The lawsuit was filed in 2023 by abortion providers in Kansas, Montana and Virginia to challenge the restrictions as excessive, unwarranted and inconsistent with other legal requirements. A similar case in Hawaii was already decided in October, with a federal judge also finding that the restrictions were arbitrary.

In Virginia, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Ballou, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, said the FDA failed to conduct an appropriate review of the 2023 restrictions on mifepristone, which include rules that prescribing pharmacies and clinicians must be specially certified and prescribers and patients must sign a form acknowledging the medication鈥檚 risks.

鈥淭he 2023 REMS modification is unlawful and must be remanded to the FDA for review,鈥� Ballou wrote, using the acronym for the FDA鈥檚 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies protocols.

Amy Hagstrom Miller, president and CEO of lead plaintiff Whole Woman鈥檚 Health Alliance, based in Virginia, said in a statement Friday that eliminating those three restrictions would help clinic staff focus on patient needs instead of 鈥渆xcessive paperwork.鈥�

鈥淚 have worked in abortion care for over 30 years, and I can attest that these regulations serve no medical purpose, nor do they add value to our patients鈥� experience of abortion,鈥� Hagstrom Miller said in the statement.

The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Stateline on Friday.

Ballou did not give a timeline for a review of the restrictions, but the FDA has said it is conducting a聽and has sought to dismiss cases related to mifepristone regulation until it completes that review. Trump administration officials told the Wall Street Journal in June that the review was expected to take about six months, meaning it would conclude after the national midterm elections.

Katie Keith, founding director of the Center for Health Policy and the Law at the Georgetown University Law Center, said the Virginia and Hawaii decisions mean the FDA has been ordered by two courts to reconsider its restrictions and more thoroughly explain why they are necessary.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to have to look at everything these various courts are telling them to look at,鈥� Keith said.

But the two rulings come at the same time the administration is receiving pressure from anti-abortion groups to further restrict access to mifepristone, even in states where abortion is legal.

The 2023 rules, which were decided under the Biden administration, also eased restrictions to allow mifepristone to be dispensed without an in-person provider for the first time. That helped expand national access to the medication, which is one of two drugs typically used to end a pregnancy before 10 weeks and to treat miscarriages, and allowed people who live in one of the 13 states with near-total abortion bans to continue to receive it by mail.

That expanded access prompted three other lawsuits from attorneys general in states with abortion bans that are still pending in federal courts. In Louisiana, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering whether to strike down the provision allowing telehealth prescriptions, and will hear oral arguments in the case in September.

The 5th Circuit initially granted an emergency request from Louisiana to block telehealth access to the medication, but after drug manufacturers appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices reversed the circuit court ruling. That stay from the high court will remain in place as the case continues.

Two other cases with different implications for the future of mifepristone are ongoing. One is in Missouri, joined by attorneys general from Idaho and Kansas, where they have asked the court to return all of the restrictions to what they were in 2016. The other is in Texas, joined by Florida鈥檚 attorney general, asking the federal court to revoke the drug鈥檚 approval entirely.

Stateline reporter Kelcie Moseley-Morris can be reached at聽kmoseley@stateline.org.

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Pete Buttigieg says they may not need it.

The former U.S. transportation secretary and 2020 presidential candidate said Democrats can still make significant gains under Virginia鈥檚 existing map if they field competent candidates who keep their campaigns focused on affordability, healthcare and corruption in Washington.

鈥淚 think even with a nationwide picture where maps are distorted to the benefit of Republicans on average, we can still win,鈥� Buttigieg said in an interview with The Mercury Wednesday. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done it before, without the benefit of fair maps, and I think we鈥檙e going to do it this year.鈥�

Buttigieg has endorsed three Democrats competing in the Aug. 4 primary: Henrico County Commonwealth鈥檚 Attorney Shannon Taylor in the 1st congressional District, former U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria in the 2nd and former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello in the 5th.

All three are seeking nominations to challenge Republican incumbents in November, contests Buttigieg called 鈥渧ital鈥� to Democrats鈥� efforts to regain control of the U.S. House.

鈥淚 think right now with everything that voters and their families are up against economically, there鈥檚 a very important opening, especially for candidates who are focused on integrity and service,鈥� he said.

Virginia Democrats expected to enter the midterms with a designed to favor their party in 10 of the state鈥檚 11 districts. Voters the redistricting amendment in April, but the Supreme Court of Virginia later , leaving the existing map in place.

Rather than dwell on the setback, Buttigieg said Democrats should focus on nominating strong candidates and keeping voters鈥� attention on the issues driving everyday life.

鈥淲e have to keep a relentless focus on the issues from high cost of living to runaway corruption in Washington 鈥� the issues that are really driving voters,鈥� he said.

Taylor is one of seven candidates seeking to challenge U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, in the . The others are Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, Salaam Bhatti, Tim Cywinski, Jason Knapp, Ericka Kopp and Mel Tull.

Taylor鈥檚 six opponents earlier this week for the Democratic Party of Virginia to publicly reaffirm its neutrality after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee promotional content featuring Taylor during early voting.

鈥淎s a prosecutor, I鈥檝e spent my career holding people accountable, and I鈥檓 ready to prosecute the case against a career politician who has gotten richer in office while voting to raise costs, gut healthcare, and give himself tax breaks,鈥� Taylor said in response to Buttigieg鈥檚 endorsement, referring to Wittman.

In the Hampton-Roads based , Luria faces Dr. Nila Devanath, Bill Fleming and Patrick Mosolf for the Democratic nomination. The winner will challenge U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach. Luria represented the district for two terms before losing to Kiggans in 2022.

鈥淎s a fellow Navy veteran, Pete knows the importance of putting others and their needs above your own,鈥� Luria said in an email Wednesday. 鈥淚 look forward to working for Virginia in Congress to bring down prices, expand access to health care, and put the needs of Hampton Roads first.鈥�

Perriello is running against Suzanne Krzyzanowski and Rob Tracinski in the . The Democratic nominee will face either U.S. Rep. John McGuire, R-Goochland, or GOP challenger Melanie Lunero. McGuire is Virginia鈥檚 only Republican incumbent facing a primary challenger this year.

Asked why he backed Perriello, Buttigieg referred to his vote for the Affordable Care Act during his lone term in Congress. Perriello in 2010 after Republicans made abolishing the law a centerpiece of their campaign.

鈥淗e paid a heavy political price for helping to deliver the Affordable Care Act that so many people in Virginia and in America now rely on to afford health insurance,鈥� Buttigieg said. 鈥淎nd so he has really shown, and not just said, that he will act to make life more affordable and easier to get by for Americans.鈥�

Perriello said he was 鈥渇ired up鈥� to have Buttigieg鈥檚 support, citing their work to invest in rural communities and infrastructure. 鈥淲e are not going to stop fighting until costs come down, wages go up, and the corrupt are held accountable,鈥� he said.

Buttigieg argued that President Donald Trump鈥檚 record during his second term has created an opportunity for Democrats, but said the party still has to earn voters鈥� trust.

鈥淭he failures of the Trump administration represent an opening, not an answer,鈥� he said. Voters who believed Trump鈥檚 promises to lower prices and keep the country out of war are 鈥渟eeing that they鈥檝e been lied to, and that creates a chance for us to get a hearing.鈥�

He emphasized Democrats must make a clear case for what they should do differently on issues such as healthcare, affordability and public safety.

Buttigieg also criticized Republican efforts to change election laws, including the pending .

鈥淚鈥檓 very concerned that the White House and congressional Republicans seem to have given up on the idea that they鈥檙e going to win by convincing voters that they鈥檙e doing a good job,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd so instead they鈥檙e hoping to win by changing the maps and changing the rules.鈥�

The former South Bend, Ind., mayor has spent recent weeks campaigning for Democrats in and , appearances that have fueled speculation about another in 2028.

鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 very focused on the election that鈥檚 actually happening,鈥� Buttigieg said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 going to remain the focus through Election Day, and then we鈥檒l see what the future brings.鈥�

is part of States 草莓传媒room, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

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The war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran has disrupted energy markets and oil shipments, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil exports. That disruption has contributed to higher oil prices and increased costs for goods and transportation for consumers and businesses.

According to the , Virginians have paid $1.8 billion more for gas since February.

鈥淏ecause of the president鈥檚 war of choice, Virginians are facing higher gas, utility, and grocery costs,鈥� U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner said in a July 14 statement. 鈥淚nstead of ending this war and finally easing the burden that he has placed on American families, Trump is calling off the ceasefire, trading airstrikes with Iran, and blockading the Strait of Hormuz.鈥�

According to AAA, the average price of regular gasoline in the U.S. had climbed back above $4 per gallon as of July 21, about 13 cents higher than a week earlier and significantly higher than at the same time last year.

In a statement to the Associated Press, the White House said it expects prices to decline if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes. The AP that energy analysts caution that even if fighting subsides, supply chains could still take months to fully recover.

Federal lawmakers have proposed gas relief measures, including the by Democrats in March, and, in May, the by Republicans. Neither plan succeeded.

Under the state鈥檚 , the gasoline excise tax increased by one cent to 32.6 cents over the past year, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Virginia Republicans also a gas tax holiday, but were unsuccessful in securing its inclusion in the biennial budget. GOP lawmakers said the plan would have worked similarly to successful deployments in states like Indiana and Utah.

