July 17, 2025
Earle-Sears shakes up campaign for Virginia governor as fundraising, polls lag
GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears has asked her campaign manager — a pastor with no political experience — to step away from that role amid calls from some fellow Republicans to shake up a campaign that is lagging in fundraising and polls, according to two people familiar with the matter. Will Archer, pastor of Potomac Valley Church in Dumfries, may stay on with the campaign in a different role, according to the two, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. The move came this week as the latest campaign finance reports indicate that Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman, is widening her fundraising lead and a new poll shows Earle-Sears, the state’s lieutenant governor, trailing by double digits.
June campaign donations point to hottest House races
If money talks, what it’s saying in the latest House of Delegates campaign finance reports is that Democrats are on the attack deep into what’s long been Republican turf. The campaign finance reports filed this week and reporting on contributions for most of June say metro Richmond will be a hotbed of electioneering. But they also say Democrats see this year’s election putting into play places like western Loudoun and Fauquier counties, where Republicans have romped to easy victories for years, as well as the district that Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline, has represented for 35 years in Spotsylvania and Caroline counties.
Two senior U.Va. Health leaders quietly take new jobs without formal announcement
U.Va. Health has now lost two senior leaders in one week as Melina Kibbe, dean of the School of Medicine and chief health affairs officer at U.Va. Health, and University Medical Center CEO Wendy Horton will both leave the health system to accept new positions. Kibbe will become president of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the UT System announced Monday, after being named the sole finalist for the position. Horton has accepted a leadership role at the University of California San Francisco Health Center after serving in her position at U.Va. Health since 2020.
Heat Wave Prompts Increased Data Center Generator Use
During the heat wave at the end of June, power demand in the region peaked at its third highest recorded usage ever, resulting in regional power coordinators requesting some customers to run on backup power to provide relief to the grid. Residents in Loudoun County noticed, with many emailing supervisors with complaints about the constant noise from generators that typically only serve as a backup power supply to the largest concentration of data centers in the world.
As federal job losses mount, Fairfax leaders sound alarm
Is Fairfax County — long the economic engine of the Northern Virginia and the state economy — facing an “unemployment crisis?” Fairfax Board Chairman Jeff McKay and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, think so. They are pointing the finger at President Donald Trump for the county’s rising unemployment rate. They are faulting Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a close Republican ally of the president, for not doing more to protect the state and region from mounting losses of federal government jobs and contracts since Trump took office in January.
New poll shows big lead for Democratic statewide ticket
The Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University released a new poll Wednesday showing a big lead for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger over her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Democrats in down-ballot races also have a significant lead over their Republican opponents. Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s approval rating is also dropping, and Virginians are largely not supportive of President Donald Trump.
Spanberger widens lead as Virginia voters prioritize cost of living, personal freedoms
With fewer than four months to go before Virginians elect a new slate of statewide leaders, a new poll from Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs finds Democrats holding early leads in all three top races — and voters sharply focused on economic pressures and personal freedoms. The latest Commonwealth Poll, conducted June 19–July 3, captures evolving voter sentiment in advance of the 2025 election and suggests momentum has shifted further toward Democratic candidates, particularly among independents.
Democrats hit Earle-Sears in new ad over job cuts, business ranking drop
The Democratic Party of Virginia is launching a new ad Thursday attacking Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears after Virginia lost its ranking at the top of CNBC’s Top States for Business list. Virginia fell from first place last year to fourth this year after a new metric was introduced to the process: federal job cuts.
Reid releases child care policy plan to bolster families
Virginia GOP candidate John Reid, who is running for lieutenant governor, released a new policy plan on Wednesday that will expand access to child care for parents while reducing government spending and bolstering resources for home-based and faith-based providers. National Republicans are riding the wave of victory from President Donald Trump‘s “big, beautiful bill,” which includes increasing the child tax credit to $2,200 for each child, an increase from $2,000.
Virginia Dems hold campaign funds advantage — except in one major race
Virginia Democrats appear to have a financial advantage over Republicans heading into this fall’s elections, with one notable exception. Campaign finance reports compiled by the Virginia Public Access Project show the Democratic nominees for governor and lieutenant governor — former US Rep. Abigail Spanberger and state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi of Chesterfield — far ahead of their GOP opponents in both amounts raised and cash on hand as of June 30.
