Tagvirginia

Stories about Virginia

Absentee/mail-in ballot request deadlines, 2023

By Roneka Matheny
In 2023 elections
March 30, 2023 at 10:59 AM

Eight states—Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington—are holding statewide elections this year.

Absentee/mail-in voting is voting that does not happen in person on Election Day but instead occurs another way, usually by mail. All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in voting. Some states require voters to provide a valid excuse in order to be eligible to vote absentee/by mail, while others do not.

Seven states—California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington—provide for automatic mail-in voting, meaning that every voter receives a ballot in the mail by default. In Vermont, voters automatically receive a ballot for general elections only.

Fifteen states require voters to provide a reason for requesting a mail-in ballot. Twenty-eight states do not require voters to provide a reason for requesting a mail-in ballot. 

The table below shows the absentee/mail-in request deadlines for primary and general elections this year:

Rules for requesting absentee/mail-in ballots vary by state. For example, Kentucky requires requests for absentee/mail ballots to be submitted through its online system, while New Jersey does not accept request made online or electronically. In New Jersey, absentee/mail-in ballot requests must be either submitted in person or by mail, while Wisconsin does not allow in-person requests for absentee/mail-in ballots. Requests must be made either online or by mail in Wisconsin. 

Of the eight states holding statewide elections this year, Mississippi is the only one that does not require requests for absentee/mail-in ballots to be submitted by any specific deadline. 



These 10 Virginia contributors gave over $7.8 million

By Kalyn Stralow
In State
March 8, 2023 at 7:06 PM

In Virginia politics, state-level candidates and political action committees have received $78.2 million in total contributions between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022. The 10 largest contributors gave more than $7.8 million, or 10 percent of all contributions.

These are the top 10 individual contributors to Virginia state-level candidates and committees in the 2023 election cycle, according to campaign finance reports submitted to the Virginia Department of Elections:

Top 10 Virginia Contributors (1/1/2022 – 12/31/2022)

Rank Contributor Name Total Contributions
1 Pete and Burson Snyder $5,678,611
2 Michael D Bills $950,000
3 Ramon W Breeden Jr $200,000
4 Sonjia S Smith $193,000
5 Ronald D Abramson $191,300
6 John L Nau III $175,000
7 Leonard A Bennett $139,500
8 David Fisher $108,000
9 Charles Hobbs $100,125
10 Bruce L Thompson $100,000

The list of Virginia contributors in this time period includes more than 737 individuals identified by name in the Virginia Department of Elections’s public records.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Virginia committees submitted to the Virginia Department of Elections. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal committees are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.



Virginia governor expresses concerns about ESG investing

By James McAllister
In State
January 24, 2023 at 10:59 AM

Virginia Gov. Glen Youngkin (R)—who worked for most of his career in financial services (private equity), where he eventually became co-CEO of the Carlyle Group— signaled last week that he, like many of his Republican colleagues, has some concerns about ESG:

“Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who ran one of the nation’s biggest investment firms before he took office, said ESG investing is under fire because it has morphed from a philosophy for picking stocks into a weapon for penalizing companies that don’t make the cut.

“‘Is having world-class transparency and governance a good thing? Yes, it’s a really good thing,’ Youngkin, a Republican and the former co-head of Carlyle Group Inc., said during a Bloomberg News editorial board meeting on Monday. But the definition of what’s good for the environment, social goals and governance isn’t one-size-fits all, he added.

“ESG ‘means different things to different people. It just does,’ Youngkin said. Amid this swirl of criteria, he continued, investment firms are telling companies, ‘If you don’t do X, then we’re going to penalize you, as opposed to just not invest with you.’

“At the end of the day, the economics of returns should justify the investment decisions, Youngkin said.”

Most government activity supporting or opposing ESG investing has taken place in states with Republican or Democratic trifectas. Virginia has a divided government with a Republican governor and House of Delegates and a Democratic state Senate.

Click here to subscribe to Ballotpedia’s ESG newsletter to stay up-to-date on the most important developments. Click here to learn more about ESG.



