McAuliffe has significant lead among Dems in latest poll
In a poll released Thursday, 47% of Virginia Democratic voters surveyed are backing former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s primary bid for his party’s gubernatorial nomination, according to data from Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center for Public Leadership. Two months ago, McAuliffe had 26% of the vote in another Wason Center poll. With six weeks until […]
Va. GOP to hold May 8 “drive-in” convention, possibly in Lynchburg
After months of discussion and indecision, the Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee elected Tuesday night to hold a May 8 “drive-in” convention — possibly around Liberty University in Lynchburg — to choose its 2021 statewide nominees for governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor. The state GOP committee conducted a three-hour, occasionally contentio[...]
Lawmakers kill bill calling for transparency in redistricting commission
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Senate killed a House proposal to expand access to the commonwealth’s new redistricting commission and help make the process more transparent and democratic. House Bill 2082, patroned by Del. Mark Levine, D-Alexandria, would have required the redistricting commission meetings to be advertised and accessible to the public. The commission will […]
Court upholds state GOP’s May convention plan
The Republican Party of Virginia is clear to move forward with its plans for a May 1 convention, after a Richmond Circuit Court judge on Friday tossed out a lawsuit filed by state Sen. Amanda Chase to force the party to hold a primary election to choose its candidates for governor, attorney general and lieutenant […]
Chase, McAuliffe lead gubernatorial races, Wason Center poll finds
Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and state Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, lead the packs in pursuit of their parties’ gubernatorial nominations, according to a poll released Friday by the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University. McAuliffe, who has outraised other Democrats in campaign funds, leads the field with 26% of the vote […]
Off and running
Updated Jan. 29, 2021 Conventional wisdom used to hold that all politics is local, but that’s not really the case anymore. The extreme polarization on display during the recent presidential and U.S. Senate and House races has infected state and local politics, and Virginia’s November 2021 gubernatorial election promises no respite from that. “The broad […]
2020 Political Roundtable: Trump vs. Biden
The pandemic brought record early voter turnout, stretching official election outcomes for days — but a panel of five statewide political experts resoundingly predicted the day after the election that now-President-elect Biden would be the 46th president of the United States. On Nov. 4, 2020, Virginia Business held its 14th annual Political Roundtable event. Editor […]
Virginia redistricting committee takes shape
RICHMOND, Va. — More than half a dozen legislators have been named to a bipartisan redistricting commission that seeks to fairly draw congressional and state legislative districts. The commission will be made up of 16 people. Half of them will be legislators and the other half will be Virginia citizens. Virginia legislative leaders chose four […]
Richmond braces for election impact
RICHMOND, Va. — Organizations and residents in Richmond are bracing for potential activity related to the U.S. presidential election results. Richmond city officials said they will work with local and state partners to ensure public safety during and after the election. “We encourage all residents to peacefully participate in our democracy and observe public health […]
Va. candidates and groups drop $12M+ on Facebook ad spending
RICHMOND, Va. — In an election forecasted to have record voter turnout, political campaigns have deployed a multiplatform media blitz. Facebook is for more than likes these days, with the platform getting its share of Virginia political and issue spending to the tune of over $12.7 million in a recent three-month period, according to the […]
Virginia voters, legislators split on redistricting amendment
RICHMOND, Va. — Before Kelly Herring voted in the presidential election, she was undecided on a key vote, and it wasn’t who she was going to elect for president. Herring wasn’t sure how to vote on a Virginia constitutional amendment that will change the process of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts. After every 10-year […]
Biden holds 12-point advantage with Va. voters
With less than a week until the election, Democratic presidential challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden continues to lead incumbent President Donald Trump by 12 points in Virginia, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University. “Biden’s lead continues to illustrate Virginia’s solid shift left […]