Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

Primary season begins as early voting kicks off Friday and Virginians start shaping the 2025 ballot

Published May 2, 2025 at 5:23AM | Updated May 2, 2025 at 10:42AM

Early voting in the June 17 primaries starts May 2. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Virginia voters can begin casting ballots Friday, May 2, as early voting opens for the June 17 primary elections. These primaries will determine party nominees for key statewide offices and legislative seats ahead of the November general election, which could reshape the state’s political landscape.

While Virginia’s gubernatorial race between Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger is set, Democrats still have to settle their tickets for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

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Big Bucks, big stakes: Virginia candidates raise over $20 Million as 2025 election season heats up

By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

Published April 16, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated April 16, 2025 at 3:06PM

Virginia governor candidates Abigail Spanberger (left) and Winsome Earle-Sears. (Spanberger photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury, Earle-Sears photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury)

With three statewide offices and all 100 House of Delegates seats up for grabs, Virginia Department of Elections campaign finance reports show candidates across the commonwealth pulled in a staggering $20.4 million between Jan. 1 and March 31, underscoring the intensity and razor-sharp competition ahead.

In the marquee governor’s race, Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger has soared to an early financial lead, raising $6.7 million to Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ $3.1 million. Spanberger enters the heart of campaign season with $11 million cash on hand — nearly three times more than her GOP opponent.

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Democrats fail to override Youngkin vetoes in largely symbolic showdown

By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

Published April 2, 2025 at 7:40PM

The Virginia state Capitol in Richmond in the spring of 2025 (photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

In a dramatic but ultimately symbolic show of defiance, Virginia House Democrats on Wednesday tried — and failed — to override 13 of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes from this year’s legislative session, knowing full well the numbers were never in their favor.

Youngkin, a Republican, rejected 157 of the 915 measures sent to his desk by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly in February, flexing his veto pen more aggressively than any Virginia governor in decades.

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Political theater takes center stage as legislature returns for veto session

By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

Published April 2, 2025 at 5:52AM

The Virginia House of Delegates during its 2025 legislative session, Jan. 8, 2025. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

The Virginia General Assembly is set to reconvene Wednesday for what will likely be a long, one-day session that’s equal parts policymaking and political theater, as lawmakers face off over Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s sweeping amendments to 159 bills — including major changes to the state budget.

Youngkin finished acting on all 915 bills sent to him during the 2025 session by last week’s Monday midnight deadline. He signed 599, vetoed 157, and sent back 159 with recommended changes — including a staggering 205 proposed amendments to the budget bill, House Bill 1600, and eight item vetoes.