Democrats lead fundraising in top statewide races, but Miyares outpaces AG opponent
New campaign finance reports show Democrats hold a fundraising edge in Virginia’s races for governor and lieutenant governor, while Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares is leveraging his incumbency to outpace his Democratic challenger. The latest reports, covering the period from June 6 to June 30, show Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger raised more than $4.2 million and ended the month with over $15.2 million in the bank.
Spanberger outraises Earle-Sears 2-to-1 in Virginia governor’s race
Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is opening a financial and polling gap in the race for governor, outraising her Republican opponent Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by nearly 2-to-1 last quarter and entering the final four months of Virginia’s statewide election season with more than triple the cash on hand.
Hashmi, Miyares have big financial advantage in down-ticket contests
A significant financial gulf has developed in both of Virginia’s down-ticket statewide races with four months until Election Day. Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, holds more than 10 times the cash on hand as her Republican rival, John Reid, while Jason Miyares, the GOP incumbent for attorney general, is sitting on nearly six times the war chest of his Democratic challenger, former Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk.
Youngkin visits Iowa, S.C. as 2028 presidential race looms
Gov. Youngkin is one of several possible GOP contenders for president in 2028 racing to build his national profile, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports. President Trump, who's dominated GOP politics for a decade, can't legally run again, leaving the door open for ambitious Republicans to offer themselves to primary voters and donors as the future of the party. Youngkin, who's term-limited in Virginia, is headed to Iowa to be the keynote speaker at the Republican Party of Iowa's annual Lincoln Dinner on Thursday. Next month, he'll be in South Carolina headlining the Silver Elephant Gala, the state GOP's biggest fundraiser of the year.
SCC says Dominion’s future spending plan ‘legally sufficient,’ warns against impact on consumers
In a ruling on Tuesday, the State Corporation Commission stated that Dominion Energy’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan, while “legally sufficient,” raises concerns about the utility’s future spending plans, which will “significantly impact millions of residential and business customers in the monthly bills they must pay for power,” the commission stated in the final order. Utility companies serving Virginia must provide a 15-year plan every two years to explain how they will meet energy demands, and carbon emission reductions standards through the Virginia Clean Economy Act that passed in 2020. The SCC then determines if the plan is reasonable and within the public’s best interest.
Appalachian Power has $135M plan to improve reliability
Appalachian Power plans to spend $135 million over three years on electric-grid upgrades to improve service reliability, which the utility said represents the first phase of a larger grid transformation process. The company, which has about 540,000 customers in Western Virginia, said Wednesday it is asking state regulators for permission to carry out the plan. Appalachian said it will submit a separate request late next year to charge customers for costs related to the project.
Virginia’s housing shortage looks grim, but builders and developers say incremental change will help
Anyone who’s tried to buy a house in Virginia in recent years will tell you it's not easy. There aren’t many houses available, and that leads to inflated prices and bidding wars. But changes from state agencies and the legislature are giving some hope. “We’re at a shortage on single-family homes," Delegate Carrie Coyner told Radio IQ after a meeting of the Virginia Housing Commission Tuesday morning. "It’s really hard to attract and keep young people and stay top for business.” The meeting included a presentation by Virginia Association of Realtors and it painted a grim picture of the Commonwealth’s housing market now and into the future.
Rail Trail coalition makes push at Commonwealth Transportation Board meeting
Wednesday morning’s Commonwealth Transportation Board meeting, voicing strong support for converting the Shenandoah Valley’s dormant rail corridor into a dedicated multi-use recreational trail. Shenandoah County Supervisor Tim Taylor delivered a coordinated message on behalf of the group at the meeting held at the George Washington Hotel in Winchester. ... “The vast majority of our community leaders, and our constituents, still believe the highest and best use of this corridor, at this time, is the creation of a multi-use trail.”