Democrats, who control both chambers of the statehouse, did not state explicitly why a gas tax holiday was not included in the budget, instead emphasizing other affordability priorities.

Voters have indicated in VCU鈥檚 State of Democracy conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs that rising living costs, including gas prices, are a critical issue for them in the upcoming midterm elections, when Virginians will elect new congressional representatives.

to determine Virginia鈥檚 nominees in five congressional districts will be held Aug. 4.

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She entered office promising to lower costs through her聽agenda. But a new poll suggests many Virginians remain unconvinced, with inflation, housing costs and an unpredictable economic forecast still topping voters鈥� concerns.

Spanberger addressed those concerns Thursday during an interview with reporters in the cabinet room at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond鈥檚 Capitol Square, defending her administration鈥檚 record to date while acknowledging that the impact of many of her biggest initiatives will take time to manifest.

罢丑别听, released Wednesday, found 44% of registered voters approved of Spanberger鈥檚 job performance, while 47% disapproved. Inflation and the cost of living ranked as voters鈥� biggest worries.

Spanberger said she was not surprised by the findings, noting that the polls before last year鈥檚 election also suggested a much closer race than her eventual 15-point victory. Polls can provide a snapshot in time, she said, but she did not need survey results to know affordability remained top of mind for Virginians.

鈥淚 did not need a poll to know that would be what people would be talking about,鈥� Spanberger said.

The governor also tied the poll results to the nation鈥檚 starkly divided political climate, accusing President Donald Trump and his administration of 鈥渃onstantly鈥� picking fights as a political strategy. Spanberger said she has not spoken directly with Trump since taking office.

鈥淚 think, tragically, we do continue to live in times that are either polarized or where a narrative of polarization continues to be pushed,鈥� she said, adding that the tension shapes how people view politics, elected officials and issues that concern them.

Affordability still tops the list

Spanberger emphasized that the laws passed during her first six months reflect her administration鈥檚 focus on affordability, although many of them will take time to reach families.

She pointed to聽聽on out-of-pocket insulin costs, expanded聽聽and other measures aimed at lowering healthcare, housing and energy costs.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e someone who relies on insulin, there鈥檚 going to be a huge impact on you right away,鈥� Spanberger said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e someone who struggled to try and get your healthcare needs addressed, because you鈥檝e got to go to pre-authorization after pre-authorization, you鈥檒l feel it.鈥�

She also pointed to a new law requiring landlords to give tenants 14 days鈥� notice before pursuing an eviction instead of five.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e someone who鈥檚 kind of always teetering on potential eviction, you鈥檒l feel it real quick when you have just a little bit more breathing room to be able to kind of steady yourself and pay your rent,鈥� Spanberger said.

Other priorities, including efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing, will take longer to produce results, she admitted.

Spanberger also cited the state budget聽, pointing to additional funding for public schools, childcare and higher education, along with more than $5 billion in announced business investment and more than 3,000 new jobs since January.

She also noted Virginia聽聽in CNBC鈥檚 annual ranking of America鈥檚 Top States for Business. The state fell to fourth place on the list last year.

The budget also created a new聽聽on data centers that lawmakers project will generate about $600 million annually. The issue surfaced in this week鈥檚 VCU poll, with 81% of respondents saying they support additional fees on data centers to help offset demands on the electric grid.

Spanberger said the next step is making sure Virginians see how those policies affect their everyday lives.

鈥淭he priority needs to be on our administration and, frankly, the members of the General Assembly who passed all these bills to be connecting the dots,鈥� she said.

Court fights over new laws continue

Spanberger also defended two new laws that remain tied up in court: Virginia鈥檚 ban on certain 聽and large-capacity magazines, and a law generally prohibiting law enforcement officers from concealing their identities while on duty.

She said constitutional questions were part of her review of every bill that reached her desk and noted she declined to sign some legislation because of those concerns.

The mask law applies to local, state and federal law enforcement officers, with exceptions for undercover assignments, health precautions and other circumstances. A federal judge聽聽just hours before it was set to take effect, finding the U.S. Justice Department was likely to succeed in arguing Virginia cannot regulate federal officers that way.

Spanberger said officers who conceal their identities can erode public trust.

鈥淭his sort of theatrical policing, like we鈥檝e seen in some other states with the use of masks or facial coverings, is an expectation that law enforcement in Virginia 鈥� local, state and federal 鈥� not pursue,鈥� she said.

Spanberger said she expected the law to face legal challenges but remains convinced restrictions on assault-style firearms and magazine capacity will save lives.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unfortunate that they鈥檙e choosing to sue the Commonwealth of Virginia,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut we will continue to defend it because ultimately the law is about saving lives.鈥�

She added that while the state would rather not spend money defending its laws in court, litigation is part of the legislative process.

Redistricting remains in rearview

Asked about Democrats鈥� unsuccessful mid-decade redistricting effort, Spanberger said she does not view it as a mistake.

Virginia voters聽聽a constitutional amendment in April that would have allowed the General Assembly to redraw the state鈥檚 congressional map before the November midterm elections.

The Supreme Court of Virginia later聽聽in a 4-3 ruling, finding lawmakers had failed to follow the constitutional amendment process. The U.S. Supreme Court聽, leaving the current congressional map in place.

Spanberger said the court鈥檚 decision should not be confused with a rejection by voters, noting that a majority backed the amendment. She also argued Democrats do not need new district lines to gain new seats this fall.

She pointed out that she carried the territory currently represented by Republican U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans during last year鈥檚 statewide election. She also cited stronger Democratic performances in districts represented by U.S. Reps. John McGuire, R-Goochland, and Ben Cline, R-Botetourt.

鈥淚 believe we will win, but there鈥檚 been new challenges created for the candidates who have been working hard, who now have a primary coming up in August later than our typical June,鈥� she said.

Virginia鈥檚 congressional primary was postponed until Aug. 4 ahead of the referendum. Spanberger said Democrats now need to focus on winning under the map that will actually be used this fall.

Asked which Republican-held seats Democrats could flip, she named the districts represented by Wittman, Kiggans, McGuire and Cline.

鈥淭he 9th is always more difficult,鈥� she said of the district held by U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.

Spanberger declined to say whether Democrats should pursue another redistricting effort before the 2028 election, saying the political landscape could look very different by then.

In the meantime, she said she hopes Democrats gain enough seats this fall to 鈥渂e a check on a lawless presidency.鈥�

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The last Republican from Virginia elected to the U.S. Senate was Sen. John Warner 鈥� no relation to the state鈥檚 current senior senator 鈥� when he won a fifth term in 2002. Since then, Democrats have swept every Senate contest in the commonwealth, and Republicans now face another uphill battle in a state where President Donald Trump remains highly unpopular.

Republican voters will take the first step in the Aug. 4 primary election when they will choose a nominee to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. , who is seeking a fourth six-year term after more than two decades in statewide office.

The Republicans who remain in the race are businesswoman , retired U.S. Army Col. and businessman . Four other GOP candidates, including state , R-Spotsylvania, dropped out before the primary, leaving a smaller field competing for the chance to take on one the Senate鈥檚 best-funded candidates.

Whoever wins the nomination will enter the fall campaign facing Warner鈥檚 statewide name recognition, long political resume and sizable fundraising advantage.

Different paths to the nomination

Although the candidates agree on many core Republican positions, each has emphasized a different message on the campaign trail.

Farington, a Northern Virginia business owner and public accountant at the U.S. Departments of Defense and Agriculture, the Office of Personnel Management and the White House, has built her campaign around the economy, arguing that inflation and the rising cost of living remain voters鈥� biggest concerns. She has also called for lower federal spending, tighter border security, expanded domestic energy production and a smaller federal government.

Mizusawa, a retired Army colonel and former Pentagon official, has leaned heavily on his national security background. His campaign has focused on military readiness, foreign policy, energy and government spending while highlighting decades of military and public service.

Williams, a businessman, U.S. Navy veteran and former federal employee, has campaigned on reducing the size of the federal government, cutting taxes and defending constitutional rights, presenting himself as a political outsider.

Despite those varying campaign themes, David Richards, a political science professor at the University of Lynchburg, noted the three candidates have something in common other than their party affiliation.

鈥淥ne other interesting point is that Williams, Farington and Mizusawa are all people who have worked for the federal government at some point in their careers, with Williams and Mizusawa both serving in the military,鈥� Richards said.

鈥淐learly, whoever wins the GOP nomination will be running as an experienced government insider.鈥�

Richards said he sees the primary race as narrowing.

鈥淚 predict either Farington or Mizusawa winning the nomination, both are polling about even if you look at the margin of error,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ehind them is Williams, who is putting up a fight, but has raised the smallest amount of money, and his platform seems fairly vague to be honest.鈥�

Warner鈥檚 fundraising edge

underscore the challenge awaiting the eventual Republican nominee.

As of March 31, Mizusawa has raised about $192,000 and reported more than $55,000 cash on hand. Farington has raised more than $125,000 and reported about $22,700 remaining. Williams has raised more than $55,000 and has roughly $6,600 in his campaign account.

In contrast, Warner nearly $22 million for his reelection bid and reported more than $14 million cash on hand.

Richards said money has already helped separate the Republican field, but even the eventual nominee will begin the general election at a significant financial disadvantage.

