Category: Politics
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When Did Democrats Begin to Resemble the Rockettes?
Virginia Democrats long defended and preserved the state’s “right-to-work” law. They’re shifting in unison. by Gordon C. Morse Join a labor union, if you like. Or do not join a labor union, if you like. Your choice. Virginia law says that no one can force you to financially support a union as a condition of…
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About Being Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor
by Gordon C. Morse Earlier this week, Patrick Herrity dropped out of the June 17 primary for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, and it’s too bad. The son of Jack Herrity had not fallen far from the tree and that alone promised to make his race both fun and useful. About his old man:…
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The Opportunity-for-All Candidate
by James A. Bacon Pundits and politicians are enamored with the idea that Virginia will “make history” in its gubernatorial elections this fall. No matter who wins the election — Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears or Democrat Abigail Spanberger — she will be the first woman to serve as Governor. The making-history observation applies to…
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Who Should Lead Virginia?
by Gordon C. Morse In roughly six months, Virginia will elect a new governor, and her name is Abigail Spanberger. That appears to be the consensus view and, based on the circumstances (money, history, money, Trump, and money), the logic favoring Spanberger, a Democrat, appears convincing. So where does that leave Spanberger’s GOP opponent, current…
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Bacon Bits: Politicians Behaving Badly
Just the kind of guy you want running your school system… Todd Stewart Williams, former vice chair of the Smyth County School Board, has pleaded guilty to using at least six male minors to produce child pornography, reports Cardinal News. Williams spent more than $10,000 buying nude images from at least six underage male victims.…
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Who’s Liberating Whom?
by Gordon C. Morse Loved the headline over an opinion in The Washington Post last Sunday morning: “The beginning of the end of the Trump era.” Well, that was easy. What a relief! And I was beginning to worry. The argument contained within the Post piece, such as it is, seems to recognize that something…
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Youngkin Fires Ellis
by James A. Bacon Governor Glenn Youngkin has fired Bert Ellis from the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, terminating the most outspoken member of the board supporting his goals of reining in tuition, promoting free speech and intellectual diversity, and eliminating Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from the university’s policies and practices. The Governor asked…
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The Trump Tariffs and Virginia Farmers
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Virginia farmers will soon feel the effect of President Trump’s 25 percent across-the-board tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10 percent tariff on products from China. According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer services, the top two export markets for Viriginia agricultural products in 2023…
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Bagby the Wrong Choice for Dem Party Chair
by Paul Goldman Tellingly, the Virginia Democratic Party establishment is trying to force the Central Committee to elect State Senator Lamont Bagby, D-Richmond, as the new Party Chair. Tim Kaine, Louise Lucas, Don Scott, Abigail Spanberger, Mark Warner, the who’s who of the Party have endorsed him. His supporters on the Steering Committee (key party…
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Don’t Let LaRock Rock the Boat
By Ken Reid In “The Bull Elephant” blog last week, former State Delegate and defeated state senate candidate Dave LaRock explained why he wanted to run for Governor, noting, “I was approached by many conservatives from across the state who see the need for, perhaps, a different candidate” than Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears.” Now, there is…
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Why Did Tax Bill Die? It’s a Governor’s Bill!
By Steve Haner Virginia will remain out of step with the rest of the United States on how it taxes service-providing businesses after General Assembly Democrats voted in lockstep to once again kill a logical income tax reform. There was absolutely no partisan angle to the policy debate, yet party line votes killed it.…
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King Elon I
How do you feel about an unelected multi-billionaire “moving swiftly to exert control over vast swaths of the U.S. government,” as the Wall Street Journal put it, with plans to shut down spending and programs he does not like?
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Laboring in Virginia
An instructive session at the State Capital by Gordon C. Morse Tuesday’s Virginia Senate Commerce and Labor Committee meeting deserves watching. You can pull these things up on-line and watch them at your leisure. It offered some clarity on the divisions in this state. The particulars of the debate — the cost of retail electricity…
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Did Levar Stoney Crack the Anti-Poverty Lock?
by James A. Bacon I’ve made no secret of my disdain for former Levar Stoney’s track record as mayor of Richmond between 2017 and 2025. His only tangible accomplishment, I’ve said, was tearing down Confederate statues. But perhaps I was too harsh. If we’re to believe Governing magazine, a national trade publication that covers state…
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Keeping Seats Open for Next Governor to Fill
By Chris Braunlich The Democratic State Senate last week rejected nine of Governor Youngkin’s appointments to key governing Boards in the state. Although Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) used high minded language to defend the action, it is much more likely that the rationale was baser — simply keeping important policy-making board seats open for what…