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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- Opinion
Problematic Women: Meet (Miss) Virginia
This week on “Problematic Women,” we interview the woman that inspired the new feature film “Miss Virginia,” Virginia Walden Ford. We talk to her about everything from her childhood years integrating the Little Rock, Arkansas, school system to working with President George W. Bush creating the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program to the star-studded cast of…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
‘Let Us Provide Our Own Security’: Virginia Beach Manager Petitions for Guns at Work
Vincent Smith wasn’t in the office when a fellow Virginia Beach city employee opened fire there, ultimately killing 12 and wounding five in the carnage five weeks ago. After getting notice of the shooting that afternoon in Building 2 of the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, Smith, 49, raced to the nearby emergency operations center, where…Carmel Kookogey -
- News
Virginia Beach Employee Works to Abolish City’s Gun-Free Zone Policy
A Virginia Beach employee is circulating a petition to abolish the city’s policy barring employees from bringing guns into work if they are properly permitted. Vincent Smith, an engineer who worked in Building 2 where the recent shooting occurred, posted a petition on Change.org asking the city to amend its employee weapons ban so properly…Whitney Tipton -
- Opinion
Why Gun Control Is Wrong Response to Tragic Virginia Shooting
In the wake of the tragic shooting in Virginia Beach, Virginia, that claimed the lives of 12 people, Gov. Ralph Northam has called for a special legislative session to address gun-related violence. Using the shooting as a call to action, he then proposed a variety of restrictions on lawful gun owners—not one of which would…Amy Swearer -
- Opinion
‘I Have a Girl Brain but a Boy Body’: Virginia Kindergartners Are Read Transgender Story
It looked like your typical reading class. Dozens of kindergarten students sat cross-legged on the floor watching their teacher turn to the first page. It didn’t take long for the 5-year-olds to realize: This was no ordinary children’s book. “I have a girl brain but a boy body,” Miss McBride started. “This is called transgender….Tony Perkins -
- News
Gillespie Addresses Northam Blackface Controversy: ‘Doesn’t Reflect the Virginia I Know’
Ed Gillespie, the Republican candidate who lost the 2017 Virginia governor’s race to Ralph Northam, said Virginia has much healing to do. “For Virginians, this is a very painful time to see these images splashed up on television screens and newspapers, and it doesn’t reflect the Virginia that I know and fellow Virginians know,” Gillespie…Fred Lucas -
- News
West Virginia Teachers Strike Ends With No Compromise on School Choice
West Virginia teachers are tasting victory after a two-day strike, putting to rest state legislation that would have allowed the opening of charter schools and 1,000 education savings accounts for special-needs or bullied students to use toward a private education option. The teachers strike ended Wednesday with the adjournment of state lawmakers who failed to…Joshua Q. Nelson -
- News
Media’s Different Handling of Kavanaugh, Virginia Lieutenant Governor Accusations
The uncorroborated sexual assault allegation against Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, a Democrat, has drawn comparisons to the uncorroborated allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Fairfax issued a statement early Monday morning disputing a report by the right-wing blog Big League Politics, which linked Fairfax to an accusation of sexual assault at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Fairfax…Peter Hasson -
- News
In Med School Yearbook, Virginia Gov. Northam’s Page Includes Photo of Men in Blackface, KKK Robe
A recently unearthed yearbook page for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat who has been under fire this week for his comments about a late-term abortion bill, includes a photo featuring one man in blackface and another man in Ku Klux Klan attire. “Racism has no place in Virginia,” said Jack Wilson, chairman of the…Katrina Trinko -
- News
Virginia Governor’s Answer on Late-Term Abortion Hints at Support for Infanticide
Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam couldn’t precisely answer whether he supports abortion until birth and suggested an infant could be born and then the mother and doctor could discuss what should happen next, in a Wednesday morning interview. “If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would…Grace Carr -