鈥淔arington and Mizusawa have each raised well over $100k, which is great, except Warner already has many millions of dollars in his war chest,鈥� Richard said.

Richards also said he has noticed how the leading Republicans have approached the statewide race.

鈥淚 find it interesting that Farington and Mizusawa both take pretty traditional GOP positions on most issues, albeit with a MAGA-tint, but nothing all that radical,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd neither one mentions Trump.鈥�

Richards said he believes that is a deliberate choice.

鈥淚 think Farington and Mizusawa realize they are running a statewide race in a state where Trump has never won and where Democrats have done very well in the past couple of elections,鈥� he said.

鈥淩ight now, a Trump endorsement might help their primary chances but not their general election campaign.鈥�

Richards said that Farington鈥檚 emphasis on affordability could foreshadow one of the central Republican arguments this fall.

鈥淔arington鈥檚 attempt to paint Warner as part of the affordability problem likely is a preview of what the eventual GOP nominee will say during the campaign,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n my mind Farington has the best way forward, not just to win the GOP nomination, but to try and narrow the GOP for the general election by running on this affordability issue.鈥�

Warner enters race with experience 鈥� and advantages

While Republicans are focused on settling their primary, Warner enters the campaign as one of Virginia鈥檚 most established political figures.

A native of Indiana who built a successful telecommunications business before entering politics, Warner moved to Virginia in the 1980s and became active in Democratic fundraising before winning the governorship in 2001.

After his four-year tenure in Richmond, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008 and has since won reelection twice, by less than 1 percentage point in 2014 and by more than 12 points in 2020.

Now the Senate鈥檚 vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, Warner has built a reputation as a pragmatic Democrat willing to work across the aisle on issues ranging from national security and technology to infrastructure and economic development.

He has also maintained a high profile in Virginia, regularly touting federal investments in transportation, broadband expansion, military communities and manufacturing. He has also drawn attention to the effect recent had on state hospitals and services.

Warner鈥檚 significant fundraising haul gives him resources that far exceed those of any potential Republican challenger. Combined with the Democratic party鈥檚 recent success in statewide elections, they leave the eventual GOP nominee facing a challenging political landscape.

Richards said those political realities will make it difficult for the Republican candidate to gain traction, regardless of who emerges from the primary.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 see the 2026 Virginia Senate election as Mark Warner鈥檚 to lose,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e won in 2020 by about 12%, Tim Kaine won in 2024 by roughly 10%, both of those with Trump on the ballot.鈥�

With the president鈥檚 approval ratings under water and voters continuing to express concerns about the economy, Richards said Warner appears well-positioned heading into the general election.

Read the Mercury鈥檚 to learn more about the Aug. 4 primary for Virginia鈥檚 key congressional races.

is part of States 草莓传媒room, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

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Virginians are slated to approve or reject a measure to enshrine reproductive rights into the state鈥檚 constitutions this November. If approved, it would protect access to abortions, fertility treatments and contraception in the state.

Charla Bansley, a Bedford County supervisor, filed the聽聽this March, arguing the state violated its constitutional amendment process because House of Delegates Clerk Paul Nardo failed to send copies of the amendment to circuit court clerks across the state.

The requirement for clerks to post amendment language outside of courthouses was in past years intended to increase public awareness of pending referendums.

Lawyers for Nardo argued during Tuesday鈥檚 hearing that in modern times, information is more readily available through news organizations and the internet 鈥� which is why state lawmakers聽聽the requirement聽. The repeal took effect July 1.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Erin McNeil told the court that people have been able to learn about pending constitutional amendments 鈥渨ith the internet in our pockets,鈥� she said in reference to cellphones.

Bansley鈥檚 lawyers referenced Article 12, Section 1 of the聽during the Tuesday hearing multiple times 鈥� which outlines the state legislature鈥檚 responsibility to submit pending amendments to voters 鈥渋n such manner as it shall prescribe.鈥�

Because the constitutional amendment 鈥� which had to pass the legislature two years in a row before appearing on statewide ballots 鈥� occurred while the repealed state code was still on the books, Bansley and her attorneys said the process should be invalidated.

Though the repeal did not take effect until this summer, McNeil countered that lawmakers have authority to adjust the constitution and prescribe how they do it.

鈥淗ow can the General Assembly have this authority to prescribe a process but not have the authority to change that process?鈥� McNeil asked.

The case was originally filed in Bedford County. Although it was dismissed in Campbell County, Bansley鈥檚 attorneys signaled they will appeal to the state鈥檚 highest court.

鈥淭he reality is this was always going to go higher,鈥� lawyer Daniel Schmidt of Liberty Counsel said. 鈥淣o question, this is heading to the (Virginia) Supreme Court.鈥�

Virginia鈥檚 marriage equality and voting rights amendments advanced alongside the reproductive rights one. Legal experts aren鈥檛聽聽if those measures would be impacted if the high court grants a favorable ruling for Bansley in the reproductive rights amendment case appeal.

Even if voters approve the amendment this fall, a favorable Bansley appeal might make it struck down by the state鈥檚 supreme court, which ruled retroactively to block the state鈥檚 voter-approved congressional redistricting amendment聽.

The 2026 general election is Nov. 3.

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Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 ; over 20,000 of them last year.

The pain of those losses runs deep in the state鈥檚 8th Congressional District, a strongly Democratic region anchored in Northern Virginia. Many voters there said they are struggling to get by without income while they wait for their pensions to process. Private sector workplaces contracting with the government have also been hit.

In the district closest to Capitol Hill, four former and current government employees are running to unseat six-term U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, a Democrat, as they put forward different visions on how to help the area recover from Trump鈥檚 cuts. Their campaigns address government ethics, big money in politics and concerns about the state of American democracy.

Republicans have their nominee in Tony Sabio, but in the deep-blue district, the Democratic primary is the most-watched contest.

鈥楧iplomacy matters, feds matter,鈥� Michael Duffin says

Democrat decided to run because he felt Beyer was not fighting hard enough for fired federal workers.

Duffin鈥檚 career at the U.S. Department of State, where he worked to counter terrorist propaganda, ended in July 2025 due to DOGE cuts.

鈥淲e were fired to make a point, to make a political statement,鈥� Duffin said.

Now, Duffin is running on an aspiration to reinstate the federal workers lost to Trump鈥檚 鈥渆xtreme鈥� cuts.鈥淢y neighbor, two doors down, he was a contractor at USAID (the United States Agency for International Development),鈥� Duffin said. 鈥淗e was one of the first firings back in January of 2025 as a contractor, had no severance, salary was immediately cut, benefits were immediately cut. He took a job in Seattle, Washington 鈥� and there were four other families like that on my block.鈥�

Beyond reinstating employees, Duffin wants to undo what he sees as a breakdown in ethics under the Trump administration 鈥� particularly by reforming immigration enforcement.

Speaking of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has ramped up its detainments and deportations in Trump鈥檚 second term, Duffin said the agency 鈥渉as to have leadership that recognizes civil rights.鈥�

Campaigning on a 鈥渇eds matter鈥� slogan, Duffin hopes to convince conservatives that agencies like FEMA and the National Weather Service deserve legislative advocates who will protect them 鈥� something he does not see Beyer doing.

鈥淥ur representative needs to be super vocal on the airwaves, beyond just liberal media, and build coalitions,鈥� Duffin said.

Mo Seifeldein brings left-leaning, anti-establishment energy

Former Alexandria City Councilman first arrived in Virginia as a Sudanese refugee who did not speak English when he was only a middle schooler, joining the region鈥檚 .

Seifeldein worked alongside his mother and siblings at McDonald鈥檚 to make ends meet, before eventually becoming the first immigrant councilor for the same city where President George Washington once served as a trustee.

Before serving as a councilman, Seifeldein resigned from being an attorney at the U.S. Department of Labor in protest of Trump鈥檚 policies during his first term.

As a councilman, Seifeldein helped secure a collective bargaining agreement for city bus drivers, a program linking 911 callers to mental health professionals and more affordable housing projects.

Seifeldein then flirted with a mayoral run, before eventually joining the wave of left-leaning, anti-establishment candidates springing up in primary races across the country.

Coming from a war-torn country, Seifeldein is deeply critical of Israel, which is now engaged in a war with Iran, aided by America. He is advocating for Medicare for All, universal childcare, more affordable housing, healthier and cheaper groceries and 鈥渁ccountability鈥� in government.

鈥淚鈥檓 not really one who鈥檚 afraid to speak against the leadership within the Democratic party,鈥� Seifeldein said. 鈥淲e need someone who鈥檚 going to lead the party and make sure it鈥檚 actually an incubator for new ideas.鈥�

Adam Dunigan wants to clean up corruption in politics

grew up a punk rocker in Los Angeles, served in Afghanistan as a Marine and was then a CIA case officer before he said he 鈥渄etonated his entire life鈥� by resigning in protest 鈥� three years before his pension eligibility 鈥� to launch a bid for Congress.

鈥淢y campaign centers around making sure there鈥檚 consequences for breaking social trust, breaking the law, putting some dignity back at the center of how we govern, and trying to give people back the quality of life that years and years of apathy and passive corruption in Washington has stolen from them,鈥� the first-time Democratic candidate said.

Dunigan has presented himself as a young, anti-establishment candidate like Seifeldein, but with more middle-of-the-road policy proposals.

