Latest news with #DPVA
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spanberger confirmed as Democratic nominee for Virginia governor's race
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) was confirmed Thursday as the presumptive Democratic nominee in the 2025 gubernatorial race in Virginia. She is the lone Democrat running to be governor, according to the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA), which released a full list of candidates running in the 2025 primary races Thursday evening, once the 5 p.m. EDT filing deadline had passed. Virginia's primary elections will take place June 17, 2025, and the general election will be held Nov. 4, 2025. The DPVA confirmed Spanberger's name 'will appear on the general election ballot.' 'Thank you to every Virginian who has shared with me their vision for our Commonwealth's future since I launched my campaign,' said Spanberger, a moderate Democrat who served three terms in the House after serving as a CIA case officer. 'As the Democratic nominee for Governor of Virginia, I look forward to having many more meaningful conversations with all Virginians — across our communities and regardless of who they've cast their votes for in the past — about the issues that matter most to them,' she continued in the statement. The other Democratic primary races in Virginia will be more competitive. The DPVA listed six names that will appear on the primary election ballot in June running for lieutenant governor: Alex Bastani, Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Prince William County School Board Chairman Dr. Babur Lateef, Senator Aaron Rouse, Victor Salgado and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. The DPVA confirmed two Democrats running for attorney general: former Delegate Jay Jones and Commonwealth's Attorney of Henrico County Shannon Taylor. On the Republican side, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is running for governor. It remained unclear by Thursday evening whether former state Sen. Amanda Chase (R) met the qualifications to appear on the GOP primary ballot or whether the lieutenant governor would also be the presumptive nominee for her party. Chase said she filed the paperwork to run for governor on Thursday but did not have time before the 5 p.m. deadline to count and verify that she had the necessary number of signatures to make the primary ballot. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is ineligible to run in November, as Virginia prohibits governors from serving consecutive terms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
04-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Spanberger confirmed as Democratic nominee for Virginia governor's race
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) was confirmed Thursday as the presumptive Democratic nominee in the 2025 gubernatorial race in Virginia. She is the lone Democrat running to be governor, according to the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA), which released a full list of candidates running in the 2025 primary races Thursday evening, once the 5 p.m. EDT filing deadline had passed. Virginia's primary elections will take place June 17, 2025, and the general election will be held Nov. 4, 2025. The DPVA confirmed Spanberger's name 'will appear on the general election ballot.' 'Thank you to every Virginian who has shared with me their vision for our Commonwealth's future since I launched my campaign,' said Spanberger, a moderate Democrat who served three terms in the House after serving as a CIA case officer. 'As the Democratic nominee for Governor of Virginia, I look forward to having many more meaningful conversations with all Virginians — across our communities and regardless of who they've cast their votes for in the past — about the issues that matter most to them,' she continued in the statement. The other Democratic primary races in Virginia will be more competitive. The DPVA listed six names that will appear on the primary election ballot in June running for lieutenant governor: Alex Bastani, Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Prince William County School Board Chairman Dr. Babur Lateef, Senator Aaron Rouse, Victor Salgado and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. The DPVA confirmed two Democrats running for attorney general: former Delegate Jay Jones and Commonwealth's Attorney of Henrico County Shannon Taylor. On the Republican side, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is running for governor. It remained unclear by Thursday evening whether former state Sen. Amanda Chase (R) met the qualifications to appear on the GOP primary ballot or whether the lieutenant governor would also be the presumptive nominee for her party. Chase said she filed the paperwork to run for governor on Thursday but did not have time before the 5 p.m. deadline to count and verify that she had the necessary number of signatures to make the primary ballot. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is ineligible to run in November, as Virginia prohibits governors from serving consecutive terms.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bagby elected next Democratic Party of Virginia chair
Del. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) Following a brief campaign to replace outgoing Democratic Party of Virginia chairwoman Susan Swecker, Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, was chosen as her successor over the weekend. After announcing her decision to step down last month ahead of her term's end in December, Bagby emerged as the sole and heavily-endorsed candidate. Then democratic organizer and activist Josh Stanfield and DPVA 10th Congressional District chair Zach Pruckowski announced their candidacies, as well. At a March 22 meeting of DPVA members, Bagby won election to complete Swecker's term, with 66% of the votes. 'My role is to make sure that I'm providing the glue to keep us together, to make sure that our coordinated campaigns and messaging is in sync, and that we have the resources to to get it done,' he told The Mercury ahead of his election. In the weeks before the election, Stanfield had questioned Bagby's failure to disclose certain financial information on paperwork elected officials are required to file. Bagby updated the documents to correct what he called an 'oversight.' As he prepares to take on his role within DPVA, he does not plan to step down from his current term as a state senator or as chair of the senate's Transportation Committee. He will resign as chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. With 32 members, the caucus is ripe with others who could become its primary voice. With Virginia's elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates up for election this year, Bagby will now be able to play a role as the face and voice of DPVA to help boost Democrat candidates. While candidates may look to the party for support in a handful of the most-competitive districts this year, Democrats are also stepping up to run in nearly every district. Maintaining their majority in the House will be important for the advancement of three proposed constitutional amendments. Amending the state constitution requires resolutions to pass the legislature two years in a row with a House election in between before appearing on statewide ballots for final approval or rejection by voters. While resolutions to remove a same-sex marriage prohibition from the constitution and to enshrine voting rights for people whith felony convictions who've completed their sentences passed with bipartisan support, a reproductive rights resolution advanced because of Democrats' majority in the legislature. 'I am ready to roll up my sleeves, work with local committees, engage directly with voters, and ensure our party keeps leading Virginia toward a brighter and better future,' Bagby said in a DPVA press release announcing his election as chair. The Republican Party of Virginia may also see new leadership as chairman Rich Anderson has been tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as assistant secretary of the Air Force. Pending likely U.S. Senate approval, RPV could elect its new chair as early as April 12 , when its next meeting is scheduled. State Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, has announced his candidacy for the race backed by Gov Glenn Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares. Earle-Sears is running for governor this year and Miyares is seeking another term as attorney general, so the new RPV chair can also support their candidacies. Regaining Republican ground in the House could be a counterweight to the Democrat–controlled Senate, which is not up for election until 2026. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Youngkin defends federal job cuts, says Virginia's economy is strong
Gov. Glenn Youngkin doubled down on his support for federal job cuts in Richmond Wednesday as Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (left) looked on. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday doubled down on the necessity of sweeping federal layoffs while attempting to reassure Virginians that the state's economy is resilient. Speaking before administration officials and reporters in Richmond, Youngkin acknowledged the 'real dislocation' caused by job losses but insisted that trimming the federal workforce was a necessary step toward fiscal responsibility. 'Today, we know we have a federal government that is facing huge fiscal issues with $37 trillion in debt, with $2 trillion being added every year. What that requires is real action quickly,' Youngkin said. 'Striving to gain efficiencies and reduce costs in the federal government is at the heart of regaining our fiscal responsibility as a nation, and I recognize that what comes with that is dislocation.' The governor's remarks came as he signed 180 of the more than 900 bills passed during the 2025 legislative session, with Monday's deadline to take action on all legislation rapidly approaching. Flanked by Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Labor Secretary Bryan Slater, Youngkin framed Virginia as a state of economic strength, touting the availability of more than 250,000 job opportunities through the Virginia Has Jobs platform. 'If you experience job dislocation, we want to help you along the path to a new career,' he said. 'On top of that, there are 250,000 jobs that are available through this website that connects you with opportunities all over the state.' Youngkin insisted that Virginia's economy is thriving, citing statistics showing a low 3% unemployment rate and an increase of 276,000 jobs since he took office in January 2022. He argued that his administration has created an economic environment conducive to job growth and investment. 'Virginia is not just competing to win, but Virginia is winning,' Youngkin declared. 'Since we started this effort together, we have seen 276,000 more people working today than in January 2022.' The Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) wasted no time in criticizing Youngkin's comments, arguing that his approach lacks real solutions for the thousands of Virginians facing unemployment. DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker directly blamed Youngkin's alignment with Trump's economic policies for deepening uncertainty in the commonwealth. 'Virginia is not winning — Virginia is losing because of Glenn Youngkin's weak and ineffective leadership and refusal to stand up to Donald Trump,' Swecker said in a statement. 'Over 300,000 Virginians are at risk of losing their jobs, and his only answer is for them to update their resumes and look for jobs online. It is embarrassing and quite frankly irresponsible for a governor to offer such out-of-touch and arrogant nonsense to hardworking Virginians facing an economic crisis.' Earle-Sears, the current frontrunner in a three-way contest for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, echoed Youngkin's optimism, emphasizing the need for continued investment in infrastructure and regulatory reforms to keep the state competitive. 'We win because we must invest in infrastructure, business-ready sites, especially for large employers, power generation and distribution, roads, and our spaceports,' Earle-Sears said. 'We must cut regulations and reduce the cost of doing business. We must build on the $1.2 billion of job savings from the streamlining of regulations against businesses.' She also pointed to Virginia's top ranking as CNBC's 'Top State for Business' in 2024 as a sign that the state's economic policies are yielding results. Among the legislation directly related to Virginia's economy that Youngkin signed Wednesday is Senate Bill 1208, sponsored by Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, that will create a new $60 million grant fund aimed at driving investment and job creation in the semiconductor industry. The proposal, identical to House Bill 2358 by Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, replaces the state's existing semiconductor grant program and will benefit Micron Technology's expansion in Manassas. The governor framed the legislation as a critical step in securing the company's continued growth in the commonwealth. 'This bill unlocks an opportunity for Micron to build new manufacturing capabilities in Virginia — $2.1 billion of investment, and they'll hire 340 more people into the Micron family,' Youngkin said. The measure also allows up to $10 million in bonus grants for additional job creation, reinforcing Virginia's push to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub. Youngkin said he would also sign SB 1207, which will establish the Lithium-Ion Battery Separator Manufacturing Grant Fund, allocating up to $60.6 million over 20 years to support a qualified company investing in battery separator production. The company must commit to at least $1.35 billion in capital investment and create 2,015 full-time jobs in Pittsylvania County between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2045 to receive funding. The bill, which is identical to HB 2540, is part of Virginia's broader push to position itself as a leader in battery technology and advanced manufacturing. Battery separators are a critical component in lithium-ion cells, used in everything from electric vehicles to energy storage systems. Youngkin will further sign SB 1275, which allows the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority to designate sites as small as 25 contiguous acres — down from the previous 100-acre standard — as eligible for site development grants if they are located in a locality with 35 square miles or less of land area. Youngkin praised the measure for making Virginia more competitive for business expansion, particularly in areas where large tracts of land are scarce. 'This bill expands our site readiness investment to counties and localities that are smaller, because not everybody has 100 acres available per a company, but they may have 25, and we have so many companies that want to come to Virginia,' Youngkin said. And SB 1338, which also got Youngkin's approval, will classify fusion energy as carbon-free and clean energy, making it eligible for inclusion in future energy policies and incentives. The bill, which mirrors HB 1779, updates the state's energy framework to align with advancements in nuclear fusion technology — a process that generates electricity by fusing atomic nuclei, producing minimal waste and no direct carbon emissions. Youngkin told reporters that he will be rolling out his decisions on legislation in a piecemeal fashion over the next five days, with the majority coming on Monday. 'There will be a lot of bills that I'll sign, there are a lot of familiar bills that I'll be vetoing, and there are a lot of bills that I'm trying to make better,' he said. Youngkin emphasized that his approach is centered on what is beneficial for Virginia's business climate, making it clear that he will not approve measures he believes could harm economic growth. 'My filter here is really focused on bills that are good for Virginia business, and to make sure that we're not entering or signing bills that are bad for business in Virginia,' he said, adding, 'And this is really clear.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bagby's omission of his wife, businesses on economic interest disclosure forms raise questions
