Virginia Political Newsletter
Virginia Political Newsletter
Trump was talked out of already announcing his presidential candidacy to prevent Republicans from losing now
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Trump was talked out of already announcing his presidential candidacy to prevent Republicans from losing now

The latest in Virginia politics.

“The biggest point we drove home was that he doesn’t want to own the midterms if we don’t win back the House or Senate,” said one person familiar with the conversations.


The audio at the top of this email is from a Democratic canvas kickoff in Portsmouth on Sunday with former state Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, Del. Jay Jones, and Nedarius Clark (HD-79).

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Nadarius Clark, at 26, is looking to bring a fresh voice to the General Assembly

Nadarius Clark defeated a three-term incumbent in a Democratic primary earlier this year to set himself up to likely become the youngest member of the General Assembly next year. 

Clark upset the current representative for district 79, Del. Steve Heretick, earlier this year. Heretick was supported heavily by Dominion Energy, while Clark was supported nearly entirely by Michael Bills and Sonjia Smith, mega-donors from Charlottesville.  

While he has a Republican opponent this year, Clark is the clear favorite as this is the first time the Democrats have faced any challenge for this seat since 2001

Clark, only 26-years-old, said Sunday that he will be the youngest Democrat elected to the General Assembly in the last 200 years. 

“He makes me feel really old I’ll tell you guys that,” said Jay Jones, a 32-year-old, two-term member of the House of Delegates representing Norfolk. “I feel like the old man coming in, but I can’t wait to see the wonderful things that he does.”

Listen to speeches from former delegate and gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Carroll Foy, Del. Jay Jones, and Nadarius Clark at the top of this newsletter.

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Listen: Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Terry McAuliffe campaign in Richmond

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe and the Second Gentleman of the United States (Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband) Douglas Emhoff stopped in Richmond to campaign with Democrats Saturday.

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'Do your job': McAuliffe watches closely as messy Capitol Hill negotiations threaten Virginia race - CNN

by Dan Merica

There is possibly no Democrat outside of Washington, DC, who is more closely watching the chaotic negotiations playing out on Capitol Hill than Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe.

The messy machinations of Congress rarely play a role in off-year races, but Virginia is the notable exception. Not only are the vote rich Northern Virginia suburbs full of federal workers who are more attuned to the inner workings of Congress, but every four years, this race often becomes a referendum on the party in power -- so Democrats struggling to pass anything through a Congress they control is front-of-mind for McAuliffe.

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Democrats on defense as their new House majority faces its first electoral test - Virginia Mercury

by Ned Oliver

Virginia Democrats are playing defense in nearly a dozen competitive House of Delegates districts this year as they defend their new majority against GOP challengers hoping to win back ground lost during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Commentators, observers and strategists across the political spectrum say they would not be shocked if Democrats lost between two and three seats to Republicans, an outcome that would still leave the party with a narrow majority in a chamber where they currently hold a five-seat advantage.

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Virginians marched for reproductive rights on Satuday


Cuccinelli hits Herring for taking Va. in ‘bad direction’ on crime - Washington Times

By Mica Soellner

Former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli said the choice could not be starker on who should be the state’s next top law enforcement officer. 

Mr. Cuccinelli, who served in the position between 2010 and 2014, said crime is a top issue in the race between Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat seeking his third term, and GOP candidate Jason Miyares.

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More Virginia Links:


Ranking Redistricting Plans - VPAP

Just in time for public hearings, VPAP has an online tool that lets the public rank various redistricting plans by seven criteria, including how well they respect locality boundaries and organize Virginia's increasingly diverse population.

Rank the Most Recent Plans

Read more from VPAP


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Virginia Political Newsletter
Virginia Political Newsletter
Join us as we talk to Virginia politicians about the latest news across the Commonwealth.