UVa hospital CEO Wendy Horton to resign
Wendy Horton, CEO of the University of Virginia Medical Center, is leaving the flagship hospital of the UVa Health System. Her exit means that in less than five months all three of UVa Health's top executives have announced their departures, leaving the top-ranked hospital system in the commonwealth without permanent leadership. And this in the wake of UVa President Jim Ryan's abrupt resignation last month under pressure from the Trump administration Department of Justice over diversity policies. Horton plans to leave Charlottesville in early September for San Francisco, where she has been named senior vice president and president of adult care services within the University of California ...
Embattled UVa Medical School dean stepping down
Four months after a resignation letter in her name was deemed a hoax and nine months after 128 health care professionals at the University of Virginia penned a letter of no confidence in her leadership, UVa School of Medicine Dean Dr. Melina Kibbe is stepping down. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston announced Monday it planned to hire Kibbe and she would officially be named president of the center after a required 21-day waiting period. UVa has not yet said who will be replacing her.
When will UVa have a new president?
There is no guarantee that the University of Virginia will have a new president by the time students return to Grounds in Charlottesville on Aug. 26. UVa announced Wednesday that the selection of an interim president will take weeks and is set to include a nomination process as well as multiple listening sessions with university community members. Former UVa President Jim Ryan's resignation took effect last Friday after he announced June 26 he would be stepping down under pressure from the Trump administration Department of Justice.
Letter from 12 deans to UVa. Board of Visitors goes unanswered for almost two weeks
In the wake of former University President Jim Ryan’s sudden resignation, 12 of the University’s 14 academic deans sent a letter to the Board of Visitors July 4 calling for transparency and expressing a desire to work alongside the Board during a time of "confusion and alarm” for many stakeholders. “We can be your partners in supporting the very best outcomes for our students, our patients and the broader University community,” the letter read. The Cavalier Daily obtained the letter from a source who wished to remain anonymous. The source said that, at the time of publication, the academic deans had received no response from the Board regarding their offer to meet with the Board “as soon as possible.”
Virginia, Maryland rejoin bid for Commanders stadium as DC Council lets exclusivity clause expire
Maryland and Virginia are reportedly off the bench as the state and commonwealth's bids to house the Commanders stadium have reportedly been resurrected. Hesitation within DC Council has pushed the District past a major deadline. While Washington, D.C. remained the frontrunner for the deal, with support from the Commanders franchise and NFL executives, the exclusivity clause that kept its stately neighbors from making their bids expired Tuesday. Leaving the ball in anyone's court -- or field, if you will. Despite the expiration of a key negotiation deadline, D.C. officials say a deal to bring the Washington Commanders back to the old RFK Stadium site is far from dead.
Federal license plate reader searches raise surveillance questions
Across Virginia, automated license plate readers built by Flock Safety silently capture and log details of every passing car. Most people don’t know they are being tracked; fewer know where that data ends up. Data from automatic license plate readers usually ends up in the hands of law enforcement. In Virginia, state and local law enforcement can access this data to support criminal investigations or missing persons cases. But in the City of Richmond, a recent incident is raising concerns about how technology can be misused for federal immigration enforcement.
Loudoun Supervisors Narrowly Approve Data Center Near Leesburg
After months of meetings in which supervisors debated the merits of allowing a data center on land near Leesburg Executive Airport, the board last night voted narrowly to approve the proposal. The rezoning application was submitted by JK Land Holdings and would permit up to 556,746 square feet of data center space on a 22-acre tract along Crosstrail Boulevard and Sycolin Road. It would also alternatively permit up to 416,000 square feet of warehouse or distribution uses, or up to 218,000 square feet of industrial uses.
Prince William neighbors clear first hurdle in Digital Gateway lawsuit
Nearly two years ago, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved the Prince William Digital Gateway, one of the largest data center developments in the world. But even before the final vote, a group of nearby residents began challenging the project in court. Now, they are awaiting a judge's decision on their case, but her refusal to dismiss their lawsuit has fueled a cautious optimism that the residents might prevail.
King George supervisors vote down solar and livestock operation
The King George County Board of Supervisors denied a special exception permit to construct a utility scale solar facility and livestock operation following a public hearing Tuesday night. The board voted 4-1 to deny the permit to Open Road Renewables and Gibson Solar I, LLC, which sought to erect the solar panels on approximately 890 acres of private land made up of 48 parcels adjacent to Kings Highway at the intersection of Big Timber Road. The applicants were also requesting a determination that the solar facility is in accordance with the county’s comprehensive plan.