Del. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) Political officials in Virginia are required to submit Statement of Economic Interest forms that are posted to the state's ethics advisory council website. As a part-time legislature, delegates and senators have lives and other work outside of representing constituents and must disclose publicly what might be an economic interest to them. Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, who is running to be the next chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, initially failed to disclose his wife and various businesses on recent SOEI forms. Though the document has been amended to include those details, one of his opponents in the race questions why they weren't revealed in the first place and if it's something Republicans could target Bagby for should he become the leader of the state's Democratic party. Bagby told The Mercury that the omission was an 'oversight.' The form includes the question 'Do you or a member of your immediate family own, separately or together, a business that has a value in excess of $5,000?' Bagby had at first answered 'no,' despite his wife's salon and event space businesses. On the updated form, amended on March 10, he answered yes to that question. Josh Stanfield, who is also running for DPVA chair, has tried to ask Bagby about potential conflicts of interest in candidate forums. In an interview with the Mercury and on his blog, Stanfield noted that when former Democratic governor L. Douglas Wilder was a candidate in 1989, he came under scrutiny from Republicans for failing to disclose his real estate and stock holdings on forms. At the time, Wilder called on then-Democratic Attorney General Mary Sue Terry to investigate the matter. '(She) was able to put that to rest,' Stanfield said. 'But the point is, when it comes to these forms, any sort of omission or anything of serious question gives the Republicans a route of attack, whether founded or unfounded.' Stanfield also points to Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares' run for re-election and how former DPVA spokesperson Liam Watson was subject to a probe from Miyares' office. Watson, who left DPVA in 2023 after being elected to Blacksburg town council, now faces trial for election fraud charges. DPVA's central committee members will vote between Zach Pruckowski, Bagby and Stanfield on March 22 to pick the party's new chair. That person will then be the new face and voice of the political party in Virginia and can play a key role in boosting Democrats ahead of this year's House of Delegates and executive branch elections. The Democratic Party of Va. will pick a new leader this month. Here are the candidates' platforms. When reached for comment, Pruckowski did not wish to weigh in on Bagby's forms. 'I'm just staying focused on making the case to members of (DPVA's Central Committee) that I'm the best guy for the job,' he said. As candidates for an inner-party race rather than a state-run election, neither Stanfield and Pruckowski are subject to the SOEI. 'To qualify for the ballot in a state-run election, you have to fill out to SOEI,' DPVA's executive director Shyam Raman said. Meanwhile, as a former state candidate and current state lawmaker, Bagby fills out SOEI forms each year. Issues with Bagby's paperwork were first discovered by independent journalist Christa Motley and when she questioned Bagby about them, his lawyer responded. 'The omission that you shared has been addressed and was a result of an oversight,' Bagby's lawyer Joe Massie wrote to Motley on March 11 after the forms had been updated. Motley, who has spent years reporting on how Virginia's substance use recovery homes are managed in the state, uncovered Bagby's connections to the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences and began looking into his finances more closely when he announced his run for DPVA chair. Her reporting on recovery homes revealed Bagby's role in state funds that VARR has received in recent years — a role Bagby has downplayed. 'All I have done was give money to the recovery community,' he said in a recent interview with The Mercury. Emails that Motley received through a Freedom of Information Act request showed VARR officials referring to Bagby as a 'champion' in the legislature. He also joined a limited liability company called Imagine The Freedom LLC with members of VARR, which owned a property, as well. Though the LLC was on Bagby's previous SOEI forms, it is absent in recent years. This is because his association with Imagine The Freedom has ended, he told The Mercury. Virginia's Conflict of Interest and Ethics Advisory Council website is where SOEI forms are publicly viewable. The database indicates that Bagby recently amended his filing, but previous versions of the forms are not publicly available. The Mercury confirmed the omissions through a records request to the council. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