- News
Virginia Democrat Proposes Bill Legalizing Abortion Until Birth
Virginia is considering a bill allowing women to abort their unborn child until the moment the baby is born. Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran introduced HB2491, or the Repeal Act, which seeks to repeal the state’s current restrictions on late-term abortions. If passed, the measure will do away with the state’s requirement that second- and third-trimester abortions be…Grace Carr -
- Opinion
Equal Rights Amendment Advances Pro-Choice Agenda in Virginia
The deadline for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment passed back in 1982. But that hasn’t deterred its latest crop of activists. Down in Virginia, a tag-team of liberal extremists and feminists are joining forces to bring the famous piece of ’70s propaganda back from the grave. And this time, they’re making it quite clear that…Tony Perkins -
- News
Amazon Set to Roll in Cash as New York and Virginia Ready to Give Massive Amount of Tax Incentives
Amazon announced Tuesday it’s splitting its second headquarters between Long Island City, New York, and Arlington, Virginia, and the corporation will receive tax incentive packages worth more than $2 billion to build in both locations. Much of the money will flow to Amazon only if it delivers on its promise of creating approximately 25,000 jobs…Evie Fordham -
- News
Virginia Governor Set to Bypass Legislature to Join State-Based Climate Agreement
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is poised to implement a new regulation without legislative approval to join 10 other states in a climate change agreement based on restricting carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. But lawmakers, policy analysts, and tea party activists in Virginia who oppose what they consider costly regulations of industry are raising…Kevin Mooney -
- News
Virginia Government Officials Not Happy With First School District to Arm Teachers
A school district voted unanimously to become the first Virginia county to permit armed teachers, but Virginia government officials are not pleased. The Lee County School Board decided earlier in July to arm teachers in its 11-school, 3,200-student school district, but faces backlash from Virginia’s Department of Education and attorney general, according to The Washington Post Wednesday….Rob Shimshock -
- News
Virginia School Board Ignores Parents’ Concerns, Changes Sex Ed Program
A Virginia school board thrust through changes to its sex education curriculum Thursday despite around 90 percent of public respondents disapproving of the changes. The Fairfax County School Board passed changes including the replacement of “biological sex” with “sex assigned at birth” and the teaching of an HIV drug with “life-threatening side effects,” reported Fox 5. School…Rob Shimshock -
- News
7 Points a Virginia Lawmaker Made in a Speech on Guns That Went Viral
An Iraq combat veteran is getting attention for a fiery speech to fellow members of the Virginia House of Delegates defending the Second Amendment and its supporters. Delegate Nick Freitas, a Republican elected in 2016 to represent Culpeper, Madison, and Orange counties, is a business consultant and former Green Beret who served two combat…Ginny Montalbano -
- Opinion
Memo to West Virginia Teachers Striking: Union Policies to Blame for Lower Pay for Good Teachers
If you see thousands of children in West Virginia out of school this week, rest assured they are not playing hooky. In fact, it’s their teachers who are. Last week, a massive strike of almost 20,000 teachers occurred in the state, leading to widespread school closures. On Tuesday, every single public school in West Virginia…Mary Clare Amselem -
- Opinion
Some Virginia Lawmakers Want to Expand Medicaid. Why That’s a Bad Idea.
Every year, we see renewed efforts to push states to adopt Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion. Virginia drew national attention this year when its House of Delegates signaled that it was warming to an expansion. Many thought the tide had shifted. But cooler minds prevailed in the Senate, hopefully keeping Virginia from making a huge mistake. As…Nina Owcharenko Schaefer -
- Opinion
Horrific Sex Ed Curriculum Is Taking Over in This Virginia County, and Objectors Are Getting Steamrolled
I usually avoid really sick, appalling spectacles. I skip movies like “Saw.” But last Thursday I saw something worse. I went to the sex education committee meeting of the Fairfax County School Board. I have never seen anything as shocking. Understand that I have sat through years of shocking meetings. My day job is monitoring…Austin Ruse