Latest news with #ConstitutionofVirginia
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Earle-Sears' record on social issues complicates bid to follow Youngkin's path in Virginia governor's race
Winsome Earle-Sears, the all-but-certain Republican nominee in the Virginia governor's race this fall, has built the early stages of her campaign around being Gov. Glenn Youngkin's partner. Earle-Sears, the state's lieutenant governor, has largely attempted to frame her candidacy as an extension of the current administration, an attempt to replicate the term-limited governor's path to victory in the blue-leaning state four years ago. 'Together, we've fought for parents, backed the blue, and delivered real results for Virginians. Now, it's time to keep that momentum going,' Earle-Sears, referring to Youngkin, wrote in a Facebook post earlier this year. But there has been notable daylight between Earle-Sears and Youngkin on several fronts, particularly on social issues, complicating her strategy to follow in the footsteps of her more popular governing partner. 'She is definitely trying to have it all ways,' said a Republican operative in Virginia, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about Earle-Sears. Most prominently, Earle-Sears has made clear she is not fully aligned with Youngkin on a pair of hot-button social issues: same-sex marriage and abortion rights. Last year, Youngkin signed legislation protecting marriage equality in Virginia. But Earle-Sears left a handwritten note on the bill stating she was 'morally opposed' to the legislation. Following the bill's passage through both chambers of the Legislature, Earle-Sears wrote on the physical copy, 'As the Lt. Governor, I recognize and respect my constitutional obligation to adhere to the procedures laid out in the Constitution of Virginia. However, I remain morally opposed to the contents of HB174 as passed by the General Assembly.' Earle-Sears doubled down on separating herself from Youngkin's position on the issue in a recent interview, telling a local news outlet in Richmond last month that she was 'fine' with civil unions but refused to say she supported same-sex marriage. She's also out of step with Youngkin's positioning on abortion rights. In 2023, Youngkin proposed a 15-week ban on abortion in the state, which included exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the mother, in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to help the GOP carve out a less severe 'consensus' bill restricting reproductive rights. For her part, Earle-Sears has supported a ban at six weeks, or when fetal cardiac activity is detected — a point at which most women don't even know they are pregnant — and with fewer exceptions. While she got behind Youngkin's 15-week ban in 2023, she left another handwritten note on a measure passed by the Legislature earlier this year to send to voters a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the state's abortion protections. 'I am morally opposed to this bill; no protection for the child,' she wrote. She has also in the past called abortion 'genocide' and vowed to 'do everything in my power' to end abortion in Virginia. Youngkin managed to shift the focus elsewhere during his 2021 campaign — and has largely had to continue doing so as governor, as he's dealt with a Democratic-controlled Legislature. But the fact that he staked out middle ground on social issues has only further highlighted Earle-Sears' more conservative positioning. In addition, Earle-Sears has faced criticism for her approach to the plight of federal workers in Virginia who have been affected by President Donald Trump's moves to shrink the size of government via the Department of Government Efficiency. She praised those efforts earlier this year, saying she was 'glad' Trump was 'getting to the bottom' of alleged waste and fraud in the federal government. While she has often pointed to the Youngkin administration's investments in the private sector of the Virginia economy as a reason workers need not worry, she has also said she would help Trump 'get the job done' on the issue. And she downplayed the federal layoffs at an event in March, saying, 'The media is making it out to be a huge, huge thing — and I don't understand why.' Youngkin, on the other hand, has said he wants to 'cushion' his state's economy from the effects of DOGE and earlier this year was frequently touting a website his administration created that effectively serves as a job board — while also praising DOGE. Earle-Sears' positions stand in contrast to the relative political middle ground Youngkin has famously staked out in Virginia — efforts that have contributed to a record of strong approval ratings for the Republican governor in a state that Kamala Harris carried last year by about 6 percentage points. Last month, though, a Roanoke College poll found a 44% favorability rating for Youngkin among registered voters, versus 50% who view him unfavorably — his worst showing in that particular poll, and a possible indication that the broader GOP brand could be facing trouble in Virginia. But Earle-Sears had lower marks, with only 32% viewing her favorably and 48% saying they had an unfavorable view. Another 20% of respondents said they had no opinion of her. And the poll showed Democrat Abigail Spanberger leading Earle-Sears in the governor's race by 17 points. Political operatives in the state from both parties told NBC News these notable departures by Earle-Sears — particularly on social issues — risk turning off large chunks of voters in the political center that she'd need to hold together Youngkin's winning coalition from four years ago. 