鈥淵ou probably need somebody like me to step in as a bridge in this period,鈥� Dunigan said, to help correct what he called 鈥渢he lack of seriousness that has affected the government.鈥�

Dunigan said it is unrealistic to pass Democrat-led federal bills while Trump is in office, but in the meantime, legislators聽 can focus on energy production 鈥� including green, renewable and nuclear energy 鈥� using the war in Iran and rising gas prices as a selling point.

Dunigan also wants single-payer healthcare, more competitive salaries for teachers, stronger unions, reformed immigration enforcement and regulations for artificial intelligence.

Beyer is an effective legislator, Dunigan said, but his style is out of date.

With Trump鈥檚 attempted broadening of presidential power, Dunnigan said Democrats in Congress need 鈥渁uthentic鈥� political newcomers over the 鈥渉esitant鈥� older generation to win back control and retain it.

鈥淲e might only get one more window,鈥� Dunigan said.

Lorena Bruner focuses on beating back Trump

Stafford County Public Schools teacher Lorena Bruner initially entered the 8th District race when Virginia Democrats expected their redistricting proposal to go into effect.

Voters the plan to redraw the state鈥檚 congressional maps in April. But when the Supreme Court of Virginia , Bruner opted to keep running, despite not living in the district, partially because she noticed all her competitors were men.

Bruner, who previously ran twice for Stafford County commissioner of revenue, wants to immediately impeach Trump to stop the 鈥渄amage he does by the day.鈥�

鈥淗e鈥檚 like a cancer,鈥� Bruner said. 鈥淭he longer you leave him untreated, the worse it gets.鈥�

Bruner also supports Medicare for All, more student debt relief, a crackdown on gerrymandering and an expansion, or rebalancing, of the Supreme Court.

How Beyer wants to spend his seventh term

With Trump鈥檚 veto pen in mind, Beyer said, if he is re-elected, his top priority over the next two years will be to keep championing fusion energy and finish a

鈥淭he biggest part of affordability is energy costs, and if we can break through with the creation of fusion energy, we can solve climate change, lift the remaining two billion people out of poverty and also dramatically reduce costs for homeowners and businesses,鈥� Beyer said.

Beyer鈥檚 other top focus areas include regulating AI 鈥� he just introduced a 鈥� and 鈥渟olving the challenges facing the chronically mentally ill,鈥� he said.

Beyer said DOGE 鈥渁ttacks鈥� have exacerbated the affordability crisis impacting the region. Fewer people are moving there due to workforce cuts, making it hard for older people to sell their homes and make way for younger people. Those who were laid off are struggling to make ends meet, he said. He has sought to ameliorate those problems.

鈥淲e spent an enormous amount of time trying to help people connect to state and local services, whether it鈥檚 everything from housing, to getting food, to health care, job search,鈥� Beyer said. 鈥淲e were doing job fairs, doing financial planning things.鈥�

While he understands voters鈥� frustrations, Beyer thinks Democrats are fighting effectively聽 against Trump. He said he would vote for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, as the next Speaker of the House.

Beyer wants many of the same things as his rivals: single-payer healthcare, regulations for AI and relief for former federal workers. But they differ on how to enact that agenda.

鈥淥ne of the things that my opponents would realize if they came here is that the ability to get things done is based on the quality of relationships, and relationships don鈥檛 happen like that,鈥� Beyer said.

Opponents attack Beyer over age, 鈥榗orporate PAC money,鈥� stock trading聽

Duffin, Dunigan and Seifeldein have all lodged similar attacks at Beyer that center on his age, acceptance of 鈥渃orporate PAC money鈥� and trading of stocks while in Congress. All three pledged to not accept those kinds of donations and pursue policies to ban congressional stock trading.

Beyer, 76, is one of the richest members of Congress, with an .

Seifeldein criticized Beyer for taking $5,000 this cycle from HCA Healthcare, which opposes Medicare for All.

Dunigan noted the thousands of dollars Beyer regularly accepts from defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, both of which have offices in the 8th District.

鈥淚t should make us uncomfortable, the amount of money being thrown around in politics, which is why I am 100% not engaging in that system,鈥� Dunigan said.

Those grievances came to a climax during a July 1 in which Dunigan and Seifeldein 鈥� , according to campaign finance reports 鈥� criticized him in front of a packed crowd.

Seifeldein condemned Beyer鈥檚 donor money, while Dunigain called out establishment Democrats for refusing to make way for the younger generation.

鈥淚 would love for there to be no PACs at all, get rid of Citizens United, take money out of politics,鈥� Beyer responded. 鈥淏ut in the meantime, we鈥檝e got to fight fire with fire,鈥� he continued, arguing Democrats cannot afford to be outspent by Republicans.

In a prior interview with the Mercury, Beyer said none of his votes have been influenced by money he accepted. He also noted that the rationale of disallowing corporate PAC money would also disallow environmental, labor and women鈥檚 PAC money, because it all goes through the same process.

Asked about his age, Beyer touted his current 3.9 GPA at George Mason University, where he has gone back to school to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in computer science. He also recently completed the Appalachian Trail.

鈥淚 still think I鈥檓 37,鈥� Beyer said.

Early voting in Virginia is already underway. about the candidates and issues in Virginia鈥檚 key primary races.

What 8th District voters are saying聽

Alexandria resident Jenell Webb, 51, said he looks for integrity, intelligence, clear communication and accessibility in his elected officials. So far, he has no complaints about Beyer.

鈥淚f I wanted to meet him to discuss something, I could send an email and within three days his office will get in contact with me, get more information and then set up a face-to-face meeting with the guy,鈥� Webb said.

Webb does believe there needs to be a change of guard in Congress, but he still supports Beyer despite his age.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what a challenger could offer to make me vote for them, especially losing that seniority in the House,鈥� Webb said.

Rebecca Ferree, born and raised in Northern Virginia, works as a public school teacher in Arlington. She does not think Democrats are doing a good job fighting Trump and wants to see them innovate on their approach.

Ferree wants to protect the environment from AI data centers and majorly overhaul what she views to be an ineffective education system. She is not committed to any one candidate.

Mike Podesta, 30, moved to Arlington for work in 2018. He has since been priced out and is relocating to Alexandria.

鈥淚鈥檝e been pinching pennies just trying to maintain this current quality of life,鈥� Podesta said.

Podesta works for a company that used to receive funding from USAID. He knows many people in the field who were laid off.

Podesta wants to see the establishment be more inclusive and take a more hardline stance against Trump.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e seeing across the board, both the left and right, we鈥檙e very much upset with the lack of progress on income disparity, the cost of living,鈥� Podesta said.

is part of States 草莓传媒room, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

Source

Virginia is among 46 participating states in the settlement with Block, Inc., the company behind Cash App. The commonwealth will receive about $845,500, Attorney General Jay Jones announced Monday, which his office can use for consumer protection efforts or other purposes permitted under state law.

The investigation, led by Oregon and Texas, concluded that Block rapidly expanded Cash App鈥檚 user base even as fraud became a growing problem, leaving many customers unable to get meaningful help after their accounts were compromised or money disappeared.

鈥淰irginians deserve to trust that the companies they do business with are acting legally and with integrity, and when a company acts outside the law or unethically, this office will hold them accountable,鈥� Jones said in a statement.

鈥淲hen companies strategically omit information and foster fraudulent practices, it hurts consumers and shakes confidence in our institutions. I want to assure Virginians throughout the commonwealth that the OAG is using all available tools to protect them.鈥�

Investigators said Block repeatedly assured users their money was safe on Cash App in ways that suggested protections similar to those offered by traditional banks. At the same time, they alleged, the company knew fraud on the platform was increasing but聽聽safeguards and adequately warn users about the risk.

Much of the investigation focused on how Cash App handled fraud before and after it occurred.

Investigators said the company favored a quick, low-friction sign-up process with limited identity verification, making it easier for scammers to open accounts.

For years, Cash App also lacked telephone customer support. Users locked out of their accounts or looking for help often searched online for a support number, only to reach fake customer service lines run by scammers.

The latter often persuaded victims to hand over login credentials or gained access to their financial accounts. Investigators said Block knew about the problem but waited years before establishing an official customer support phone line.

Another issue involved 鈥淐ash App Fridays,鈥� a long-running social media promotion that encouraged customers to post their unique Cash App usernames, known as $cashtags, for a chance to win prizes. Investigators said scammers exploited the campaign by contacting participants, falsely claiming they had won and persuading them to share account information.

The probe also found that customers reporting suspicious activity were sometimes locked out of their accounts for weeks without access to their money. According to the investigation, the company often delayed fraud investigations or failed to provide refunds required under consumer protection laws.

Under the settlement, Block agreed to make a series of changes aimed at reducing fraud and improving customer service.

The company must maintain customer support capable of resolving fraud complaints, account lockouts and similar problems. It also agreed to provide live assistance around the clock, including access to a human representative by phone for at least 13.5 hours each day and through live chat for at least 18 hours daily.

Block further agreed to stop making false or misleading statements about Cash App鈥檚 security, discontinue marketing practices that investigators said increased fraud risk, educate customers about common scams and comply with legal requirements governing fraud investigations and reimbursement for unauthorized transactions.

鈥淲e share the attorneys general鈥檚 commitment to addressing industry challenges and continue to invest in operations and technology to promote a safe and healthy financial ecosystem,鈥� a Block spokesperson聽.

