Commonwealth News
VIRGINIA PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT | vpap.org
June 16, 2025
Va. ahead of revenue forecast despite federal warning signs
Virginia moved almost a half-billion dollars ahead of forecast for government revenues through May, with one month left to ensure it collects enough tax money to pay for state spending obligations in the fiscal year that ends on June 30. The state is not likely to enter the next fiscal year on July 1 with a big surplus, as it has for the past five years, but collections were $488.3 million ahead of forecast in the first 11 months of the year.
Judge: Virginia registrar charged in failed elections case cannot sue Miyares
A former Northern Virginia elections registrar cannot sue state Attorney General Jason S. Miyares (R) and a top deputy over what she says were bogus charges related to her handling of 2020 presidential election results, according to a federal judge who found the prosecutors have legal immunity from such claims. The judge’s order allows former Prince William County registrar Michele White to continue suing two other defendants — a pair of investigators from Miyares’s office who White says fabricated evidence against her to build a felony case that cost the registrar her career but ultimately crumbled before it could go to trial.
What to know ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, attorney general
Six candidates will be on the ballot Tuesday in a Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, and two others are facing off for the party’s nod for Virginia attorney general. Can you name any of them? If you can’t, it’s not too late to learn about the elections, which could see turnout of less than 10 percent of registered voters, according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
Appeals for federal relief funds for Va. schools uncertain
After the U.S. education secretary set a March deadline to use unspent pandemic relief funds, Virginia school officials are still awaiting a decision on their appeal whether the federal government will rescind the cutoff allowing them to use $33 million. Across the commonwealth, 14 school divisions, including Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Symth County, and the Department of Juvenile Justice have appealed to use $25 million. The Virginia Department of Education wants to use nearly $8 million.
Thousands gather across Virginia on Saturday for ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump
Saturday was the first time Elizabeth Prom-Wormley had protested, she said. “But it just … enough's enough already,” she said. “I feel hurt. I feel angry. I feel hopeless, and I don't like feeling that way as somebody who pays their taxes on time and gives to my community over and over and over again.” Prom-Wormley was one of thousands who gathered at the Virginia state Capitol, as thousands more across the commonwealth protested against the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration. And the demonstrations in Richmond, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., were among thousands of planned protests in the U.S., offering contentious counterprogramming to a military parade for the Army’s 250th birthday, which coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday.
Gov. Youngkin heads to Europe for trade mission focused on Virginia jobs and investment
Governor Glenn Youngkin is leading a Virginia delegation to France and the United Kingdom starting June 15 to boost business ties, attract investment, and promote the state’s workforce and innovation. The trip begins at the 2025 Paris Air Show, where the governor will meet with top aerospace and defense companies. He plans to highlight Virginia’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and the state’s new Aerospace Talent Accelerator, which graduates its first class this summer.
Youngkin: Minnesota shootings ‘a crime against our entire republic’
Virginia’s political leaders on Saturday condemned the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses and called for turning down political rhetoric. Minnesota authorities said a man pretending to be a police officer shot and killed Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House Speaker, and her husband at their home early Saturday and separately shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their residence. ... Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Saturday: “Political violence is not just a crime against those tragically killed or wounded, but a crime against our entire republic. We must all condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms ...”
New Virginia law targeting drug dealers after fentanyl deaths is ‘huge win,’ mother says
A new Virginia law will allow prosecutors to charge drug dealers with involuntary manslaughter if they sell fentanyl that leads to a fatal overdose. The new law, which passed with support from both political parties, carries a sentence of one to 10 years. For Sharon Roberts, the law represents a victory in her personal fight against fentanyl. Roberts lost her son, Shawn, in 2018 after he took what he thought was Xanax, but it was laced with heroin and fentanyl. ... Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the legislation Friday at a Hanover County fire station after recently highlighting Virginia's progress in fighting the crisis. There has been a 44% drop in fentanyl overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024.
Virginia governor’s race a test of Trump’s grip on competitive state
Virginia's governor election this year is a popularity test for Republican President Donald Trump and his policies, presenting an opportunity for Democrats to claw back some power after the party's recent election rout. The southern state holds a primary on Tuesday that will determine who faces off in the November 4 general election. The process is largely a formality as Democrats and Republicans each have only one candidate, likely meaning either Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, the first Black Republican elected statewide, or Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former three-term U.S. Representative, will become the state's first woman governor.
Victor Salgado envisions a powerful lieutenant governor for Virginia
Victor Salgado is a former federal prosecutor who left the US Department of Justice after President Donald Trump’s second election. The Northern Virginia attorney spent his career prosecuting public corruption, bribery and election crimes; now, he’s hoping his legal experience will serve him well as Virginia’s next lieutenant governor. Salgado is one of six candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the June 17 primary. The winner will face Republican John Reid in November for the office currently held by Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears.
Virginia AG Hopeful Was Outraising His Rival — Then Dominion Energy Tipped the Scale
Both candidates for Virginia attorney general in Tuesday’s Democratic primary have much in common. They’ve both promised, for instance, to fight against Donald Trump and DOGE, and to protect abortion rights. When it comes to who is funding their campaigns, though, there’s one source of cash that marks a striking difference between the candidates: Dominion Energy, the Fortune 500 utility company that has long thrown around huge sums to shape politics in Virginia. In the attorney general primary this year, local prosecutor Shannon Taylor has accepted $650,000 in donations from Dominion, while former state delegate Jay Jones has not taken any from the company.
Big turnout for Democrats in Virginia’s early primary voting gives party hope
Early voting was strong across Virginia this year in the 45 days leading up to Tuesday’s primary elections, in which voters will choose Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general and, in a handful of districts, candidates from both parties for the House of Delegates and local offices. Nearly 158,000 people had cast votes in Democratic primaries as of Thursday — up from 124,000 at the same point in Democratic primaries four years ago, when the party had a hotly contested, five-way primary for governor, according to analysis of the latest available data by the Virginia Public Access Project
A tax break for cigarettes sparks a flood of imports
A loophole in U.S. trade law is turning into what could be a multibillion-dollar windfall for international cigarette firms with Mexican-made packs of longtime U.S. brands already flooding into the United States. An obscure 2015 tweak to an old law allows international tobacco firms to get a refund, called a drawback, of the $1.01 a pack federal excise tax, when they import cigarettes into the U.S. ... It's a big issue for Henrico County-based Altria, because the tobacco giant does not import cigarettes and does not sell cigarettes outside the United States.
Culpeper man drives SUV through crowd at ‘No Kings’ protest; no injuries reported
A person at a No Kings protest was struck by a vehicle Saturday in Culpeper as a crowd was dispersing near the end of the gathering on the sidewalk in front of Walmart. Police said no injuries were reported and they don't know who was hit, but a Culpeper man has been taken into custody in the incident. Culpeper Police Department officers were in the area of 801 James Madison Highway on June 14 monitoring the conclusion of a lawful protest event organized by Culpeper Democrats as part of a nationwide movement protesting Trump Administration policies.
Crowd lines Abingdon sidewalks for ‘No Kings’ rally
Armed with signs and placards, protesters of all ages lined both sides of Main Street in the center of Abingdon Saturday, wanting their voices and feelings opposing President Donald Trump’s recent actions be heard. Organizers said about 700 people assembled near the federal courthouse for two hours to conduct a peaceful protest.
Organ transplant network chooses new board, drawing more criticism
The nation’s organ transplant network has elected a new board of directors in the federal government’s latest effort to reform a flawed system. For now, the Richmond-based United Network for Organ Sharing acts as the contractor that administers the network, which includes more than 300 transplant hospitals and organ procurement organizations that recover hearts, livers and kidneys from dead donors. The federal government has solicited bids from outsiders and has said it will divvy up UNOS’s work among other companies.
Va. is posed for economic growth, but thirsty for stability
Gov. Glenn Youngkin remains steadfast in his belief that Virginia’s economy can deftly navigate abruptly shifting federal tariff policies and growing fears of an economic recession. Early data suggests the situation is precarious, however, and business leaders have voiced the need for greater stability and predictability. Despite those challenges, one thing is clear: The commonwealth is fortunate to have considerable resources and successful programs in place to make this an attractive place to build a business and enjoy financial success. So long as that remains true, Virginia will be well positioned to compete, whatever may come.
Yancey: 10 questions that Tuesday’s primaries will answer
I don’t know who’s going to win Tuesday’s Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor and attorney general but I can sure tell you who’s going to lose: Donald Trump. If all you knew was what you saw from the television ads of the six lieutenant governor candidates and two attorney general candidates, you’d think Trump is their opponent, not the others on the ballot. That’s likely good politics in a Democratic primary, but it also highlights just how few policy differences there appear to be between the respective candidates. Some primaries are a battle royale for “the soul of the party.” This year’s Democratic primaries for two of the three statewide offices — Abigail Spanberger is already the party’s nominee for governor — does not appear to be one of those.
