The latest Virginia political news - GOP gubernatorial campaigns have been active this week
The latest Virginia political news - GOP gubernatorial campaigns have been active this week
Northam asks for federal support, Cox, Youngkin, and Snyder hit the campaign trail.
Welcome to Thursday!
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Governor Northam, Governor Hogan, and Mayor Bowser Request Federal Support to Vaccinate Essential Federal Employees
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser sent a letter to the leaders of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday requesting increased federal support in administering the COVID-19 vaccines to essential federal employees.
According to a press release from Northam’s office, the letter specifically requests:
A dedicated allocation of vaccine and associated supplies to support the vaccination of essential federal workers, contractors, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) employees within the National Capital Region;
A federally supported and operated vaccination site for all essential federal workers, contractors, and WMATA employees within the National Capital Region; and
Coordinated messaging to employees regarding vaccination efforts for the federal workforce.
Republican gubernatorial contender Kirk Cox believes GOP candidates face ‘different electoral landscape’ after year of Democratic control - WRIC
by Dean Mirshahi
Kirk Cox, the former Virginia House speaker seeking the GOP nomination in the governor’s race, believes Republican candidates face a different electoral landscape than in 2019, when Democrats took control of the state legislature for the first time in a generation, citing the policies implemented under one-party rule since then.
Del. Cox (R-Colonial Heights), who narrowly won reelection with a redrawn district but lost his leadership role after Republicans lost the House two years ago, said Wednesday that Democratic candidates will have to defend the party’s platform in upcoming elections. He pointed to proposals previously defeated under GOP-control that Democrats have advanced.
Gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin visits Charlottesville - NBC29
by Daniel Grimes
Gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin calls the impeachment hearings of former President Donald Trump “political games.”
Youngkin made a stop through Charlottesville early Wednesday, February 10, where he also criticized Governor Ralph Northam’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Republican claims the rules have changed too often, and the vaccine rollout has been mismanaged.
Gubernatorial candidate talks COVID-19, schools business - NV Daily
By Alex Bridges
A Republican eyeing a run for Virginia governor blasted restrictions meant to stop the spread of COVID-19 and urged the state to let students back in schools.
Charlottesville resident Pete Snyder made a campaign stop in Strasburg on Tuesday as he traveled around the Northern Shenandoah Valley before heading east to Northern Virginia. Snyder, 48, is seeking the Republican Party nomination to run for governor in the November election. After meeting residents at the Queen Street Diner, Snyder spoke by phone about the coronavirus pandemic, gun rights and other topics.
Jennifer Carroll Foy (D) Earns Two New Union Endorsements in race for Governor
On Tuesday, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 55 and Teamsters Local 730 announced their endorsement of Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor.
“We are proud to endorse Jennifer Carroll Foy, who has a proven track record of championing the rights of workers and unions,” said Teamsters Local 730 President Ritchie Brooks and Teamsters Joint Council 55 President Frank Myers. “While others have had the opportunity to secure progress for working people but failed to deliver, Carroll Foy has successfully led on critical priorities, from passing legislation to raise the minimum wage to expanding access to quality health care, to growing union apprenticeship programs. When it comes to workers, she never backs down and never takes ‘no’ for an answer. We look forward to working with her when she is elected the next Governor of our Commonwealth.”
Meet the legal eagle guiding Governor Northam - NBC12
by Henry Graff
We don’t see her much on camera, but the governor’s attorney has a front-row seat to some of the most critical decisions being made in the state. From COVID-19 restrictions to the fate of Confederate statues, Rita Davis is the legal brain guiding Gov. Ralph Northam’s policies.
“I didn’t have any personal experience with that. It just like, it felt right for me. It was like a calling,” said Rita Davis, Counsel to Governor Northam.
Legislative Efforts To ‘Police the Police’ Fall Short - VPM News
by Whitney Evans
Virginia Democrats continued to push for legislation this session to hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct. But most of those efforts to “police the police” were cut short.
A proposal to require police agencies to release body-worn camera footage to the public following use-of-force incidents failed to pass the House of Delegates.
Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn released a statement on the budget proposal released Tuesday by the House Appropriations Committee
"Today, our Democratic House Majority has released a budget proposal focused on protecting families, keeping Virginia healthy, rebuilding our economy stronger and putting our Commonwealth on a path to come back from this pandemic better than before. The 2021 House budget proposal will provide nearly $500 million to address learning loss and make sure our schools hit the ground running when they return to in-person instruction, additional funding to put more counselors in schools and give our teachers a long overdue 5% pay raise, said Filler-Corn.
"With this budget, Virginians will be safer, healthier and more prosperous. I am grateful for the hard work by Chairman Torian and the Appropriations Committee and look forward to working with the Senate and Governor Northam to pass a budget focused on building a better Virginia."
Read more on the budget: Virginia budget provides COVID-19 relief, supports priorities in transportation, broadband
After first endorsing Jay Jones for Attorney General, then switching her endorsement to Mark Herring when he announced his intention to seek reelection, Lucas released a video on Thursday in support of Herring
Report: Racist Virginia laws are gone, but inequities linger - Associated Press
by Sarah Rankin
Virginia needs sweeping changes to its schools, housing laws, criminal justice system and other areas of policy to remedy the legacy of centuries of government-sanctioned racial oppression, according to a new report the state released Wednesday.
It’s the latest effort of a commission empaneled by Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, which began its work in 2019 with an examination of racist laws that — though long unenforced — had remained on the books.
General Assembly’s judicial interviews devolve into ‘s***show’ - Virginia Mercury
by Ned Oliver
The General Assembly broke from its staid and often secretive approach to making judicial appointments this week when a hearing to interview candidates devolved into a spectacle that prompted one exasperated senator to let loose a string of expletives.
The General Assembly was interviewing Katie Uston, the former assistant counsel at the Virginia State Bar, for a circuit court judgeship in Alexandria.
Petition asks Virginia governor to reopen wedding and event venues
by Stephanie Harris
The wedding and event industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. A petition asking Gov. Ralph Northam to safely reopen these venues for larger groups in Virginia now has more than 2,000 signatures.
The woman who started it, Kelsey Ann Leeper, is the manager at the Historic Post Office in Downtown Hampton.