Still, the company denied wrongdoing, saying the settlement resolves claims involving historical practices. It also said it has already made significant investments in customer support, fraud detection and compliance.

The settlement comes months after聽聽by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which accused Block of failing to properly investigate fraud reports and provide adequate customer service.

Under that agreement, Block agreed to distribute between $75 million and $120 million to consumers nationwide, pay civil penalties and adopt additional reforms.

Additional information about the settlement is available聽.

Source

The change rescinds a 2021 Biden administration policy that to notify Congress and investigate when detainees had died within 30 days of being released from custody.

Attorney General Jay Jones announced Monday that Virginia had joined the coalition calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Customs Enforcement to restore the previous reporting standards. The attorneys general argue the policy change weakens public oversight as concerns about conditions inside immigration detention facilities grow.

The coalition to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella criticizing the policy shift and warning it could allow detention facilities to avoid scrutiny when critically ill detainees die soon after their release.

鈥淭his new policy is a blatant attempt to hide dangerous conditions inside ICE detention centers from the public,鈥� James announcing the effort.

鈥淚CE must ensure that every person in its custody receives basic medical care, safe conditions, and humane treatment. Instead, this administration is trying to evade accountability and operate in darkness as deaths in ICE custody reach historic levels.鈥�

Virginia is home to multiple ICE detention centers, including the in Bowling Green and the , as immigration enforcement activity has surged nationwide.

Recent and estimate ICE is currently detaining tens of thousands of people across the country 鈥� among the highest totals in the agency鈥檚 history 鈥� amid mounting concerns over medical care and detention conditions.

Jones said Monday that the rollback undermines oversight systems intended to protect detainees and hold detention facilities accountable.

鈥淲ith the disturbing rise in reports of abuse and death in ICE detention facilities in recent months, transparency is more important now than ever. This change in policy is an abhorrent attempt by ICE and the DHS to sidestep responsibility for their dangerous actions, and we won鈥檛 allow it,鈥� Jones said in a statement.

Under the prior policy, ICE officials could request reviews and publicly release findings when former detainees died shortly after release, particularly in cases involving allegations of inadequate medical treatment or neglect.

The attorneys general argue that the recent change creates an incentive for detention facilities to release seriously ill detainees shortly before death, potentially avoiding the scrutiny that follows deaths occurring inside custody.

In Monday鈥檚 letter, the coalition said the revised policy 鈥渞educes the federal government鈥檚 accountability for conditions in ICE facilities鈥� and weakens oversight intended to ensure adequate medical care inside detention centers.

But DHS officials have defended the change, arguing ICE is no longer responsible for individuals once they are released from custody and described the rollback as an administrative matter and a change.

鈥淯nder this updated policy, when an individual is no longer in ICE custody then ICE will no longer be responsible for monitoring or reviewing deaths that may occur,鈥� the statement said.

ICE does not appear to have maintained a public nationwide tally of deaths occurring after detainees are released from custody, a gap advocates say under the agency鈥檚 new reporting policy.

Human Rights Watch that occurred while individuals were in ICE custody between Jan. 20, 2025 and June 25, 2026, while the health policy organization KFF in or connected to ICE detention as of March 18, 2026.

ICE continues on in-custody detainee deaths.

The coalition鈥檚 letter references the case of Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a former recipient after being transferred from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California to a hospital suffering from septic shock linked to an untreated abscess and other complications.

According to , Ayala-Uribe repeatedly complained about worsening symptoms while detained. Relatives and immigration advocates accused the facility of failing to provide timely medical care before his condition became critical.

Federal require immigration facilities to conduct health screenings, provide medical and mental healthcare, maintain sanitary conditions and protect detainees from unnecessary force.

Democratic attorneys general and immigration advocates have argued that oversight has weakened amid the Trump administration鈥檚 broader immigration crackdown and expansion of detention operations.

Joining New York and Virginia in signing Monday鈥檚 letter were the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

The Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the coalition鈥檚 demand.

Source

The data will be essential to determine whether updated conservation standards and catch limits for the small forage fish should be established. Menhaden sustains several species and fuels the only industrial reduction fishing operation in the Bay.

With $2 million allotted over the biennium, researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission will conduct a study on the menhaden population within the Bay to help regulators manage a 鈥渟cientifically defensible and ecologically meaningful鈥� cap of how much fisheries can catch, according to the budget language.

Conservation groups have been raising alarm over the potential decrease of menhaden in the Bay for years.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation said striped bass and have suffered because they don鈥檛 have enough menhaden to eat. Multiple bills to add the funding in the state budget have failed to pass, .

鈥淯nfortunately, many questions remain about the health of the Bay鈥檚 menhaden population and the iconic species such as osprey that depend upon it,鈥� said Will Poston, CBF鈥檚 forage campaign manager. 鈥淭his is precisely why independent science on menhaden in the Bay is so important.鈥�

Ocean Harvesters, which contracts with Omega Protein, is the only reduction fishery allowed to fish within the Bay in Virginia waters. The company has vehemently denied that their operations are depleting the menhaden within the Bay.

The Reedville-based corporation has already adhered to a Bay-specific yearly catch cap of 51,000 metric tons. Maryland has banned reduction fishing 鈥� which is when the fish are caught to be ground up into oil. This limits where Ocean Harvesters can catch menhaden in the Bay.

The company has pushed back against further regulations of their Bay catch limits and argued the catch limits and time period quotas offered up by various groups are arbitrary and not based on science.

鈥淲e look forward to continuing to work with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in collaboration with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to develop a scientific study of the Bay鈥檚 Atlantic menhaden population,鈥� Monty Deihl, Ocean Harvesters CEO said in a statement.

The budget language lays out what the study should consider: seasonal abundance, movement rates, impacts of menhaden predator consumption, spatial and temporal patterns of commercial fishing in the Bay and the possibility of localized depletion of menhaden populations.

The measure allows for this research to utilize the industry-backed 鈥檚 recommendations on the Bay鈥檚 menhaden population.

Researchers may also pull from thethat laid out a roadmap for this study.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Menhaden Management Board voted to by 20% last October, citing concerns about striped bass populations, on which many species and fishermen rely.

More recently, the management board for Ocean Harvesters鈥� work within the Bay.

Some of the options included reducing the Bay cap and implementing time period quotas to help menhaden populations work their way up the Bay towards Maryland, where pound net fishermen have cited lacking yields for years.

However, the board put off their decision on these changes until later this year.

Even with the Senate agreeing to all of the governor鈥檚 amendments, there was still heated debate on the floor ahead of the vote, reflecting the persistent challenges the subject has presented through multiple legislative sessions.

Sen. Richard Stuart, R-King George, whose district includes the Reedville fishery, said that he believes there is no evidence that the fishery is overfishing menhaden 鈥� and that past legislation looking to shut down the fishery or reduce its work is unfair.

鈥淚t concerns me from the perspective of 260 families that rely on this. They are very good jobs 鈥� in the area. There are another 200 or 300 indirect jobs,鈥� Stuart said.

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, said his constituents in parts of the Potomac River have been increasingly concerned about osprey populations. The debate over menhaden has lingered the entire time he has served in the General Assembly.

鈥淲e have these fish experts at VIMS, (who) are hopefully going to get some information about it. I just know that there鈥檚 been some concern for the last 17 years,鈥� Surovell said. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 done anything.鈥�

Progress on the study will be presented to multiple legislative, administrative and regulatory agencies by Oct. 1 for the next two years.

The Virginia Department of Workforce Development, along with other groups, will report on possible impacts on workers if there are reductions in catch allowances for the entire coast and within the Bay.

is part of States 草莓传媒room, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.

Source

That growth has brought major economic benefits for local governments, but it has also divided communities increasingly weary of the facilities鈥� heavy demands on water and energy, among other impacts.

The commonwealth鈥檚 rise as a global digital leader did not happen overnight, said House Technology Committee Chair Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake. It was a result of years of persistence, long-term planning and problem-solving.

鈥漈his designation for the commonwealth to be the digital capital not only of this country but of the world has taken a lot of stamina, resilience and vision,鈥� Hayes said.

Hayes said leadership also means adapting to new challenges. This year alone, lawmakers passed an entire package of bills aimed at further regulating the industry, while the fight over tax incentives remains largely unsolved.

AOL鈥檚 move聽

Ashburn鈥檚 rise as one of the largest digital infrastructure hubs began in 1997 with the arrival of America Online, or AOL, then the primary internet gateway for many users. Soon after, UUNet/WorldCom and the relocation of the Metropolitan Area Ethernet East, a major internet exchange and traffic hub, helped create unmatched fiber connectivity, turning Loudoun County into a key internet crossroads and destination for other businesses.

Buddy Rizer, executive director for Loudoun County Economic Development, said AOL鈥檚 decision to locate in Loudoun helped make the internet mainstream for Americans and anchored the infrastructure that turned Loudoun and Virginia into the world鈥檚 leading internet hub.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 overstate the importance of AOL, right? AOL didn鈥檛 invent the internet, but they made it accessible to ordinary Americans at the moment that the commercial internet was starting to take off鈥� by the late 1990s AOL had 20 million subscribers, and roughly half of U.S. homes that had internet were using AOL by 1997.鈥�

Rizer said once Loudoun established core infrastructure and attracted a few anchor companies, growth became compounding: infrastructure drew companies, companies brought more infrastructure and the cycle continued for roughly 20 years.

