NEW: After Gov. Spanberger’s SOTU rebuttal, Virginia Democrats are doubling down on efforts to limit ICE’s reach — pushing new legislation to curb cooperation with federal immigration agents and boost oversight.
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/26/v...
Gov. Spanberger's rebuttal to Trump's State of the Union:
POTUS is driving up housing, health care, energy and grocery costs, creating chaos at home and weakening the U.S. abroad.
She also alleged corruption, saying he's
"enriching himself." #vagov
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/25/i...
Gov. Abigail Spanberger watches President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech from Williamsburg.
Her Democratic response will start momentarily.
(Pool photo by Erin Schaff)
NEW: Most Virginians back gun licensing (71%), registration (67%) and bans on semi-automatic rifles (57%) — but many doubt stricter laws would curb violence, new Roanoke College poll finds.
62% support keeping the current redistricting system. #valeg
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/23/p...
Virginia’s money committees rewrite former Gov. Youngkin’s $212B budget — no new taxes, $100/$200 rebates, teacher raises and Medicaid backfills.
The Senate would end a fast-growing data center tax break, steering revenue to schools and infrastructure.
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/22/l...
NEW: A Tazewell County judge has temporarily blocked Virginia’s April 21 redistricting referendum, siding with the RNC and GOP lawmakers.
The court cited likely constitutional violations and misleading ballot language. Democrats say they’ll appeal.
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/19/r...
FWIW Spanberger will be the first Virginia Democrat to deliver her party’s nationally televised State of the Union rebuttal since Tim Kaine in 2006 and Jim Webb in 2007
19.02.2026 19:52 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver the official Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address next Tuesday.
The move puts the recently sworn-in governor on the national stage as the party’s rebuttal voice.
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/19/v...
NEW: Del. Dan Helmer is running in Virginia’s newly drawn #VA7 — a seat created under Democrats’ proposed 10-1 map.
GOP leaders call it a “power grab” and “bad optics.”
Helmer says his job was to win majorities, vows to “never back down.” #valeg
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/18/a...
Post-crossover “affordability” messaging from House Democrats:
Lowering everyday costs, housing affordability, health care premiums and co-pays, utility bills, child care — and touting 200+ bills passed, 800+ overall, with more than 75% bipartisan.
#valeg
Virginia lawmakers advance legislation to create a regulated adult-use cannabis market. House bill passes 65-32; Senate clears its version 21-19.
Retail sales could begin in late 2026 if Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs, as she’s pledged to do. #valeg
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/17/v...
#breaking Democrat Elizabeth Bennett-Parker wins special election in #SD39, after Sen. Adam Ebbin left to join Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration.
Democrat Kirk McPike also holds Bennett-Parker’s former #HD5 seat in a separate contest.
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/10/b...
NYT: Republican cash edge threatens to swamp Democrats in 2026.
“Donald Trump has 99 problems going into the midterms,” one Democratic strategist said. “But money ain’t one.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...
A 100-year-old Halifax County quilt artist says she learned through social media that U.S. Rep. John McGuire honored her on the House floor — without consent.
Edith Younger Edmunds calls it appropriation, not recognition, and says silence “serves no one.”
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/10/i...
Va. House Democrats advanced bills Friday to require judicial warrants for ICE civil arrests in courthouses and limit immigration enforcement in schools, polling places and other public spaces.
Measures now head to the House Public Safety Committee.
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/06/h...
#breaking Va. Democrats release their long-awaited congressional maps, proposing an aggressive 10–1 split.
The plan reshapes Northern and central Virginia, keeps the 9th largely intact, and moves ahead despite a court order and pending Va. Supreme Court case.
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/05/v...
NEW: Virginia House Democrats pushed through a sweeping package of gun control bills Thursday — including an assault weapons ban, industry liability measures and tighter storage rules — over fierce GOP opposition. #Valeg
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/05/h...
🧨 As ICE eyes expansion in Virginia, former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s last-day directive to sell a shuttered Augusta County prison is drawing scrutiny over a potential detention site.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger has since paused the sale. #vagov
virginiamercury.com/2026/02/03/a...
Virginia AG Jay Jones joins 21 other attorneys general in condemning what they call unconstitutional federal pressure on Minnesota, warning DOJ demands tied to immigration enforcement threaten state sovereignty, public safety and community trust.
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/29/v...
County officials and residents pushed back on DHS plans for a potential ICE detention facility at a packed Hanover Board of Supervisors meeting last night.
Here’s a closer look at what happened⬇️
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/29/n...
NEW: Virginia Democrats roll out slate of bills to curb federal immigration enforcement, citing public safety concerns after deadly actions in Minnesota.
Republicans argue Virginia has no say in federal actions. #valeg
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/28/d...
NEW: A Virginia circuit court struck down Democrats’ proposed redistricting amendment, ruling lawmakers violated constitutional requirements and their own rules.
The decision blocks an April referendum and sets up an appeal.
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/27/v...
NEW: In newly Democratic Virginia, immigration enforcement is shaping up as an early test for Gov. Abigail Spanberger, as she reins in state cooperation with ICE amid GOP backlash and growing pressure from advocates.
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/26/i...
Virginia lawmakers clash over voting access:
Democrats advance a package of election and campaign finance bills — one designed to create a state-run platform like VPAP — and block GOP proposals to limit early voting.
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/21/v...
NEW: Democrat Garrett McGuire defeated Republican Christopher Cardiff in a special election in #HD17, keeping the Fairfax-based seat in Democratic hands after former Del. Mark Sickles joined Gov. Spanberger’s administration as secretary of finance.
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/20/d...
NEW: In her first address to the Virginia legislature, Gov. Spanberger backs four constitutional amendments already passed — including redistricting — and presses lawmakers to act on a broad affordability agenda.
#valeg #vagov
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/19/s...
NEW: Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor — and the first woman to hold the office — invoking unity, warning of “recklessness” coming out of Washington and moving quickly to define her agenda.
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/17/s...
#breaking Abigail Spanberger is sworn in as Virginia's 75th governor, becoming the first woman to serve in this role.
Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Attorney General Jay Jones were sworn in moment earlier.
Happening now: Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger arrives at her inaugural ceremony at Virginia’s state Capitol
17.01.2026 17:16 — 👍 6 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
NEW: Virginia Senate Democrats advance a controversial amendment allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting.
New maps would be drawn in a special session and shown to voters ahead of a possible April referendum. #valeg
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/16/v...