'What's her core promise to the voter? It should be pretty simple: 'Things are going good. Let's keep it going' — but she gets distracted,' the Republican operative said. Democratic Party of Virginia spokesperson Maggie Amjad said these issues, and others, show that Earle-Sears 'is a far-right candidate with a long record that's out of step with Virginians.' Representatives for both Earle-Sears and Youngkin downplayed any differences in their political views and emphasized that Youngkin's strengths as governor still extended to Earle-Sears and other Republicans on the ballot in Virginia this fall. 'The media's obsession with creating division where there isn't any won't change the fact that the Youngkin-Sears Administration is one of the most popular in Virginia's history — that's no accident,' Earle-Sears campaign press secretary Peyton Vogel said in an email to NBC News. 'They share a commitment to common-sense leadership, individual liberty, and getting government out of the way. Winsome has been a vital part of this administration, and will continue to bring ideas to the table that better the lives of Virginians across the Commonwealth as Governor just as she has during her time as Lieutenant Governor.' Justin Discigil, a spokesperson for Youngkin's Spirit of Virginia PAC, said in an email that 'Youngkin has delivered for Virginians with record tax relief, record job growth, and record investments in education, law enforcement, behavioral health, and other shared priorities,' and that Earle-Sears 'and all Virginia Republicans have a record to run on with proven results.' Earle-Sears' positioning on social issues and DOGE could further complicate what had already emerged as an uphill climb for Republicans to keep control of the governorship. Earle-Sears has already faced a torrent of criticism for running an undisciplined campaign. And Spanberger, her opponent, is widely seen as a strong candidate who has won several competitive House races. The GOP also faces historical headwinds: In 11 of the last 12 Virginia gubernatorial races, voters elected the candidate of the party out of power in the White House. Republicans view Youngkin's 2021 victory as the product of a unique candidate who was able to benefit from the anger and fatigue over the Covid-19 pandemic and remote learning in public schools. Strategists said that will be difficult to replicate this year. 'He just simply makes the main thing the main thing, and he's extremely disciplined about it. Everything fits into 'make Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family.' He puts everything into the common sense bucket, the kitchen-table issue bucket. That's where he lives. That's why his approval ratings are always pretty high,' said Virginia-based Republican strategist Zack Roday, who previously worked with Youngkin through his Spirit of Virginia PAC but is not working with the Earle-Sears campaign. Roday, along with other Virginia GOP strategists, suggested that Earle-Sears hadn't yet displayed the same political strengths. Meanwhile, Democrats signaled they were preparing to seize on another difference they said would be meaningful to Virginia voters: how each candidate handled Trump during their campaign. Throughout the 2021 campaign, Youngkin notably kept his distance from Trump, who was at a political low point following his loss to Joe Biden and the fallout from the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. While Youngkin has since cultivated a much more public and close relationship with Trump in the years since, operatives from both major parties credited that distance during that campaign as another reason he won. Earle-Sears has so far voiced full-throated support for Trump. Earle-Sears 'is only focused on appeasing Trump and pushing an extreme agenda that's wrong for Virginia,' said Amjad. This article was originally published on
NBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Earle-Sears' record on social issues complicates bid to follow Youngkin's path in Virginia governor's race
Winsome Earle-Sears, the all-but-certain Republican nominee in the Virginia governor's race this fall, has built the early stages of her campaign around being Gov. Glenn Youngkin's partner. Earle-Sears, the state's lieutenant governor, has largely attempted to frame her candidacy as an extension of the current administration, an attempt to replicate the term-limited governor's path to victory in the blue-leaning state four years ago. 'Together, we've fought for parents, backed the blue, and delivered real results for Virginians. Now, it's time to keep that momentum going,' Earle-Sears, referring to Youngkin, wrote in a Facebook post earlier this year. But there has been notable daylight between Earle-Sears and Youngkin on several fronts, particularly on social issues, complicating her strategy to follow in the footsteps of her more popular governing partner. 'She is definitely trying to have it all ways,' said a Republican operative in Virginia, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about Earle-Sears. Most prominently, Earle-Sears has made clear she is not fully aligned with Youngkin on a pair of hot-button social issues: same-sex marriage and abortion rights. Last year, Youngkin signed legislation protecting marriage equality in Virginia. But Earle-Sears left a handwritten note on the bill stating she was 'morally opposed' to the legislation. Following the bill's passage through both chambers of the Legislature, Earle-Sears wrote on the physical copy, 'As the Lt. Governor, I recognize and respect my constitutional obligation to adhere to the procedures laid out in the Constitution of Virginia. However, I remain morally opposed to the contents of HB174 as passed by the General Assembly.' Earle-Sears doubled down on separating herself from Youngkin's position on the issue in a recent interview, telling a local news outlet in Richmond last month that she was 'fine' with civil unions but refused to say she supported same-sex marriage. She's also out of step with Youngkin's positioning on abortion rights. In 2023, Youngkin proposed a 15-week ban on abortion in the state, which included exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the mother, in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to help the GOP carve out a less severe 'consensus' bill restricting reproductive rights. For her part, Earle-Sears has supported a ban at six weeks, or when fetal cardiac activity is detected — a point at which most women don't even know they are pregnant — and with fewer exceptions. While she got behind Youngkin's 15-week ban in 2023, she left another handwritten note on a measure passed by the Legislature earlier this year to send to voters a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the state's abortion protections. 