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
Empower Parents, Punish Criminals: Jason Miyares’ Commonsense Approach as Virginia Attorney General
Three months into his tenure as Virginia’s attorney general, Jason Miyares is delivering on his promises to promote parental rights and punish violent criminals. Those issues animated voters last November and they’re now front and center for the state’s top law enforcement officer. Miyares is part of a trio of Republicans who sent shockwaves through…Rob Bluey -
- News
Virginia School Administrator Says She Was Harassed, Forced Out for Questioning Critical Race Theory
A former administrator at a Virginia school is suing her county school board for creating an atmosphere of racial division and harassment that forced her to leave her job. Emily Mais was an assistant principal at Agnor-Hurt Elementary School in Charlottesville until she resigned in September 2021 after expressing concerns over mandatory, race-based teacher training. …Maggie Hroncich -
- Opinion
University of Virginia Cavalier Daily ‘Journalists’ Show Cavalier Disrespect for Free Speech
“Here we are again,” began an editorial in The Cavalier Daily, the University of Virginia’s student newspaper, urging censorship of a speaker at the university. Here we are again, indeed—yet another column adding to the national chorus decrying free speech, this time authored by the newspaper’s very own editorial board. At this point, sadly, pieces…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
Amid Pro-Life Pushback, Virginia City Won’t Mark ‘National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers’
The city of Alexandria, Virginia, has canceled its planned commemoration of “National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers” on March 10, after city leaders received considerable objections from pro-life activists. “This proclamation has now been pulled from the agenda on Tuesday at my request,” Mayor Justin Wilson, a Democrat, said in a March 4 email,…Nicole Russell -
- Opinion
A Racist Virginia School Board and Principal Get Called Out
In a terrific win for parents, hardworking students, and those who want to end discrimination in our schools, a federal judge has thrown out the racist admissions policy of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a prestigious public magnet school in Fairfax County, Virginia. On Feb. 25, federal district court Judge Claude Hilton…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Youngkin Poised to Withdraw Virginia From Multistate Climate Pact
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is pursuing a multipronged strategy to dismantle climate change regulations and hold down energy costs, his press secretary told The Daily Signal. Government records indicate that Youngkin will rely on a mix of executive action, budget changes, and legislation to withdraw from the 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Some environmental activists…Kevin Mooney -
- Opinion
Virginia Schools ‘Not Going to Be Able’ to Keep Mask Mandates, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears Says
Virginia’s new law banning mask mandates in schools isn’t optional, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears says. Schools are “not going to be able” to require students to continue wearing masks, Sears said during an interview Thursday with “The Daily Signal Podcast.” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill Wednesday that, as of March 1, will prohibit…Virginia Allen -
- News
Parents Sue Virginia School System Over Mask Mandate
Three parents filed suit against a northern Virginia school district complaining its enforcement of a mask mandate defies state policy. Fight for Schools announced the lawsuit against the Loudoun County School Board in an emailed press release Tuesday evening. “Virginia law guarantees the rights of parents to make critical decisions affecting their children, particularly when those decisions…Harold Hutchison -
- Opinion
How West Virginia Is Standing Up to China-Friendly BlackRock
The Daily Signal has previously reported on investment giant BlackRock and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party. But now, at least one state is taking action to distance itself from the China-friendly asset-management company. Riley Moore, the state treasurer of West Virginia, announced Jan. 17 that his state was cutting ties with BlackRock over…Douglas Blair -
- News
Virginia Scraps Critical Race Theory Program Critics Said Would Have Destroyed Math Education
A state plan to abolish teaching advanced math in public schools that was seen as a means of implementing critical race theory was canceled Monday, according to a parents group. The Virginia Department of Education has shut down the Virginia Math Pathways Initiative, according to a message that flashed briefly on the website before taking…Harold Hutchison -
- Opinion
West Virginia Crafts Ties With America’s Partners Around Globe
Practical partnerships between foreign countries and individual American states matter—perhaps more than ever, as they involve treasure troves of diplomatic, military, and economic interactions. Among a good number of notable states, West Virginia offers concrete examples of pragmatic state-to-country economic engagement through its partnerships with America’s partners around the world. On the security partnership front,…Anthony B. Kim -
- News
Virginia Gov.-elect Youngkin Taps Former Heritage Foundation Chief James as Secretary of Commonwealth
Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin has named former Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James to be the next secretary of the commonwealth. “Secretary James will be a true asset to the administration,” Youngkin said in a Friday press release announcing James’ appointment. “Our shared vision, combined with her tremendous experience, will pave the way for a…Virginia Allen -
- News
EXCLUSIVE: Parents Accuse Virginia School District of Teaching Students to ‘Discriminate Based on Race’
A Virginia school district is indoctrinating students with an ideology that “teaches children to affirmatively discriminate based on race,” nine parents and eight minors allege in a new lawsuit. The Daily Signal first obtained a copy of the lawsuit, filed Wednesday by Alliance Defending Freedom in Albemarle County Circuit Court against the Albemarle County School…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- News
Elementary School Libraries Offer Gender Identity Book for Kids, Virginia School System Confirms
Loudoun County Public Schools keeps four copies of an ideological book on gender identity for little children in its elementary school libraries, the Virginia school system confirmed Wednesday to The Daily Signal. Written by “One Bad Mother” podcaster Theresa Thorn, the book “It Feels So Good to Be Yourself” describes the terms “sex assigned at…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
How Virginia Blew Up ‘Larry Elder Was Wrong Candidate’ Narrative
After the California gubernatorial recall election, many pundits—as well as my opponent’s campaign manager—pushed the narrative that “Larry Elder was a gift” to Gov. Gavin Newsom. A kinder, gentler Republican, they insisted, one who distanced himself from the loathsome former President Donald Trump, would have made all the difference in the world, despite the fact…Larry Elder -
- News
Virginia Attorney General-Elect Commits to Investigating Sexual Assaults in Loudoun Schools
Virginia’s Attorney General-elect Jason Miyares, a Republican, said during a press conference Thursday that he plans to investigate Loudoun County Public Schools and the recent sexual assaults that took place on its campuses. “Do you plan to investigate Loudoun County Public Schools and the recent sexual assaults that have happened there?” a journalist asked during the press…Kendall Tietz -
- News
McAuliffe’s Abortion Push Fails to Sway Voters in Virginia Election
Republican Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin won the vote of Virginians who prioritized abortion, exit polling shows, even though Democrat Terry McAuliffe poured millions into advertisements accusing Youngkin of harboring a “far right” abortion agenda. A Fox News voter analysis released late Tuesday evening found that 5% of Virginia voters cited abortion as “the most important issue…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
Why Virginia Governor’s Election Matters for All Americans
Vice President Kamala Harris predicted that what happened in Virginia’s gubernatorial election would have significant implications for future elections. “Because, you see, what happens in Virginia will in large part determine what happens in 2022, 2024, and on,” Harris said while campaigning for Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe, a former governor seeking a return to office….Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
Lesson From Virginia Election: Education Can Be Winning Issue for Republicans
“I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” That was the message parents in Virginia got from former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who was seeking a comeback, in their 2021 gubernatorial election. As it turns out, parents thought otherwise. That’s a major takeaway in Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin’s victory this week over…Jarrett Stepman -
- News
Fact Check: Is Critical Race Theory Taught in Virginia Schools?
Throughout election night, as it became clear Republican Glenn Youngkin would win the Virginia governor’s race, numerous left-leaning media commentators insisted that critical race theory isn’t being taught in Virginia public schools. Various media personalities—some professing to be on the news side, others on the opinion side—repeated the assertion both before and after the election…Fred Lucas