Data storage and computing explodes聽

While data centers have existed in Virginia for decades, the recent rise of artificial intelligence has accelerated demand for the warehouse-like facilities that store and process data around the world.

Ali Mehrizi-Sani, a professor at Virginia Tech, said Northern Virginia had many of the right ingredients to attract the industry even before the state sales and use tax exemption passed in 2008.

鈥淭he fact is that we have a lot of customers of data, and that鈥檚 really the federal government and their contractors,鈥� Mehrizi-Sani said. 鈥淭hey use a lot of data, so really just proximity to Washington, D.C. has been a main driver of honestly everything in Virginia, including data centers.鈥�

The early development of the internet exchange points in Virginia, combined with large stretches of undeveloped land in Northern Virginia, also helped fuel the industry鈥檚 growth. Loudoun County, for example, was far more rural than it is today.

Loudoun recorded 71 operating data centers, the most of any locality in the commonwealth, according to a 2024 by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. Statewide, 131 data centers were operating at the time.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why you see data centers are coming further south, even to areas like where I live in Roanoke and Botetourt County, essentially in search of land,鈥� Mehrizi-Sani said.

He said data centers have also remained in Virginia because electricity rates are comparatively lower than in other parts of the country. Another major factor is the state鈥檚 exemption.

Tax breaks and tax gains

In Loudoun, data center revenue has generated substantial tax income year after year, providing the county with more than $100 million annually to support schools and government services.

The revenue stream 鈥� estimated at in 2018 鈥� has grown enough that the county has reduced real estate tax rates for homeowners every year for the past decade, according to county officials.

Revenue from data centers has also allowed county leaders to propose reducing the personal property tax rate on vehicles beginning in tax year 2026 and eliminating the $25 vehicle license fee.

In 2008, the General Assembly approved a statewide incentive allowing data centers to avoid the state鈥檚 5.3% sales and use tax, which at the time was estimated to save the industry about $1.5 million annually. Data centers routinely refresh computer equipment and software, the exemption can significantly reduce costs every few years.

Now, however, the cost of the tax break has ballooned to about $1.9 billion annually in foregone state revenue.

While the tax break had previously been extended, and former Gov. Glenn Youngkin sought to continue it through 2050 in his final budget proposal, debate over potentially ending the incentive led to months of negotiations and brought Virginia to the brink of a government shutdown after lawmakers failed to pass a budget until the final days of June.

Some lawmakers argued the industry had benefitted enough from the tax exemption. At the same time, concerns over rising energy costs and environmental impacts prompted legislators to look for ways to reclaim some revenue from the trillion dollar industry.

But Gov. Abigail Spanberger led the push to preserve the tax break, arguing Virginia had 鈥渕ade an agreement鈥� and should not reverse course. The exemption is currently set to expire in 2035 unless lawmakers change it before then.

鈥淲e know technology is not bad,鈥� Senate Finance Committee Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, . 鈥淲e all can benefit from technology, but we, as a government, have not done a good job in managing the regulations and the impact on our communities, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e got to rein in. But we鈥檝e also got to rein in the fact that data centers 鈥� they鈥檙e some of the largest corporations on the face of the Earth, trillion dollar organizations 鈥� are getting tax exemptions right now.鈥�

While the exemption ultimately remained in the budget, lawmakers approved a on data centers expected to bring in a total of $600 million annually, or $1.2 billion over the biennium. The industry will pay 1.1 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed up to the cap, with any excess refunded at the end of the fiscal year.

Dominion Energy and Mecklenburg, Northern Virginia, and Rappahannock electric cooperatives reported in 2023 that data centers used about 5,050 megawatts of power that year, based on peak-load forecasts, according to the .

鈥淲hat I have found is that some of the businesses coming to our commonwealth, they want to make investments in our communities and in our workforce. The consumption tax, as we鈥檝e conceived of it here in the commonwealth, is one that鈥檚 based on fairness,鈥� Spanberger told The Mercury last month.

Lawmakers also approved for data centers in areas designated as water scarce and within the water management area east of Interstate 95.

The changes aim to push facilities away from evaporative cooling systems that consume millions of gallons of water annually and toward more efficient technologies. Also, for the first time, the state will regulate data center noise levels.

The General Assembly also requiring cleaner backup generators that emit fewer carbon emissions and measures intended to help localities better assess the residential and environmental impacts of proposed facilities.

Public policy聽

In 2010, Virginia created a retail and sales tax exemption for data centers, a factor companies have consistently identified as important in site selection.

Loudoun designated large areas for industrial and employment uses where data centers could be built, helping reduce development timelines and support continued growth.

Through successive comprehensive plans, Loudoun also reserved large tracts of land in eastern Loudoun 鈥� near Washington Dulles International Airport and the W&OD Trail 鈥� for industrial and employment uses close to existing fiber networks and electrical infrastructure. The move ensured a long-term supply of development-ready sites for large-scale data center campuses.

in recent years, with hundreds of community members attending local government meetings to oppose projects near homes, drinking water supplies and high-voltage transmission lines. Residents have urged lawmakers to impose stronger regulations and seek greater financial contributions from the industry for supporting infrastructure.

What鈥檚 next聽

Last week, lawmakers ordered a work group to study how the data center tax exemption could be phased out or modified to generate additional state revenue. A report is due in November.

While Spanberger has described the new consumption tax as 鈥渇air,鈥� the data center industry disagrees. After the budget amendments last week, Data Center Coalition CEO Josh Levi said the new tax will 鈥渄rive away investment and job creation, and tarnish Virginia鈥檚 reputation.鈥�

鈥淭he message to businesses in all industries is clear 鈥� Virginia is no longer a reliable partner,鈥� Levi said in a June statement.

Rizer argued that Loudoun鈥檚 and Virginia鈥檚 future depends on treating data centers as a foundation for broader technology growth while maintaining a stable and predictable business climate.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 take success for granted 鈥� the principle that made us successful is a predictable, welcoming environment with predictable tax and policy issues,鈥� Rizer said. 鈥淭he only way that that success can go into the future is by staying grounded in those principles that brought us this far.鈥�

As for federal involvement in an issue that has become a national flashpoint, Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who was governor when the tax exemption passed, said states should decide individually how to manage data center growth rather than adopt a one-size-fits-all approach.

鈥�(Data centers are a) global phenomenon, and being a leader in this important area is good for America鈥檚 national security and for Virginia鈥檚 economy,鈥� Kaine said. 鈥淏ut there are real challenges when it comes to water, power and land use, so local communities must get a say when it comes to how to handle them.鈥�

Virginia has become the state that many others are watching as they weigh to and regulate the growing data center industry. Lawmakers now face balancing the promise of economic investment with mounting concerns from residents pushing back against continued expansion.

Source

The department briefed board members on the proposed delay at their work session on Wednesday at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College in Henrico County, following a state study鈥檚 finding that the new K-12 accountability system, which includes the cut scores, could be refined.

Virginia will raise cut scores for its Standards of Learning assessments to boost student proficiency, a process that was slated to begin this school year. This initiative, led by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, followed findings of declining reading and math scores among students in grades 3 through 8, a trend that began during the pandemic.

But critics are urging a slower rollout, saying a quicker shift could increase teacher burnout, lower graduation rates, and worsen inequitable access to education. Several members of the board said at Wednesday鈥檚 meeting that they wanted to keep to the original timeline.

Board member Amber Northern, an appointee of former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, said Virginia has received national praise for moving toward higher standards and accountability. She is concerned the proposal jeopardizes the board鈥檚 earlier work.

鈥淩egardless of whether it鈥檚 a Republican or a Democrat in office 鈥� Virginia鈥檚 is for high standards and they鈥檙e going to work together with colleagues that are on the right, the left, the center .. to continue to do the right thing by kids on an aggressive, yet doable timeline,鈥� said Northern.

Ida McPherson and Bill Hansen, both Youngkin appointees to the board, opposed delaying implementation of the accountability system that includes the cut scores, citing concerns that staving off implementation would negatively impact student outcomes.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway emphasized that higher proficiency cut scores would be in effect one year faster than the original plan.

She also added that staff would meet the request of some members for a side-by-side comparison of the proposal to the board鈥檚 original plan, which some 鈥� including Fairfax County Public Schools, representing the largest groups of students in the commonwealth 鈥� took issue with.

鈥淭hese changes will have a significant and potentially detrimental impact on schools and students,鈥� Fairfax said in a statement last fall about the original plan. 鈥淔CPS supports rigorous standards, but will continue to advocate for this work to be done in meaningful and measured ways.

Arlington Parents for Education, a group advocating for high academic expectations, said in a statement it opposes this proposed delay.

鈥淭his last-minute proposal to lower expectations would mislead parents and allow schools to keep delaying the improvements Virginia鈥檚 kids desperately need,鈥� the group said in a statement. 鈥淢ajor changes to academic standards should be made through a transparent process focused on student outcomes 鈥� not rushed through at the eleventh hour.鈥�

According to a conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, if the plan passes, schools鈥� overall scores will drop by about 8.5 points, while proficiency scores will fall by about 21 points in reading and 17 points in math.