'I am morally opposed to this bill; no protection for the child,' she wrote. She has also in the past called abortion 'genocide' and vowed to 'do everything in my power' to end abortion in Virginia. Youngkin managed to shift the focus elsewhere during his 2021 campaign — and has largely had to continue doing so as governor, as he's dealt with a Democratic-controlled Legislature. But the fact that he staked out middle ground on social issues has only further highlighted Earle-Sears' more conservative positioning. In addition, Earle-Sears has faced criticism for her approach to the plight of federal workers in Virginia who have been affected by President Donald Trump's moves to shrink the size of government via the Department of Government Efficiency. She praised those efforts earlier this year, saying she was 'glad' Trump was 'getting to the bottom' of alleged waste and fraud in the federal government. While she has often pointed to the Youngkin administration's investments in the private sector of the Virginia economy as a reason workers need not worry, she has also said she would help Trump ' get the job done ' on the issue. And she downplayed the federal layoffs at an event in March, saying, 'The media is making it out to be a huge, huge thing — and I don't understand why.' Youngkin, on the other hand, has said he wants to 'cushion' his state's economy from the effects of DOGE and earlier this year was frequently touting a website his administration created that effectively serves as a job board — while also praising DOGE. Earle-Sears' positions stand in contrast to the relative political middle ground Youngkin has famously staked out in Virginia — efforts that have contributed to a record of strong approval ratings for the Republican governor in a state that Kamala Harris carried last year by about 6 percentage points. Last month, though, a Roanoke College poll found a 44% favorability rating for Youngkin among registered voters, versus 50% who view him unfavorably — his worst showing in that particular poll, and a possible indication that the broader GOP brand could be facing trouble in Virginia. But Earle-Sears had lower marks, with only 32% viewing her favorably and 48% saying they had an unfavorable view. Another 20% of respondents said they had no opinion of her. And the poll showed Democrat Abigail Spanberger leading Earle-Sears in the governor's race by 17 points. Political operatives in the state from both parties told NBC News these notable departures by Earle-Sears — particularly on social issues — risk turning off large chunks of voters in the political center that she'd need to hold together Youngkin's winning coalition from four years ago. 'What's her core promise to the voter? It should be pretty simple: 'Things are going good. Let's keep it going' — but she gets distracted,' the Republican operative said. Democratic Party of Virginia spokesperson Maggie Amjad said these issues, and others, show that Earle-Sears 'is a far-right candidate with a long record that's out of step with Virginians.' Representatives for both Earle-Sears and Youngkin downplayed any differences in their political views and emphasized that Youngkin's strengths as governor still extended to Earle-Sears and other Republicans on the ballot in Virginia this fall. 'The media's obsession with creating division where there isn't any won't change the fact that the Youngkin-Sears Administration is one of the most popular in Virginia's history — that's no accident,' Earle-Sears campaign press secretary Peyton Vogel said in an email to NBC News. 'They share a commitment to common-sense leadership, individual liberty, and getting government out of the way. Winsome has been a vital part of this administration, and will continue to bring ideas to the table that better the lives of Virginians across the Commonwealth as Governor just as she has during her time as Lieutenant Governor.' Justin Discigil, a spokesperson for Youngkin's Spirit of Virginia PAC, said in an email that 'Youngkin has delivered for Virginians with record tax relief, record job growth, and record investments in education, law enforcement, behavioral health, and other shared priorities,' and that Earle-Sears 'and all Virginia Republicans have a record to run on with proven results.' A challenging political landscape Earle-Sears' positioning on social issues and DOGE could further complicate what had already emerged as an uphill climb for Republicans to keep control of the governorship. Earle-Sears has already faced a torrent of criticism for running an undisciplined campaign. And Spanberger, her opponent, is widely seen as a strong candidate who has won several competitive House races. The GOP also faces historical headwinds: In 11 of the last 12 Virginia gubernatorial races, voters elected the candidate of the party out of power in the White House. Republicans view Youngkin's 2021 victory as the product of a unique candidate who was able to benefit from the anger and fatigue over the Covid-19 pandemic and remote learning in public schools. Strategists said that will be difficult to replicate this year. 