Rouse defeats Adams in special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7

By Samuel Wonacott
In State
January 12, 2023 at 11:57 AM

Aaron Rouse (D) defeated Kevin Adams (R) in the January 10, 2023, special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7. Rouse’s victory gave Democrats a 22-18 majority in the state Senate. The special election was called after the previous incumbent, Sen. Jennifer Kiggans (R), resigned on November 15, 2022, after being elected to represent Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.

Going into the election, Democrats had a 21-18 majority in the state Senate (with the District 7 vacancy). According to Daily Kos’ David Nir, District 7 “has been very swingy: In 2019, Kiggans won it by less than one point, while Joe Biden carried it by 10 points the following year, only to see Youngkin prevail by 4 points in 2021.”

Rouse, a former NFL player, has been an at-large member of the Virginia Beach City Council since 2018. Rouse said “So much is at stake in this upcoming election, from a woman’s fundamental right to choose, which I will fiercely defend, to the efforts that will set us back on voting rights, to addressing climate change, protecting the Chesapeake Bay and waterways, to criminal justice reform.” Rouse listed education as his top priority, including raising teacher salaries and expanding access to preschool. Rouse also listed the economy, healthcare, and public safety as priorities.

Adams is a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander who founded and operated a handyman business. Adams said he will “continue working to pass Governor Glenn Youngkin’s pro-veteran agenda, cut taxes, ease regulations, keep our communities safe, and make it easier for small business owners like me to get started and stay in business.” Adams’ platform included working to improve education and workforce training, supporting veterans, lowering gas, grocery, and sales taxes, and growing “school funding while shrinking the power of left-wing idealogues.”

New state legislative maps took effect on January 11, 2023, at the start of the 2023 legislative. However, this special election took place under previous district lines. Click here to compare Virginia State Senate Districts before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Abortion was an issue in the race. Rouse said, “Right now, that’s what we need in Richmond. Extreme Republicans are trying to take away the right to choose in Virginia, rolling back women’s freedom to make their own personal medical decisions.” On his campaign website, Adams said, “We need to pass laws that respect the rights of the mom and baby, limit late-term abortion by passing Glenn Youngkin’s 15-week legislation, while providing reasonable exceptions to protect the life of the mother or in the instance of rape or incest.”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia endorsed Rouse, and its associated PAC said it would spend around $100,000 on the race. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said it would spend $30,000 in support of Adams.



Rouse, Adams running in Jan. 10 special election for Virginia State Senate District 7

By Samuel Wonacott
In State
December 21, 2022 at 11:35 PM

Aaron Rouse (D) and Kevin Adams (R) are running in the January 10, 2023, special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7. The special election was called after the previous incumbent, Sen. Jennifer Kiggans (R), resigned on November 15, 2022, after being elected to represent Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.

Rouse, a former NFL player, has been an at-large member of the Virginia Beach City Council since 2018. Rouse said, “so much is at stake in this upcoming election, from a woman’s fundamental right to choose, which I will fiercely defend, to the efforts that will set us back on voting rights, to addressing climate change, protecting the Chesapeake Bay and waterways, to criminal justice reform.” Rouse listed education as his top priority, including raising teacher salaries and expanding access to preschool. Rouse also listed the economy, healthcare, and public safety as priorities.

Adams is a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander who founded and operated a handyman business. Adams said he will “continue working to pass Governor Glenn Youngkin’s pro-veteran agenda, cut taxes, ease regulations, keep our communities safe, and make it easier for small business owners like me to get started and stay in business.” Adams’ platform includes working to improve education and workforce training, supporting veterans, lowering gas, grocery, and sales taxes, and growing “school funding while shrinking the power of left-wing idealogues.”

New state legislative maps will take effect on January 11, 2023, at the start of the new legislative session. However, this special election will take place under previous district lines. Click here to compare Virginia State Senate Districts before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Democrats currently have a 21-18 majority in the state Senate (with the District 7 vacancy). According to Daily Kos’ David Nir, District 7 “has been very swingy: In 2019, Kiggans won it by less than one point, while Joe Biden carried it by 10 points the following year, only to see Youngkin prevail by 4 points in 2021.”



Virginia education agency proposes new history standards in public schools

By Katharine Frey
In State
December 5, 2022 at 9:20 AM

The Virginia Department of Education proposed new standards on November 11, 2022, that aim to provide guidance to the state’s public schools on the Glenn Youngkin administration’s (R) preferred approaches to teaching Virginia and U.S. history. 