The study stemmed from lawmakers directing the commission to examine the state鈥檚 K-12 accountability system, which was split into two parts: accreditation, which determines whether schools meet legal and regulatory requirements; and the School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF), which provides clear data on student and school performance.

The board praised the report that included recommendations to refine the accountability system. Overall, the recommendations urge the board and lawmakers to continue developing a more transparent and fair system that better reflects student growth and ensures stronger support for struggling schools.

The department is asking the board to consider the proposal to adjust the timeline for rolling out new cut scores to avoid 鈥溾�� and to ensure divisions can fully prepare without having to manage multiple major changes each year.

If approved, the plan starts this upcoming school year. The Department of Education will provide divisions with a preview of results under the higher standards. Schools鈥� academic progress labels will also change, from 鈥渙ff track鈥� to 鈥渁pproaching expectations,鈥� and from 鈥渙n track鈥� to 鈥渕eets expectations.鈥�

Under the proposal, if a student recently moved to the U.S. and is still learning English, they are exempt from the reading assessment in their first year (2026-2027).

High school ratings will use current achievement data instead of longer-term cohort results. Elementary and middle schools won鈥檛 be penalized for having too few English Learner students to get a fair evaluation.

For the 2027-2028 school year, the department plans to preview updated School Performance and Support Framework results for divisions without consequences.

Implementation will start in 2028-2029 with a single increase in cut scores and the adoption of the new SPSF version.

Test data from the 2028-2029 school year will be released in the summer of 2029, and accountability data will be published in the fall of 2029, reflecting the new cut scores.

One area that wasn鈥檛 mentioned in the proposal was whether the board鈥檚 interest in having Virginia鈥檚 cut scores meet the 鈥減roficient鈥� standard set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress would change.

This standard is defined as a student demonstrating a deeper understanding of complex topics and the ability to apply them in real-world situations.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger appointed four new members to the nine-member board, which remains controlled by Youngkin鈥檚 appointees, most of whom supported a gradual four-year increase last November that would have been completed during the 2029-2030 school year.

The proposal would wrap up during the 2028-2029 school year.

Hansen, the board鈥檚 vice president, will finish his term June 30 and his replacement will be appointed by Spanberger鈥檚 administration.

The board is not expected to take any action on the proposal on Thursday, their next scheduled meeting.

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Virginia House of Delegates leaders presented their updated budget proposal Friday, revamping their $74 billion funding plan based on a new revenue forecast ordered by Gov. Abigail Spanberger last month. The House budget no longer includes environmental standards that data centers would have to meet to keep the exemption, which saves the industry nearly $2 billion annually.

Hours after the new House budget was unveiled, Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, divulged an updated Senate budget proposal, with scant details, on social media.

While Lucas didn鈥檛 outline the particulars of the plan, she said it included a 4% raise for teachers, $345 million for health and human services initiatives including food assistance for low-income Virginians and a $100 鈥渇air share鈥� rebate for individuals.

Here鈥檚 how each chamber plans to address key issues in the next two-year state budget.

Chambers still at odds over data centers

The data center sales and use tax exemption remains the biggest bottle neck on state budget negotiations.. The state currently forgoes an average of $1.6 billion annually by allowing the industry to not pay the 5.3% state tax on their computer equipment and server racks.

Lucas and some other lawmakers are pushing to end the exemption that began as an incentive to draw the industry to the commonwealth in 2008 and cost the state about $1.5 million at the time.

Lawmakers in the House of Delegates, including Speaker Don Scott, consider the exemption a strong driver for union electrical and construction jobs, whose workers build the facilities that make major investments on the local level. The House鈥檚 previous budget would keep the exemption in place and require data centers to use cleaner back up generators, improve their energy efficiency, and take other environmental steps to keep the tax break.

The House鈥檚 updated budget preserves the exemption through 2035 and eliminates the environmental standards. Instead, the House proposed creating a commission made up of legislators and stakeholders to examine data centers鈥� energy use and how the industry impacts the state and local tax revenues.

A similar report was released by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission in 2024. But Spanberger, who supports the House鈥檚 plan, said the new commission would dig deeper and produce more in-depth reports that would help drive policy decisions in the next regular session of the General Assembly.

Concerning the proposed commission鈥檚 focus, Spanberger said Friday, 鈥淲e want a little bit more help in understanding if we鈥檙e making good choices for our communities. (Such as) rules of the road, best practices, whether it鈥檚 setbacks or noise reductions, limits on diesel generators, requirements for battery backup.鈥�

The Senate has not released the full context of their new updated budget proposal but it includes a 鈥渢iered state impact fee,鈥� Lucas said in her social media statement. The fee would be placed on the facilities according to their generator type and their energy capacity. Lucas said the system would generate an estimated $1.7 billion in tax revenue for the state but didn鈥檛 detail how. Her office did not have further details of the proposal available for clarification on Monday.

Lucas also said the new Senate budget includes funding for a work group to study the tax exemption and other potential protections for ratepayers and local communities, similar to the house鈥檚 proposed commission.

Cannabis market still hazy

After Spanberger vetoed bipartisan legislation to create a retail market for recreational cannabis, House lawmakers said Friday that the proposal has been added to their updated budget.

Few details were available Friday about the weed market plan, spearheaded by Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, but he confirmed 鈥渨e have a deal, and it鈥檚 just a matter of finishing the legal edits鈥� of the retail market framework. Krizek said more details would be released in a joint press conference with Spanberger on Tuesday.

House lawmakers also added 鈥�$865,000 each year from the general fund and four positions to support workload increases鈥� in the The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services鈥� Office of Weights and Measures to their updated spending plan, 鈥渞elated to the establishment of an adult-use recreational cannabis market.鈥�

The overview of the new Senate budget shared by Lucas didn鈥檛 include the cannabis framework. However, the chamber passed SB 542, the companion measure to the House bill which would create the marketplace. And the Senate 鈥檚 two-year budget pitched before the end of this year鈥檚 legislative session includes over $12 million for the operation of the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority over two years.

Navigating healthcare hurdles

Because Virginia and other states are required to reduce their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program error rate to 6% by next year, House lawmakers earmarked $130 million to fund new cost share benefit allotments.

Sometimes errors in overpaying or underpaying households arise from paperwork mistakes by government staff or outdated information from beneficiaries. A federal law passed last summer mandates states drop their error rates.

That same law also entails verification changes to Medicaid, which is estimated to put thousands of Virginians at risk of losing coverage and add financial strains to hospitals.

These shifts are why the state budget proposals from both chambers include money to help streamline compliance for social service workers around the state and mitigate insurance drop offs.

The new proposal from the House maintains a $2.4 billion increase to fully fund Medicaid and Children鈥檚 Health Insurance Program forecasts. It would also add $39 million to partially restore proposed cuts to Medicaid and CHIP.

House lawmakers earmarked $3 million to support social service staff compliance with the new SNAP and Medicaid federal standards.

Where a previous version of the House budget entailed a $5 million increase in funding for the state鈥檚 free clinics, the new draft increased it to $13 million. An already 鈥渟trained safety net,鈥� free clinics are bracing for an influx in uninsured patients as people lose Medicaid or ACA and are a key partner for hospitals to reduce caseloads in emergency rooms.

A holdover from the chamber鈥檚 previous proposal, lawmakers would direct $79.1 million towards a state-level version of the expired Affordable Care Act subsidies that Congress let expire last year.

鈥淲e鈥檝e never had this much of an onus on the state before,鈥� Henrico Democratic Del. Rodney Willett, who chairs the House鈥檚 Health and Human Services Committee, said in a previous interview. 鈥淚t will take a lot of work with the people, processes and systems to go with that.鈥�

Over 33,000 Virginians and counting have dropped their ACA insurance so far this year amid rising premiums. Of Virginia鈥檚 roughly 400,000 ACA clients, about 100,000 have been estimated to have lost the subsidies.

Likewise, the Senate has its ideas for addressing the federal fallout too.

Its newest version still includes $200 million for a state-level ACA subsidy along with a special enrollment period for people who dropped off and want to sign back up for insurance.

Health and human services work in the state would receive $345 million and would address a range of programs, from Medicaid to SNAP to developmental disability waiver rates.

It鈥檚 unclear how that will be divided up as the Senate had not fully released its next proposed version of the budget by the time of this publication. Initially, the chamber had settled on $135 million for SNAP, with lawmakers assuming the state cannot drop below a 10% error rate.

More recently, the chamber suggested $190 million to offset future rate increases in state employee health insurance premiums.

Housing support boosted

As a flurry of housing bills passed the legislature and were signed into law by the governor, both budget proposals entail funding to help get them off the ground 鈥� but they differ in how that should happen.

The House鈥檚 new draft would invest an additional $20 million into the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. The program offers loans for low-income housing projects and provides grants to organizations that serve unhoused people. The additional boost brings the House鈥檚 earmark for the fund up to $195 million over the next two years.

The House also wants to add $14 million over the next two years to support organizations that work with unhoused populations or help people at risk of homelessness.

As state lawmakers have refined Virginia鈥檚 Eviction Reduction Program, the House proposes $11.5 million in new resources for it, bringing total support to $18.5 million over the biennium.

On housing, the preview of the Senate鈥檚 forthcoming new budget draft entails $110 million for housing-related initiatives 鈥渋ncluding eviction reduction, weatherization programs, and Housing Trust Fund deposits.鈥�

K-12, school construction funding reflects uncertainty

Local governments and school leaders are waiting on the budget to be finalized to decide how they will be able to cover teacher pay raises, and how much those raises will be. The legislature鈥檚 dueling spending plans also address another key concern: covering construction and modernization costs for the upcoming school year.