'He just simply makes the main thing the main thing, and he's extremely disciplined about it. Everything fits into 'make Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family.' He puts everything into the common sense bucket, the kitchen-table issue bucket. That's where he lives. That's why his approval ratings are always pretty high,' said Virginia-based Republican strategist Zack Roday, who previously worked with Youngkin through his Spirit of Virginia PAC but is not working with the Earle-Sears campaign. Roday, along with other Virginia GOP strategists, suggested that Earle-Sears hadn't yet displayed the same political strengths. Meanwhile, Democrats signaled they were preparing to seize on another difference they said would be meaningful to Virginia voters: how each candidate handled Trump during their campaign. Throughout the 2021 campaign, Youngkin notably kept his distance from Trump, who was at a political low point following his loss to Joe Biden and the fallout from the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. While Youngkin has since cultivated a much more public and close relationship with Trump in the years since, operatives from both major parties credited that distance during that campaign as another reason he won. Earle-Sears has so far voiced full-throated support for Trump. Earle-Sears 'is only focused on appeasing Trump and pushing an extreme agenda that's wrong for Virginia,' said Amjad.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia's Democratic lieutenant governor candidates discuss taking on Trump, federal cuts
A field of six candidates is competing to be the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in Virginia's June 17 primary election. It's a job that, at first blush, doesn't appear to have as many responsibilities as other elected offices. The lieutenant governor is first in the line of succession for the governor, and shall assume the position if the governor is not able to complete his or her job duties, according to the Constitution of Virginia. But the office also presides over the Virginia Senate, and casts tiebreaking votes. It's a distinct possibility in the chamber, which currently has a 21-19 Democratic advantage. Additionally, several former lieutenant governors, such as Doug Wilder, Tim Kaine and Ralph Northam, have used the office as a springboard to successfully run for governor. This year, retired attorney Alex Bastani, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef, state Sen. Aaron Rouse, former prosecutor Victor Salgado and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney are Democratic primary. The winner will face Republican nominee and former talk radio host John Reid in the November general election. At least by campaign fundraising amounts and endorsements, the candidates can be divided into two groups: three longtime Virginia Democrats with years of governing experience and three relative newcomers to politics. Leading the money race this year is Stoney with about $1.4 million raisedas of March 31, Rouse with $1.2 million and Hashmi with $1.1 million , according to the Virginia Public Access Project. During the same time period, Lateef has raised about $970,000, Salgado has raised $204,000 and Bastani $134,000. In cash donations of less than $100 — a metric campaigns often tout as an indication of grassroots support — Hashmi leads with 1,721 donations as of March 31, followed by Rouse with 994 donations, Lateef with 374, Stoney with 210, Salgado with 117 and Bastani with 14. In the endorsement game, Stoney has the backing of former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and former Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Rouse has endorsements from U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott and state Sen. Louise Lucas. Hashmi has endorsements from Rep. Ro Khanna of California and the Sierra Club. Lateef has been endorsed by the Move Chamber, a Muslim chamber of commerce, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 51. The list is compiled through campaign announcements and websites and is not definitive. Several candidates say their government experience helps them stand out, while others touted their outsider status. Rouse, a former professional football player and Virginia Beach City Council member, touted his experience in local government and the Virginia Senate. He noted his track record of moves such as sponsoring a bill to revise a property tax exemption program for seniors and winning a seat previously held by a Republican in a 2023 special election that helped safeguard against a GOP effort to enact a 15-week abortion ban. That bill however, was defeated in committee and Rouse did not vote on the legislation. 757 Votes: The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2025 primary election guide 6 Virginia Democrats run for election in crowded lieutenant governor primary Democrats running for attorney general say Virginia needs to challenge Trump Rouse, who was raised in Norfolk and later Virginia Beach by a single mother, said he would continue to showcase the values the region taught him. 'I look forward to making my hometown proud,' he said. Hashmi is the first Muslim elected to the Virginia Senate and spent 30 years as a college professor. She took office in 2020 and touted her experience in the state legislature. She serves as chair of the of the Senate Education and Health Committee. 'I think it's really important to have someone in this position that's ready on day one to start taking on the critical areas that are impacting Virginia,' she said. Stoney, who was Richmond mayor for eight years and secretary of the commonwealth under McAuliffe, touted his experience as well. 