House of Delegates
Del. Patrick Hope – Virginia House of Delegates
Supervisor Jim Holland – Vice Chairman, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
Supervisor Mark Miller – Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
Lori Haas – Gun Safety Advocate
HD-82 is currently represented by Republican Kim Taylor. According to an analysis from VPAP, Youngkin won this district by 2 points in 2021.
Police: Boy, 6, who shot Newport News teacher used his mom's gun - The Daily Press
By PETER DUJARDIN and NOUR HABIB
Police say the 6-year-old student who shot his teacher Friday at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News used a 9 mm firearm that belonged to the child’s mother.
Officers said Abby Zwerner was teaching a lesson when the student pointed the firearm at her and fired one round. Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew said Zwerner took a “defensive position,” bringing a hand up to protect herself. The bullet entered her hand, went out the other side, then entered her upper chest. Zwerner is in stable condition at Riverside Regional Medical Center. Drew said she asked about her students both times he went to see her.
Virginia attorney general extends TJ investigation to all Fairfax County schools - Virginia Mercury
by Nathaniel Cline
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office has extended its civil rights investigation of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology to all high schools in Fairfax County, claiming officials allegedly withheld National Merit Scholarship honors from their students.
“It’s concerning that multiple schools throughout Fairfax County withheld merit awards from students,” said Miyares in a release Monday. “My office will investigate the entire Fairfax County Public Schools system to find out if any students were discriminated against and if their rights were violated.”
On Jan. 4, Miyares opened a civil rights investigation against the administration at Thomas Jefferson into whether its “withholding of National Merit Scholarship honors from students violated the Virginia Human Rights Act.” The letter also noted his office will investigate whether the school’s admissions policies violate that act.
From start to finish, 2023 will be a big year for abortion policy in Virginia - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw
When former Virginia Sen. Jen Kiggans was running for Congress last year, she sidestepped questions about her stance on abortion by saying it’s up to states to decide, not the federal government.
That answer isn’t really an option for Republican Kevin Adams, who’s running in a special election this week to replace Kiggans, a Republican, in a swingy state Senate district based in Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
In a matter of weeks, the winner of that contest could potentially be voting on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposal to ban most abortions in Virginia after 15 weeks of pregnancy.