The House鈥檚 revised budget proposes a 3% raise for state and state-supported employees, including teachers, over the next two years, while the new Senate budget includes a 4% increase aimed at moving Virginia toward the national average teacher salary.

鈥淲ith inflation being over 4%, a 3% raise does not really end up being a raise, it鈥檚 a pay cut in practice, and the average teacher would lose money in buying power,鈥� Carol Bauer, president of the Virginia Education Association, said.

In the area of school construction, the House鈥檚 revised proposal includes an additional $299 million for school construction grants, bringing the biennial total to $519 million.

In contrast, Lucas鈥� overview of the updated Senate budget did not mention school construction grants. In February, the body approved a plan to allocate $172 million from the Literary Fund to the School Construction Fund for construction and renovation grants.

However, the Senate鈥檚 plans for the grants and the School Construction Fund remain uncertain, because its funding relied on expected casino tax revenues under the chamber鈥檚 previous budget.

Additionally, the House is now proposing to move the $172 million originally from the Literary Fund to cover teacher retirement costs, adding to the unpredictability.

Both chambers still proposed expanding a 1% sales tax to pay for construction costs; however, the House version goes further, permitting jurisdictions in Planning District 8, or Northern Virginia, to use these funds for transportation projects to address public transit needs in that region.

Among other notable budget moves, the House announced that the previously proposed $400 million one-time flexible funding was removed and replaced by a $98.4 million one-time supplement for at-risk student programs.

The amended House budget returned $10.1 million in unused laboratory school funds to the state鈥檚 main funding pool.

Both budget proposals are similar in that they fund the state鈥檚 special education line item: the House proposes $148.4 million, compared to the $150 million Lucas mentioned in her letter about the Senate鈥檚 revamped plan.

The delayed completion of the budget 鈥減uts hardship on school districts trying to get contracts out, puts a hardship on folks knowing what their actual compensation is going to be for the next year, and so we honestly would like things to get settled,鈥� Bauer said.

House meets this week, Senate the next

The House reconvenes Thursday and the Senate is scheduled to meet in Richmond June 22. The chambers must reconcile their spending plans and approve a new budget before the June 30 deadline, or a state government shutdown 鈥� the first in the state鈥檚 history 鈥� will ensue.

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The updated spending plan no longer includes environmental standards data centers would need to meet in order to be exempted from the state鈥檚 sales and use tax, an issue that has stalled budget negotiations for weeks and sparked speculation about a government shutdown if the parties can鈥檛 finalize the budget by June 30.

鈥淭his budget comes through for Virginians in a real and meaningful way without introducing a single new tax,鈥� Torian said in a statement. 鈥淚t anticipates future federal funding cuts by establishing a reserve 鈥� so when Washington turns its back again on Virginians we are prepared to step in.鈥�

The dueling House and Senate budget proposals differ over whether data centers should continue to be exempt from the state鈥檚 5.3% sales and use tax. State data shows the industry saves about $1.6 billion annually through the exemption, money Senate lawmakers say the state should recoup by ending the tax break.

Data centers have to routinely upgrade and replace pricey computer equipment, which is the bulk of where they save with the exemption.

The new House proposal removes the that would have mandated developers limit data centers from co-locating with power facilities that emit carbon emissions.

The previous proposal also outlined energy efficiency requirements for the digital warehouses, including using newer backup generator models that emit less carbon.

The instead proposes creating a commission of stakeholders and lawmakers to study the impacts and benefits of the data center industry in Virginia.

The commission would be required to report to the General Assembly by Nov. 1 on ways to ensure energy demands don鈥檛 put extra costs onto residential utility customers. The commission would also scrutinize local tax revenue impacts and 鈥渙ther ways to generate revenue from the industry鈥�.

鈥�(It will be a) full investigation into energy costs, financial impacts,鈥� air quality, water conservation, renewable energy, and community impacts,鈥� Scott said, 鈥淪o the 2027 General Assembly can pass real national reform. Or if the governor would like, we could come back right after that report 鈥� for a special session.鈥�

Scott has staunchly supported preserving data centers鈥� exemption, he said,聽 because of the local tax revenue the centers generate and the that come with the construction of the facilities.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger has also publicly supported keeping the exemption, saying the state should 鈥渉onor its commitments鈥� to businesses that have located in the commonwealth. She praised the updated House budget on Friday.

鈥淭his proposal creates a clear roadmap for evaluating the impact of the data center industry in Virginia and for reassessing the state鈥檚 incentives into the future, with a focus on fairness to ratepayers and the needs of local communities,鈥� Spanberger said in a statement.

Senate members鈥� response to the updated House budget was unclear Friday afternoon, with no comment from Finance Chairwoman Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.

Lucas has been adamant about ending the tax exemption for data centers since the Senate spending plan was introduced earlier this year.

鈥淚 want (the money) to go towards hard working families. We鈥檝e got people who are struggling to put food on the table, to put a roof over their heads, pay for their car payment, their kids school. I want that money to go back to them,鈥� Lucas said then.

The House is slated to return to Richmond to debate this proposal on June 18, while the Senate, who has not yet released an updated budget proposal, will return on June 22. If a budget is not passed by the end of the month, state services and employee pay will be interrupted.

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Rocovich stated in a four-page letter addressed to the Secretary of the Commonwealth that he will not resign before his term ends on June 30, 2027. There was no sign of him at the board鈥檚 committee meetings on Monday in Blacksburg.

Spanberger鈥檚 decision is the latest effort by her administration to shake up governing boards at Virginia鈥檚 colleges and universities, amid concerns within the higher education community about the politicization of public university governing bodies. She recently appointed four new members to Tech鈥檚 governing board.

Spanberger removed Rocovich, citing 鈥渕isconduct鈥� in a letter sent last Wednesday, but the letter did not specify the details of Rocovich鈥檚 alleged violations, only stating that the findings provided 鈥渟ufficient cause鈥� for his removal. Rocovich pushed back on that claim.

鈥淚 was appointed to serve a term, I have served that term faithfully, and I intend to fulfill my obligations to the students, faculty, and people of Virginia who depend upon the proper governance of this great university,鈥� Rocovich wrote. 鈥淕overnor Spanberger鈥檚 letter failed to state my specific cause, as the law requires. I am confident she will find no such grounds.鈥�

Board member Will Holtzman, who was appointed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin and will complete his term next year, said he was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� with the governor鈥檚 decision.

鈥淚 think all of us were disappointed because I think it鈥檚 a unanimous feeling of our group that he has done a phenomenal job, and I didn鈥檛 understand at all why she removed him, and I don鈥檛 think there was any cause for it,鈥� Holzman said.

Lawmakers have also urged the governor to explicitly state her reasons for the termination.

Senate Republican Caucus Chair Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, said Rocovich deserves 鈥渇airness,鈥� and emphasized that transparency is 鈥渘ot optional鈥� concerning the governor鈥檚 decision to boot Rocovich from the board.

鈥淲hat makes this decision especially disappointing is that Governor Spanberger campaigned on a promise to depoliticize higher education governance and to reduce executive involvement in the affairs of Virginia鈥檚 universities,鈥� Obenshain said in a statement on Friday. 鈥淩emoving the sitting rector of Virginia Tech without publicly stating a lawful basis appears inconsistent with those commitments.鈥�

Edward Baine, executive vice president of utility operations and president of Dominion Energy Virginia, who was appointed to replace Rocovich, attended the first committee meeting on Monday.

He did not comment on his appointment on Monday morning, but asked Provost Julie Ross about the university鈥檚 efforts to address enrollment, which the board expressed interest in growing.

Rocovich鈥檚 dismissal followed the board鈥檚 vote to grant an exception allowing him to serve a third one-year term as rector during the search for Virginia Tech鈥檚 next president, following Tim Sands鈥檚 departure in April, Cardinal 草莓传媒 reported last month.

The board minutes noted that Rocovich was elected rector because no other nominees were available and he was willing to serve.

A native of Roanoke and a Virginia Tech graduate, Rocovich founded a law firm and specializes in taxation as well as trusts and estates law. He served on the board of visitors from 1997 to 2005, was appointed for a term from 2010 to 2014, and was rector from 2002 to 2004.

According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Rocovich has donated to several Republican campaigns and candidates, including formerRepublican gubernatorial nominee and Spanberger rival Winsome Earle-Sears.

In his letter, Rocovich criticized the termination and the governor, expressing his 鈥渄isappointment鈥� with her use of a 鈥渟ubordinate鈥� to deliver the message, which he said was the opposite of the respect he showed Spanberger by calling her directly to discuss the board.

鈥淰irginia Tech deserves better than to be made a political football,鈥� Rocovich wrote. 鈥淚 have given too much of my life to this institution to stand by silently while its independence is threatened鈥攔egardless of which party holds the governor鈥檚 office.鈥�

The governor and attorney general鈥檚 offices did not immediately respond for comment on whether they will enforce the termination.

The board鈥檚 committee meetings continued on Monday. The board will have a full meeting on Tuesday. The body will vote on a new rector and vice rector to replace Rocovich and Sandy Davis, who died on March 17.

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