'For eight years, I've had to make bold, consequential decisions in the daily lives of Virginians,' Stoney said. During his time as mayor, Stoney decided to remove over a dozen Confederate monuments after 2020 protests triggered by the police killing of George Floyd. However, he faced criticism over the police tear gassing of peaceful protestors, unrealized development projects and supporting two failed casino referendum votes. Lateef is a is an ophthalmologist and has served as chair of the Prince William County School Board since 2018. He touted student improvement during his time on the school board, and said he would focus on kitchen table issues like the economic prosperity for all Virginians. He also said he would advocate for using the state's recent revenue surpluses to invest in Virginia school capital improvement projects. Salgado, a former federal prosecutor with the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, said he had anticipated the federal government's incursion into states' rights and would help advise the governor and attorney general on how to fight back against the Trump administration. He's also made campaign finance reform a central pillar of his campaign, saying he would withhold votes in the Virginia Senate if a campaign finance bill was not passed by lawmakers. Salgado is pushing for limits on personal and corporate campaign contributions, to forbid conduit contributions — where a straw donor is used to hide the identity of the actual donor — and to create a watchdog agency to investigate violations. Bastani, a former U.S. Labor Department lawyer, is presenting himself as the progressive choice for the office by supporting universal health care and repealing the state's right-to-work law, which lets workers choose whether or not to pay union dues. All six candidates say they would like to repeal the measure, but Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger told a Richmond TV station she would not sign a repeal. Bastani said his potential win would signal that voters want to repeal the law and put additional pressure on Spanberger to sign a bill. He also believed universal health care could be implemented at the state level, saying studies have shown the program could save billions if implemented in the entire country. The candidates also offered differing solutions to standing up to President Donald Trump's cuts to federal jobs, grants and services like Medicaid. Hashmi said she would move for Virginia to quickly rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, saying it could provide millions of dollars in climate program funding to plug holes from federal cuts. Gov. Glenn Youngkin directed Virginia to leave the 12-state carbon emissions reduction program in 2022. A federal judge ruled the move was unlawful in November, but the state is appealing the ruling. Rouse said he would attempt to not only push back but work together with federal officials to try and reverse the cuts. Stoney said he would continue to speak out about the cuts, and called out Youngkin and current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the GOP candidate for governor, for not doing more to resist the federal actions. Salgado said the state must be ready to combat Trump's bill in court immediately once it is signed into law. Additionally, he called for looking into whether state funding sources could be used as stopgap measures. Lateef also supported taking the Trump administration to court, and advocated for civil disobedience if the administration did not comply with court orders. Bastani also advocated with working together with federal lawmakers to reverse the cuts, and said he supported raising Virginia's corporate tax rate to create more revenue to support affected communities. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345,
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sentenced commuted for former Fairfax Co. officer involved in fatal shooting
RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the Fairfax County police officer, sentenced on Feb 28th to three years in prison for shooting an unarmed shoplifter in February 2023, will have his sentence commuted and will serve no time in prison. Wesley Shifflett was sentenced Friday to five years in prison with two years suspended for reckless handling of a firearm. In February 2023 Shifflett,a former sergeant with Fairfax County Police, shot and killed Timothy McCree Johnson, an unarmed man, after a short foot chase outside Tysons Corner Center. Shifflett and another Fairfax County police officer chased Johnson after security guards reported that Johnson had stolen sunglasses from a Nordstrom department store in the mall. Youngkin released a statement late Sunday announcing the commutation reading in part, "I have today used the executive clemency authority granted to me by the Constitution of Virginia and commuted the sentence imposed on Sgt. Wesley Shifflett who was convicted of recklessly discharging a firearm by the Fairfax County Circuit Court. "I am convinced that the court's sentence of incarceration is unjust and violates the cornerstone of our justice system—that similarly situated individuals receive proportionate sentences. I want to emphasize that a jury acquitted Sgt. Shifflett of the more serious charge of involuntary manslaughter, a conviction for which the sentencing guidelines recommend no jail time or up to six months' incarceration." Commonwealth attorney Steve Descano responded to the commutation, saying, "I'm outraged at Youngkin's decision tonight. Glenn Youngkin has spent the last four years honing his Trump impersonation, and now he's following in his footsteps by commuting sentences just to score political points. This is an insult to all Virginians who value an untainted justice system."