On the day before a surprise vote to fire Norfolk Superintendent Sharon Byrdsong, the City Attorney sent an email to school board chair Sarah DiCalogero that Byrdsong's lawyer was dealing with her husband's medical emergency, which might delay a separation agreement. "I have no reason to doubt her lawyer’s explanation of why she may not immediately respond to our draft," attorney Bernard Pishko wrote, adding that "perhaps will delay executing the separation agreement which appears to be a ‘no-brainer.’" Pishko considered it a no-brainer because Byrdsong's contract spelled out the terms of her severance in case of dismissal without cause – "equal to the amount of the base annual salary and deferred compensation in effect for the previous twelve months."
Roanoke seeks share of Botetourt County’s Google data center tax revenues
Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb has asked Botetourt County to give the city 15% of the annual tax revenue generated by the future Google data center and to replace the water that will be used by the project, citing Roanoke’s “historic contribution” to the regional water authority and fears that the data center’s water demands could have a negative impact on recreation at Carvins Cove. Botetourt County says it already planned to do all those things. The board of supervisors this month approved a plan for water replacement, and the county has paid $450,000 to the Western Virginia Water Authority to start that process.
VA slows planned staff cuts, but concerns about services remain
Expected cuts to staff of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ultimately may not be as extensive as the agency first announced. While that’s some welcome news, downsizing at the federal agency serving millions of American veterans continues to be a pressing concern, especially in a military-centered region such as Hampton Roads. VA leaders insist that the ongoing reduction in force will not affect the care and services available to veterans. But the VA has a history of problems, including lengthy wait times at facilities across the country, and with a dramatic increase in the number of people utilizing its resources, it remains to be seen if the agency can deliver on its lofty promises.
Two and a half months before voting begins to pick Virginia’s next governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberer has more than three times as much campaign cash as Republican Winsome Earle-Sears — an advantage that may be unprecedented in modern times. Spanberger’s financial dominance is part of a larger pattern emerging in the 2025 campaign, in which Democrats are building big cash leads in many races that ought to be competitive. In the lieutenant governor’s race, Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has almost eight times as much cash on hand as Republican John Reid — even after spending money to win last month’s primary.
New VCU poll gives Spanberger a lead of 12 percentage points. Here’s what to know about that.
This has not been a good month for Virginia Republicans. Last week CNBC released its annual rankings of best states for business, in which Virginia dropped from first to fourth. This wouldn’t be a big deal except that Republicans have spent the past year bragging about how their policies helped return Virginia to the top spot; now CNBC says it’s Republican policies — or, more specifically, the policies of one particular Republican, Donald Trump — that have cost the state its No. 1 position.
Fisher: Why attack colleges? To open students’ minds or blow up institutions?
When President Donald Trump and the foot soldiers of his populist brigade went after Harvard and Columbia, they were right on message: In a rigidly divided country, Trump delights in dramatic actions against the symbols and institutions of the nation’s elites. When the Trump assault targeted the University of Virginia, the message got a bit muddy: Sure, most American colleges are hotbeds of conformist liberals eager to impose their righteousness on the rest of us. But U-Va. is also something of a throwback, a school that still celebrates its intellectual inspiration, Thomas Jefferson; stands up for rigor; and attracts students from a wide array of political backgrounds. Going after U-Va. seemed like a decision to spray the MAGA movement’s ammo randomly rather than target the core engines of higher education’s woke machine. Now, the mission has gone off the rails.
Finkelstein: If the attorney general won’t defend Virginia, who will?
It’s not every day that George Mason University lands on the front page of The Washington Post, in an op-ed by Virginia’s U.S. senators and in a joint investigation by The Chronicle of Higher Education and ProPublica. In 2006, when Mason stunned the nation as the “Cinderella” team in the NCAA Final Four, the attention was exhilarating. Today, the spotlight feels far more threatening. Since July 1, Mason has been notified of two federal civil rights investigations by the U.S. Department of Education — one concerning allegation of antisemitism and the other focused on diversity-related hiring practices.
