Virginia Politics & News
Virginia news from The Daily Signal, covering state politics, education policy, election integrity, and the political shift between Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth’s conservative regions.
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news
Virginia Students, Administrators React to Limits on Phones, Devices
Virginia students started the school year earlier than in the recent past, thanks to a 2019 law that allowed districts to start classes in mid-August. Students are also spending less time on their phones, and for hyper-online members of Generation Z, that is an adjustment. In 2024, former Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order… -
opinion
Fairfax and Loudoun Schools Have a Results Problem
Last week, the Virginia Department of Education released the results of the state’s Standards of Learning assessments. The results from two of Virginia’s most affluent counties are troubling. Students in Fairfax County Public Schools and Loudoun County Public Schools failed their SOL assessments at rates that should concern parents, taxpayers, and district leaders. 2025-2026 SOL… -
opinion
Bid to Raise Sales Taxes in Virginia Raises Questions
Thirty-five percent of Virginia’s municipal governments will be holding a referendum this November on whether to add a 1% sales tax to any transactions that take place in their county or city. The General Assembly approved amendments to Sections 58.1-605.1 and 58.1-606.1 to allow all Virginia cities and counties to put forth a referendum to… -
news
Macy Declines Cline’s Proposed Debate Schedule in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District
Voters in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District will be able to attend or observe a debate between sitting Republican Rep. Ben Cline and Democrat challenger Beth Macy. However, it won’t be this week. Macy challenged Cline to three exchanges this year. Last week, Cline announced that not only had he accepted, but he also had scheduled… -
news
The Check Is (Lost) in the Mail
Checks worth at least $534,000 have gone missing after being mailed in Frederick County, Virginia. Authorities in the region suspect it may be an inside job, and that the checks are being stolen from envelopes only after they are turned over to the U.S. Postal Service. “We believe from the complaints it is from mail… -
news
Catholic Bishops Sound Alarm Ahead of November Vote
Virginia’s most populous Catholic diocese is planning a coordinated effort in churches next month, urging parishioners to reject constitutional amendments on abortion and marriage that will appear on the ballot this fall. Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington hosted a webinar for priests and asked them to read a message at Masses on… -
news
Virginia Farmers Struggle Amid Drought
The state’s Drought Monitoring Task Force lifted its advisory for most of Southwest Virginia, including Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise counties, as well as the cities of Bristol and Norton. It’s the first time since April 16 that any portion of the Commonwealth has been listed as having a “normal”… -
opinion
2 Virginia Ballot Measures Threaten Parental Rights
Back-to-school season is upon us and there is excitement in the air. The fun of shopping for school supplies, the anticipation of being on the brink of an adventure, and the promise of new friends and activities all ignite a sense of hope for students of every age. For parents, it is a special time… -
news
FBI Followed Catholic Priests, Continued Richmond Memo Work After Removal Order: DOJ Report Finds
A new Justice Department report reveals that FBI personnel opened investigations into two Catholic priests, conducted surveillance tied to the Richmond Catholic Memo, and continued revising the memo after headquarters ordered it deleted. The report reveals how an investigation into a violent extremist led to the surveillance of clergy affiliated with traditional Catholicism, though the… -
opinion
Who Knew What When in Case of Teacher Accused of Sexual Battery?
An ongoing battle is roiling the most famous (and infamous) Central Virginia county over the sexual assault of students and “who knew what, and when?” Ever since 37-year-old Albemarle County school teacher and appointed trans-issues counselor Michael J. Swiney was indicted on seven counts of felony aggravated sexual battery, three felony counts of indecent liberties,… -
opinion
Purged
News item: “Virginia removes 6,303 ‘noncitizens’ from voter rolls, fueling fraud allegations.”—NBC News The excuse? Errors made when people filled out paperwork or answered questions online. Translation: No fraud, just either inept citizens or overly complicated forms. Rep. Ben Cline told Fox News that “on the federal and state level, over 8,000 registrations that have… -
news
State Policy Network Hosts Annual Meeting, Former Attorney General Jason Miyares Speaks on Federal Overreach
ORLANDO, Fla.—This week, State Policy Network is hosting its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, gathering leaders and experts in state policy, nonprofits, and industries to share ideas and consider answers to problems that American citizens face. With over 100 sessions and more than 350 organizations represented at the conference, the meeting seeks to create opportunities… -
news
Data Center Tax Break Under Fire
Virginia is the worldwide leader in data centers, and it has been since the dawn of the modern information age. There are at least 674 data centers in Virginia, and more are on the drawing board. For example, the Hanover County Planning Commission voted last week to allow the development of a technology park that… -
news
Virginia State Corporation Commission Member Won’t Recuse Herself From Dominion Talks
The State Corporation Commission, which oversees utilities in Virginia, is taking public comments on whether NextEra Energy should be allowed to buy Richmond-based Dominion Energy. The Florida-based company proposed a $67 billion takeover of Virginia’s largest utility, and the SCC has until January to either sign off on the deal, recommend changes, or block it…. -
opinion
Virginia’s Deliberately Confusing Constitutional Amendments
If the Republican Party’s congressional candidates in Virginia keep even close to the semi-plurality in the lower chamber that they currently have at 5-6 seats, it may be driven by the campaigns going around the Commonwealth ginning up interest in defeating the constitutional amendments that are also on the ballot. These three amendments are very… -
news
Illegal Immigrant Charged With Brutal Fairfax County Murder
Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, appeared in court in Maryland on Thursday for a hearing related to the heinous murder of Carmen Lizet Puch. He is scheduled for another appearance on Sept. 18 ahead of his possible extradition to Virginia. The victim, a 42-year-old mother, was stabbed to death in… -
news
RVA Duck Fest Flocks to CarMax Park
Ducks are popular guests at Richmond’s new baseball stadium. So far this year, the Eastern League’s Flying Squirrels have hosted the Akron RubberDucks 12 times and sport a 10-2 home record against the accommodating Cleveland Guardians farm team. The Squirrels are now biding their time after winning the first-half title and will host playoff games… -
news
The Midterm Rematch That Will ‘Determine the Fate of the Country’
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.—Virginia is home to the race that will “determine the fate of the country,” according to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Republicans came together in Virginia Beach to fundraise for Rep. Jen Kiggans, who faces a 2022 rematch against former Rep. Elaine Luria. After the event, Johnson told reporters that 2026 will be a… -
opinion
Virginia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Folly
Newly released texts show that Dr. Anthony Fauci privately told colleagues that a reaction some people had after their second COVID-19 vaccine dose “theoretically could be associated with miscarriage in the 1st trimester.” Days later, he told the public that 10,000 pregnant women had received COVID-19 vaccines without any concerning safety signals being detected. “No red… -
opinion
Gaming the System
I had a personal friend lose his job programming a popular radio station and have to leave the United States in order to keep working because a record company representative took him to a New York Yankees game. The New York state attorney general decided that crime was so well under control in the state…