Every seven years, the Virginia Department of Education is required to update its History and Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL). Former Democratic Governor Ralph Northam’s administration had proposed its own history guidelines, which required schools to provide the following instruction:

  1. Teach lessons on the LGTBQ+ community and social justice
  2. Teach lessons on racism and discrimination
  3. Recognize holidays like Juneteenth
  4. Teach lessons on climate defense and renewable energy
  5. Halt the requirement of teaching some lessons on Christopher Columbus and Benjamin Franklin
  6. End the requirement of understanding why George Washington is called the “Father of our Country” and why James Madison is called the “Father of the Constitution.”

The Youngkin administration departs from the former administration’s proposed history standards by mandating the following lessons:

  1. Teach lessons for kindergarteners on patriotism, which includes pledging allegiance to the American flag
  2. Teach first grade students to learn critical thinking skills 
  3. Teach fourth grade students to be able to describe the Civil Rights movement in Virginia, why James Madison is called the “Father of the U.S. Constitution,” and why George Washington is called the “Father of our Country” 
  4. Teach fourth grade students about Reconstruction and the Civil War
  5. Teach eleventh grade students about Christopher Columbus and the race-based enslavement of Africans

Opponents of the proposed plan by the Youngkin administration argue it is politically motivated. “It’s just another attack on trying to make history what they want it to be,” argued James Fedderman, President of the Virginia Education Association.

Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said that the intention of the policy is to have all students “engaged in fact-based and inquiry-based instruction throughout their education in an age-appropriate way,” according to the Virginia Mercury.

After delaying an August vote on the proposal until November, the Virginia State Board of Education voted 8-0 on November 17, 2022, to further delay the SOL review process until 2023. 

Additional links:

https://ballotpedia.org/Glenn_Youngkin

https://ballotpedia.org/Jillian_Balow

https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_Department_of_Education

https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_House_of_Delegates

Reference links:

https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/glenn-youngkin-new-history-standards-critics-politically-motivated/291-a122b7af-9fab-49f9-b8b1-6827bbf72ee5

https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classroom/glenn-youngkin-virginia-department-of-education-proposes-new-history-standards-including-teaching-patriotism-in-schools-ralph-northam-american-history-virginia-history

https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/10/21/board-of-education-delays-review-of-history-social-sciences-standards-again/embed/

https://richmond.com/news/local/education/youngkin-administration-releases-new-draft-history-standards/article_2d4da891-2927-5a92-a951-5e652bacdfc5.html



All candidates for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 21, 2022 at 1:59 PM

All three of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Virginia’s 1st Congressional District — incumbent Rob Wittman (R), Herb Jones (D), and David Bruce Foster (I) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 118th Congress. All 435 seats in the House are up for election. As of October 20th, 2022, Democrats hold a 220-212 advantage in the U.S. House with three vacant seats. Virginia’s current congressional delegation consists of 9 Democrats and 4 Republicans.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?                                

Wittman:       

“Since 2007, I have been focused on strengthening our military and supporting veterans, promoting economic development through fiscal responsibility, fixing our crumbling infrastructure, increasing access to high-speed internet, conserving our environment and protecting our wildlife and public lands and waters, and promoting workforce development through Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs.”

Jones:       

“-Being a veteran myself, I am particularly focused on veterans’ issues.

-Being a small business owner and a former county treasurer, I am also focused on fiscal responsibility

-Being a dad, uncle, and grandpa, I am also focused on leaving a clean and inhabitable environment for our children and grandchildren.”

Foster:

“We keep hearing from the corrupt political base that we are a Nation of Law and Order. Great, but what use is it when the Rule of Prosecution is left out for the Elites who literally are getting away with Murder! America is done, finished with this Quid Pro Quo Political Ideology. November 8th, 2022, is America’s last chance to Save Herself. We have to come together from all sides now because the Elites do not have our best interests as a priority when making important life decisions.”

Click here to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:



The top 10 Virginia candidates raised 71 percent of all donations

By Kalyn Stralow
In State
October 7, 2022 at 2:49 PM

In Virginia politics, state-level candidates and officeholders raised $34.6 million between Jan. 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022. More than $24.6 million, or 71 percent, of all donations reported by candidate committees were raised by the 10 individuals at the top of the list.

