Markus Schmidt

‘Unprecedented times:’ Virginia Democrats defend redistricting referendum as early voting begins • Virginia Mercury As early voting began Friday for Virginia’s closely watched redistricting referendum, Democratic leaders pushed back against claims that the proposal would open the door to future partisan map-drawing...

NEW: Early voting is now underway in Virginia’s redistricting referendum.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., calls the proposal a temporary response “to counter the tyranny that Donald Trump has unleashed.”

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/06/u...

Virginia joins multistate lawsuit challenging Trump administration over new global tariffs • Virginia Mercury Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined more than 20 Democratic-led states Thursday in suing President Donald Trump’s administration over a new round of sweeping tariffs, arguing the president is a...

NEW: Virginia AG Jay Jones has joined more than 20 states in suing the Trump administration over new global tariffs of up to 15% on imported goods.

The suit argues the president is imposing sweeping taxes on Americans without congressional approval.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/05/v...

Obama, Spanberger welcome Virginia Supreme Court ruling allowing redistricting vote • Virginia Mercury A ruling by the Supreme Court of Virginia allowing early voting to move forward in the state’s redistricting referendum has quickly reverberated beyond Richmond, drawing praise from former President B...

NEW: Former President Barack Obama and Gov. Abigail Spanberger welcome a Virginia Supreme Court ruling allowing early voting to begin Friday in the state’s redistricting referendum as Republicans mobilize opposition.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/05/o...

As conflict with Iran widens, Virginia lawmakers navigate political fallout • Virginia Mercury President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a sweeping military offensive against Iran over the weekend is reverberating far beyond the Middle East, injecting new uncertainty into Virginia’s congressi...

President Trump’s war in Iran could shake up Virginia’s congressional races.

Dems question its legality; most VA Republicans back it.

Sen. Warner, up for reelection this fall, calls it a “war of choice.”

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/02/a...

Virginia Democrats sharpen focus on ICE limits after Spanberger’s State of the Union rebuttal • Virginia Mercury Virginia Democrats were already advancing legislation to curb state cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when President Donald Trump took the podium Tuesday night to tout record d...

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...

In Democratic rebuttal, Spanberger accuses Trump of driving up costs and chaos • Virginia Mercury Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, just weeks after being sworn in as the commonwealth’s 75th governor, delivered a sharp Democratic rebuttal Tuesday night to President Donald Trump’s 107-minute State ...

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)

Poll: Virginians back tighter gun laws, favor current redistricting system • Virginia Mercury A new statewide poll shows most Virginians support stricter gun laws and favor keeping the commonwealth’s current redistricting system, even as many question whether tougher firearms restrictions woul...

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...

Lawmakers reshape Youngkin’s final budget with focus on affordability, no new taxes • Virginia Mercury The Virginia General Assembly’s money committees on Sunday rolled out sweeping amendments to former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed two-year, $212 billion state budget, with both the House and Senate a...

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...

Court halts April 21 redistricting vote, siding with RNC and GOP lawmakers • Virginia Mercury A Tazewell County Circuit Court judge on Thursday granted an emergency injunction blocking what Republicans call an unlawful April 21 redistricting referendum while the case is heard in court. Chief J...

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

Virginia Gov. Spanberger to deliver Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union address • Virginia Mercury Virginia’s first woman governor tapped by party leaders for nationally televised rebuttal next Tuesday.

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...

After helping steer redistricting push, Helmer seeks seat in proposed 7th District • Virginia Mercury Virginia Del. Dan Helmer launched his third congressional campaign on Wednesday, backed by a slate of Democratic leaders. Just a few hours later, he brushed aside accusations that he helped engineer a...

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 General Assembly advances cannabis retail framework • Virginia Mercury After years of false starts, vetoes and political stalemates, Virginia lawmakers on Tuesday approved legislation to finally stand up a legal, adult-use cannabis market — setting the stage for retail s...

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...

Bennett-Parker wins Va. Senate District 39 special election • Virginia Mercury Democrat Elizabeth Bennett-Parker won a special election Tuesday to represent Virginia’s 39th Senate District, holding the seat for her party and preserving Democrats’ narrow majority in the chamber a...

#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...

Republican Cash Edge Threatens to Swamp Democrats in the Midterms

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...

‘It was not about me’: Halifax centenarian rejects House honor she never approved • Virginia Mercury "At first, I was surprised,” Edith Younger Edmunds said in a phone interview with The Mercury on Monday. “But now, I realized this was not about me, it was about McGuire. It was about him telling my s...

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...

House panel advances bills limiting ICE activity in Virginia • Virginia Mercury A Democratic House subcommittee early Friday morning advanced a broad slate of bills aimed at tightening how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can operate in Virginia. Lawmakers and supporters ...

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...

Virginia Democrats release long-awaited 10–1 congressional map • Virginia Mercury After weeks of buildup and a missed self-imposed Jan. 30 deadline, Virginia Democrats on Thursday evening finally released their long-awaited revised congressional maps, proposing an aggressive 10–1 c...

#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...

House Democrats pass sweeping gun control package over GOP objections • Virginia Mercury Virginia House Democrats on Thursday muscled through a sweeping package of gun control legislation, passing more than half a dozen bills aimed at restricting access to certain firearms, tightening sto...

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 seeks to expand footprint in Va., Youngkin’s final-day prison sale directive draws scrutiny • Virginia Mercury On his last full day in office, outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin instructed state officials to move forward with selling the shuttered Augusta Correctional Center to a Florida-based asset management compa...

🧨 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 Jones joins 21 attorneys general condemning DOJ pressure on Minnesota • Virginia Mercury Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined 21 colleagues on Thursday in sharply condemning the U.S. Department of Justice’s latest push to force Minnesota officials to surrender sensitive state data 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...

‘Not the right location:’ Hanover supervisors, residents oppose DHS ICE facility • Virginia Mercury Amid nationwide shock over recent ICE-related deaths in Minneapolis that have ignited protests and debate over federal immigration enforcement, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday pus...

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...

Democrats push restrictions on federal immigration enforcement in Virginia • Virginia Mercury Virginia Democrats on Wednesday introduced a package of bills designed to curb federal immigration enforcement activities in the commonwealth. The lawmakers framed their effort as a public safety meas...

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...

Virginia court strikes down redistricting amendment headed for April ballot • Virginia Mercury A Virginia circuit court on Tuesday struck down a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at giving lawmakers the option to redraw congressional districts mid-decade, dealing a major setback to Democr...

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...

In newly Democratic Virginia, immigration enforcement becomes early test for Spanberger • Virginia Mercury Gov. Abigail Spanberger, sworn in earlier this month as Virginia’s 75th governor, has moved quickly to draw a line between state law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement, while acknowledgin...

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...

Voting access bills move forward as Democrats block GOP early voting limits • Virginia Mercury With the 2026 General Assembly session in full swing, Democrats on Tuesday advanced a slate of voting and campaign finance measures aimed at expanding access to the ballot box and increasing transpare...

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...

Democrat McGuire wins Virginia House District 17 special election • Virginia Mercury Democrat Garrett McGuire on Tuesday defeated Republican Christopher Cardiff in a special election to represent Virginia House of Delegates District 17, filling the vacancy left by longtime Democratic ...

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...

Spanberger urges action on democracy, costs in first address to Virginia lawmakers • Virginia Mercury Two days after taking the oath of office as the first woman to lead Virginia, Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Monday urged lawmakers to move quickly on a slate of constitutional amendments and cost-of-livi...

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...