Andrew Kerley✍️📸

BREAKING: A Fairfax Judge has sided with Virginia Senate Democrats in a legal battle over their rejection of some of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s university board appointees, reaffirming the GA’s power over the governing bodies.

Background: www.virginiascope.com/senate-democ...

Sen. Rouse’s statement ⬇️

VCU finally gives Sereen Haddad her degree.

The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus released a statement condemning Democrats for calling another Privilages and Elections committee meeting for Monday — where they are likely to vote on more of Gov. Youngkin’s university board appointments.

Brandon Jarvis (@virginiascopenews) Democrats continue their fundraising advantage in House races

Virginia House Democrats are holding their lead in the money race ahead of November elections, though Republicans are catching up compared to the last report.

substack.com/@virginiasco...

Thanks Michael Pope for having me on the Virginia Press Room podcast this week! Listen to our discussion on your favorite platform ⬇️

www.vpm.org/vapressroom

George Mason seems to be the Trump DOJ’s next target in their crusade on DEI.

“They [GMU] have a board appointed by Youngkin, so they’re not going to be resistant in any way," political analyst Bob Holsworth said.

t.co/Nqp3joYWfi

My latest for Virginia Scope: Senate Democrats are weighing blocking more of Gov. Youngkin’s appointees to university boards as he gains full control of Virginia’s institutes — fearing he may exert unprecedented influence before his term’s end. ⬇️

open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Walkinshaw wins Democratic nomination for Virginia's Eleventh Congressional District Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw beat out nine other candidates in a contentious firehouse primary on Saturday to become the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District in ...

Supervisor James Walkinshaw is the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.

www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaw-w...

Stewart Whitson is the Republican nominee for the Va-11 special congressional election - party chair Katie Gorka tells me. The Democratic nominee is expected to be announced later tonight.

Walkinshaw’s frontrunner status sparks debate over fairness in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District Primary A crowded field of Democrats is vying for the party’s nomination in the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s chosen successor, appears to be the cl...

10 Democrats are in the race to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly — but his chosen successor’s front runner status has brought about concerns by some other candidates over fairness.

www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaws-...

Walkinshaw’s frontrunner status sparks debate over fairness in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District Primary A crowded field of Democrats is vying for the party’s nomination in the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.

James Walkinshaw is the favorite in the crowded Democratic primary for VA-11's special election. His opponents are expressing concerns that the nomination process favors establishment candidates and also limits voter access.

By: @andrewkerley.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi declares victory in Democratic lieutenant governor primary State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, declared victory in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor Tuesday night shortly after 10 p.m.

Oh yeah so I’m interning with Virginia Scope and the Virginia Political Newsletter this summer to cover state elections and politics! I’m super stoked.

Here’s my first byline: Hashmi wins.
www.virginiascope.com/state-sen-gh...

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi just declared herself Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Virginia.

“Here in Virginia we’re choosing something different," Hashmi said. "We’re choosing courage, we’re choosing progress and we’re choosing to lead.”

That’s all for my reporting. Look forward to the full Commonwealth Times story.

After doing a lap around the entirety of downtown, the march is wrapping-up with a rally back at Kanawha Plaza.

State police are driving down side streets as the march continues east down Broad Street.

“ICE is coming for your neighbor, fight them now there is no later,” the crowd chants while passing the RPD building. “IDF, KKK, RPD, they’re all the same.”

While the No Kings protest ended in Kanawha Plaza, a new march without a permit and full of younger people is moving downtown.

At Kanawha Plaza — this guy is standing on the fountain and people are taking turns giving him their signs/flags to wave.

Thousands of protesters are marching up Main Street to Kanawha Plaza.

“We we do not do kings, not in Richmond, not in Washington, because when you attack our federal workers, you're attacking our working families, you're attacking black and Brown's communities, you're attacking democracy itself.” - Sen. Ghazala Hashmi

“The courts alone will not save us. We will save us,” says Mary Bauer (ACLU Virginia Director). “We are not in normal times. We are in extraordinary times where each of us is called to stand up as loudly as we can to demand that our government cease its outrageous and despotic abuse of power.”

“Where is Congress, do your job” — also heard a few “where is Wittman” chants.

HAPPENING NOW: An unbelievable crowd of thousands is covering Richmond’s Capitol Square in protest of Trump. Goes all the way from the bell tower to the General Assembly building. Stay tuned.

After some fiery speeches the crowd — now in the hundreds — marched through Jackson Ward.

3rd district school board member Ali Faruk takes the mic. He shames people in power collaborating with fascists who demonize immigrants as the “bad guy.”

“You will never convince me to be scared of people in my community,” Faruk said.

Another 50 or so have shown up. They chant “¡Aqui estamos, y no nos vamos!” meaning “we are here and not leaving.”

“The only minority in this country that is a threat is billionaires,” says organizer Violeta Vega.

HAPPENING NOW at Abner Clay Park: Roughly 50 people are braving a thunderstorm for an anti-ICE protest in solidarity with Los Angeles. Stay tuned.

Virginia university reform efforts mirror nationwide conservative attacks, experts say • Virginia Mercury Joe Feagin had to swear an oath he was not a communist to land his first university teaching job in 1966. Feagin, 86, received his bachelor's degree in Texas during McCarthyism and the viciously oppre...

virginiamercury.com/2025/05/05/v...