Top 10 Virginia candidates (1/1/2022 – 6/30/2022)

Here are the 10 Virginia candidates and officeholders who have raised the most money so far in the 2023 election cycle, according to campaign finance reports submitted to the Virginia Department of Elections:

Rank Candidate/Officeholder Name Total Donations
1 Glenn Youngkin $22,548,063
2 Jennifer Carroll Foy $321,768
3 Jason Miyares $284,575
4 Dick Saslaw $270,240
5 Eileen Filler-Corn $230,453
6 Don Scott $229,199
7 Jennifer McClellan $201,513
8 Danica Roem $185,312
9 JD Danny Diggs $185,196
10 Tina Ramirez $182,167

The list of Virginia candidates and officeholders includes anyone with a candidate PAC that filed campaign finance reports during this time period, which may include former candidates or current officeholders who are not running in this cycle. PACs not associated with a candidate are not included in the values above.

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Virginia PACs submitted to the Virginia Department of Elections. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies.

Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines. State or federal law may require filers to submit additional reports. Data from additional reports due in between the deadlines below are published along with the reports listed here.

Report Name Report Due Date
2022 Jan Semiannual 1/15/2022
2022 Jul Semiannual (and Post-Primary) 7/15/2022
2023 Jan Semiannual 1/15/2023

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.



Virginia education agency proposes policies to clarify approaches to transgender students in public schools

By Katharine Frey
In State
September 27, 2022 at 11:59 AM

The Virginia Department of Education proposed new policies on September 16, 2022, that aim to provide guidance to the state’s public schools on the Youngkin administration’s preferred approaches to transgender students. 

The new policies depart from former Democratic Governor Ralph Northam’s administration guidelines, which encouraged schools to let students use names and pronouns aligning with their gender identity without formal documentation. Titled 2022 Model Policies On The Privacy, Dignity, And Respect For All Students And Parents In Virginia’s Public Schools, the new education policy mandate the following approaches:

  • Transgender students must use the bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their assigned sex at birth
  • The legal name and sex of a student cannot be changed even with written instruction from a parent or student unless official legal documentation or a court order is presented
  • Teachers and school officials are only allowed to refer to a student by the pronouns associated with their sex at birth
  • Teachers are not required to use a student’s preferred name regardless of written instruction if they believe doing so would violate their constitutionally protected rights

The Virginia Department of Education stated that the policy “reaffirms the rights of parents to determine how their children will be raised and educated. Empowering parents is not only a fundamental right, but it is essential to improving outcomes for all children in Virginia.”

In response to the policy proposal, Mike Mullin, a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates, tweeted, “Trans kids deserve to learn and thrive in an environment free of bullying, intimidation, and fear. That means being addressed as who they are and supported for who they will be. Especially from their teachers and their administrators.”

The general public will be allowed to comment on the proposed policy using the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website. 

Additional reading:



All candidates for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
September 26, 2022 at 4:08 PM

All three of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District —incumbent Don Beyer (D), Karina Lipsman (R), and Teddy Fikre (I) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office.

The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 118th Congress. All 435 seats in the House are up for election. As of September 26, 2022, Democrats hold a 221-212 advantage in the U.S. House with two vacant seats. Virginia’s current congressional delegation consists of 9 Democrats and 4 Republicans.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?                            

Beyer:       

“Don’s passions and key legislation are focused on climate change and the environment. In Congress, he is the leading voice on fusion energy and carbon pricing, leading the charge in working to take carbon out of the atmosphere.”

Lipsman:               

“As your congresswoman, I will engage with you directly and represent your interests and put solutions for our district before partisan politics. I will advocate for common-sense policies that fight crime, modernize immigration, reduce inflation and improve the educational standards and opportunities for our children.”

Fikre:

“My number one priority when it comes to policies is ensuring that the needs of workers and small businesses are placed ahead of the needs of Wall Street and the billionaire class. It is immoral and deeply offensive that someone like Jeff Bezos pays less in marginal taxes than teachers, janitors and veterans who came back from overseas broken by wars.”

Click here to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading: