Chesapeake Del. Baxter Ennis announces retirement
RICHMOND — Del. Baxter Ennis, R-Chesapeake, announced Friday he will not seek re-election when his term is up in January 2026.
The 72 year-old, a retired U.S. Army officer from Chesapeake, was elected to the Virginia House in November of 2023 with 51% of the vote.
'It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of the 89th District in the House of Delegates these past two years,' Ennis said in a statement. 'I have fought for lower taxes, increased veterans' benefits, and to enact commonsense health care legislation that would have gone a long way in keeping our communities happy and healthy. Unfortunately, House Democrats playing partisan politics blocked all but one bill that I have brought up over the past two General Assembly sessions.'
Ennis went on to endorse current Chesapeake School Board member Mike Lamonea to represent the 89th district.
''Thank you for your prayers and support over the last two years,' Ennis wrote. 'I will continue to represent Chesapeake and Suffolk until the end of my term and to work on behalf of our community.'
Kate Seltzer, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - Democrats are looking for answers — outside Washington
On the campaign trail, President Trump made a lot of promises. He promised to strengthen our economy. He promised to make our government more efficient. He promised to bring down costs. But after more than 100 days in, our economy is not strengthened, our government is certainly not more efficient, and costs are not down. The president has entangled us in trade wars with some of our closest trading partners — wars that erased $10 trillion from the stock market this spring and threaten to decimate family farms in my district and across the country. And with the help of the Department of Government Efficiency, he has waged an all-out assault on the federal government in an effort to weed out 'waste, fraud, and abuse.' I believe the American people elected Trump because they wanted solutions to pocketbook issues and a government that took action to get things done. But the president's agenda isn't working, and Democrats need to deliver. That's where the New Dem Coalition comes in. Before I explain why, I want to acknowledge that Democrats haven't always gotten everything right. During the election, we saw many working class voters drift away from the party. At times, our emphasis on identity politics or concepts like 'saving democracy' — while undeniably important — overshadowed the core economic issues that affect people's everyday lives. Instead of meeting voters where they are, we sometimes come across as telling them where they should be. That approach can feel out of touch and give the impression that the party is elitist, disconnected from the realities of everyday people. Working class voters are focused on how they'll afford their mortgage, put food on the table, or save for their kids' college — not necessarily on abstract debates about the soul of the nation. Don't get me wrong: the threat to democracy is real and urgent, especially with a president who shows little respect for courts or the Constitution. But if we're truly going to save democracy, we must build a broader coalition and bring more voters along. That means meeting people where they are, rather than telling them what should matter most. We need to address the tangible, kitchen-table issues that keep folks up at night. The New Dem Coalition has always done this. We have prioritized the needs of hard working Americans over the politics of D.C. We understand that we should be finding ways to make our government more efficient. We understand that we have to work across the aisle when we can — without compromising our values. That's why New Dems are crafting a proactive agenda — not only to win the House majority in 2026, but to maintain it for the long term. So, we're getting out of the D.C. bubble for a new series known as 'New Dems On the Road.' We'll be engaging with communities across the country, and gathering the critical feedback we need to guide our work. We're tackling every issue — from improving education outcomes to bolstering our national security — and working to find practical, lasting solutions that reflect the values and priorities of the American people. For our first stop, we zeroed in on immigration. Immigration isn't a problem we're going to solve overnight, but it's one that is consistently top of mind for the American people. We've come close to bipartisan solutions, only for selfish interests to squash our efforts in the 11th hour. That's why New Dem Immigration and Border Security Working Group members Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) and Lou Correa (D-Calif.) sat down with Arizona leaders to talk about immigration. They met with industry and union representatives, members of the Arizona business community, and DACA recipients to discuss the importance of immigrants to Arizona's economy. The panel addressed the need to secure our border and pass a long-lasting immigration reform policy. It was instructive. And it showed the folks in these communities that we are listening to them. We know we don't have it all figured out — that's why we need real, local voices to help guide our work. Voices on the ground who are living and breathing these problems every single day. Then, it was my turn. I joined my friends Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) for a conversation around clean energy and potential opportunities for bipartisan cooperation. We discussed the actions the Trump administration has taken to gut clean energy tax credits. There is no way around it — this is going to have a negative impact on people's utility bills. They will feel this. We also discussed what's ahead — like permitting reform, carbon capture and ultimately ways we can lower costs for people trying to keep the lights on, not raise them. Last month, Reps. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) got together to talk one-on-one with Delawareans about paid family and medical leave for working families. This is just the beginning. In total, we'll be conducting at least nine New Dems On the Road events — across the country. We need to come together, share ideas and forge a new path forward. A path that can address the issues that demand our attention: whether it's a single mom struggling to afford child care, a farmer looking to break into new markets, or a family who wants a good, public school education for their kids. We should all be committed to finding effective ways to achieve our shared goals and ensure that the government serves the people better. This isn't a partisan objective; it's a matter of common sense. However, real progress requires thoughtful strategy and careful action, not reckless cuts. Simply slashing budgets without consideration doesn't eliminate waste — it erodes the very foundation of what our government is meant to do: serve its citizens. New Democrats understand this deeply. We recognize that this moment calls for a meaningful response and an agenda that inspires — not the status quo. Our communities have elected us to take action, to solve problems and to improve lives. Now, more than ever, Democrats need to prove we can deliver Nikki Budzinski represents the 13th District of Illinois and is vice chair for policy for the New Dem Coalition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
15 minutes ago
- Fox News
Sunny Hostin insists its 'not illegal' to be undocumented during immigration discussion on 'The View'
"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin declared Monday that it wasn't illegal to be undocumented because it's considered a civil offense. "Sixty percent of the American public, two-thirds of independents, 90% of Republicans and just a little under half of Democrats think the crime is in being undocumented," co-host Sara Haines said of Trump administration deportation efforts. "What I'm saying is, a massive amount of this country actually agrees with, not how he's doing it, but what he's doing." The co-hosts criticized President Donald Trump for sending in the National Guard on Monday to help quell rioting in Los Angeles over the weekend. "There's misinformation out there," Hostin said. "Let's axe that right now, because it is not illegal to be undocumented. It is not a crime to be undocumented. People are not illegal." "We need to put that information out there. It is a civil infraction," Hostin continued. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin pushed back and said it wasn't a broad misunderstanding, referring back to Haines' argument. "I think that 60% of Americans believe it's a civil offense and that if you come here, and you're undocumented, that you should be deported," she said. Haines told her co-hosts that there was more support for deportations than they realized. Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., has also slammed Trump for sending in the National Guard. "I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command," Newsom wrote on X on Sunday alongside his letter to Trump. "We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed." Several polls have shown broad support for deporting at least some illegal immigrants. A Pew Research Center poll released in late May found that 32% of U.S. adults say all illegal immigrants should be deported from the country, while 16% say none should be deported. About half of U.S. adults, however, said at least some immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported, although they couldn't reach a consensus on what factor should be grounds for deportation. A Fox News poll from October 2024 found that two-thirds of voters favored Trump's mass deportation plan.
Fox News
19 minutes ago
- Fox News
House Dems try to blame Trump for Los Angeles violence despite months of anti-ICE rhetoric
Democratic lawmakers are laying blame for the violent scenes in Los Angeles at President Donald Trump's feet, accusing the Republican White House of "baiting" rioters in California this weekend. Activists have taken to the streets of Los Angeles to protest Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across the city, with many demonstrations growing violent as protesters were seen throwing rocks at law enforcement and cars being set ablaze. Trump allies have fired back, accusing those Democratic lawmakers of hypocrisy – citing weeks of anti-ICE displays and rhetoric coming from liberals. "For weeks now, the Left has been spewing anti-ICE rhetoric, leading to riots in LA. Trump is calling for law and order. The Left is defending chaos because it fits their narrative," Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., told Fox News Digital. "Why won't they denounce these riots? Because it's not politically convenient for them." Crank's own home state of Colorado saw ICE crack down this year on a hotbed of reported gang activity by Tren de Aragua. But in Los Angeles, ICE raids on suspected illegal immigrants spurred residents to take to the streets. Images of masked protesters waving Mexican flags against the backdrop of burning cars and graffitied streets have captured national attention. Trump ordered the National Guard to provide backup to ICE agents despite objections from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. "The Trump administration is baiting unrest instead of working to bring our nation together. We must not give them what they want and will meet this cruelty with non-violence to ensure the protections and safety of immigrant communities," Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., wrote on X on Monday. That Trump officials were fomenting the violence appeared to quickly become Democrats' main talking point. "Trump wanted this violent confrontation to pit people against one another and distract Americans from the ongoing meltdown in the White House, the increase in prices due to Trump's tariffs and our Nation's declining reputation among our long-standing allies around the world," Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., wrote on X. Newsom himself posted on the site shortly before midnight on the West Coast, "Let's get this straight: 1) Local law enforcement didn't need help. 2) Trump sent troops anyway – to manufacture chaos and violence. 3) Trump succeeded. 4) Now things are destabilized and we need to send in more law enforcement just to clean up Trump's mess." Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said of Democrats' rhetoric: "Democrats just can't quit illegal aliens – even [if] they are terrorists and traffickers." "Americans are seeing this with their own eyes and they know who needs to be held accountable." The violence comes after weeks of Democrats criticizing ICE operations across the country, accusing the Trump administration of indiscriminately rounding people up without properly vetting their legal status or criminal histories. Three House Democrats and progressive Newark Mayor Ras Baraka clashed with ICE agents at Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey last month, after leading a protest at the facility. Others, like Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., are appearing at anti-ICE rallies across the country. Jayapal is among the Democratic figures headlining a "Rally for An End to ICE Raids Targeting Immigrant Workers" in Washington, D.C., on Monday. She posted on Sunday, "I urge every person using their right to protest to continue to do so peacefully, even as the Trump Administration escalates violence." Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who called federal immigration actions "hateful and divisive" at a protest in January, is also expected to attend the D.C. event, according to the Washington Post.
