Spanberger's exec. orders confront rising costs, reinforce public education and prep the state for disruptions from federal policy shifts. Her tenth order redirects Virginia law enforcement to focus on core public safety duties, not federal immigration operations.
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...
Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia’s first woman governor.
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...
The Made in Virginia Market, held Friday afternoon in Richmond, kicked off Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger's inauguration weekend. Spanberger, seen here greeting market attendees, will be sworn in as Virginia's 75th governor on Saturday. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)
Virginia GOP Sen. Richard Stuart’s own solar project ran into a permitting snag — and the Youngkin administration stepped in to help move it forward, prompting scrutiny over political influence in energy siting and regulatory policy. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/13/w...
Virginia Senate Democrats open the 2026 General Assembly session with a focus on affordability, vowing to address rising costs in housing, health care, energy and more as they begin work with a Democratic trifecta in Richmond.
virginiamercury.com/2026/01/14/v...
Happening now:
Speaker Don Scott takes his oath of office for the second time, leading a House of Delegates with a 64-seat majority. #valeg
It's the 1st day of Virginia's 2026 legislative session. I caught
@kimadamsforva.bsky.social having a moment after she was sworn in to the Virginia House of Delegates.
A Virginia survey shows 88% of employers report worker lateness or absences due to child care shortages, with high costs and limited access hurting hiring and retention. Lawmakers propose bills to expand support and subsidies. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/09/i...
Virginia is home to over 500 data centers and counting. In today's episode of States Newsroom's podcast Stories from the States, Virginia Mercury Energy and Environment reporter Shannon Heckt shares insights about the fast-growing, energy-intensive industry. www.newsfromthestates.com/episode/stru...
A new state commission and a local task force are digging into how institutions like Christopher Newport University and others used eminent domain or land acquisitions to displace Black neighborhoods — and they’re making the findings public for the first time.
Teddi Fishman, a Democratic poll greeter at a precinct in reliably red Hanover County, said several voters expressed support for Democratic governor nominee Abigail Spanberger this morning, which “surprised and encouraged” her. More on #ElectionDay in Virginia: virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...
Under the new Virginia Cares Initiative, people can sign up to donate food and money to the state’s regional food banks. Participants will then receive a list of high-demand food items, drop off locations and hours of operation for the banks. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/y...
BREAKING: The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race in Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s favor, as of 8:00 p.m.
More updates from Spanberger’s victory party coming soon. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...
BREAKING: State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi has won the Virginia lieutenant governor's race, the Associated Press reports. More updates: virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...
BREAKING: Democrat Jay Jones defeated Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in the attorney general race, completing the party's full sweep of statewide office elections in Virginia. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/d...
“It's a big deal that the girls and the young women I have met along the campaign trail now know with certainty that they can achieve anything,” Democrat Abigail Spanberger said after defeating Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears in the Virginia governor race. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/b...
Check out @charlottewords.bsky.social's dispatch from today's Spanberger rally: 👇🏾
#VaGOV
Virginia launches its own food-assistance fallback amid federal halt.
Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance will distribute $37.5 M/week beginning Nov. 3 to about 850,000 SNAP-eligible Virginians — payments go out Monday, Wednesday & Friday through Nov.
virginiamercury.com/2025/10/28/v...
In an new column, @virginiamercury.com's Ivy Main shares how serving in elections deepened her trust in the process—and why secure elections also require informed, engaged citizens.
Read the full story here: virginiamercury.com/2025/10/29/y...
Commentary: “Yes, Virginia, our elections are secure,” argues columnist Ivy Main — but she emphasizes that electoral integrity depends just as much on citizens taking responsibility and showing up to vote.
virginiamercury.com/2025/10/29/y...
Orange County supervisors and community members want the state to test for "forever chemicals" in biosolids used as farmland fertilizer before they approve permits. They're concerned that PFAS leeching into crops can cause "significant harm to human health." virginiamercury.com/briefs/orang...
Democrats presented a measure that would allow legislators to consider a proposed constitutional amendment giving them authority to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts mid-decade. Republicans said it runs counter to voters' wishes and the law. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/d...
At Richmond's No Kings rally, thousands marched from the state Capitol and speakers from pro-democracy and civil rights organizations shared messages of resistance to the federal government upheaval that has come to define President Donald Trump’s second term. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/18/t...
Hurricane Helene washed away homes, battered businesses and nearly wiped popular hiking and biking trails off the map in the tiny Southwest Virginia town of Damascus. A year on, the community is primed for a major comeback. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/22/i...
Siding with the students, Judge Urbanski wrote that Jackson’s name “is expressive as a symbol of racial exclusion in public schools.”
He granted the students’ summary judgement, denied the school board’s counter motion and deferred a final ruling until December. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/10/f...
Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson said K-12 educators who suggest conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing was acceptable should have their teaching licenses revoked. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/15/v...
JUST IN from @virginiamercury.com: Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson on Friday advised school districts to investigate educators making comments concerning the death of Charlie Kirk.
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/vas-...
Breaking: Virginia Department of Health issues order to ease COVID-19 vaccine access as federal guidance shifts. (I asked VDH and the governor about this yesterday, as other states have done so in the interim)
virginiamercury.com/briefs/virgi...
