The Associated Press | ALXnow

AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Virginia on Election Day

Published October 30, 2025 at 12:16AM | Updated October 30, 2025 at 5:22AM

Campaign signs for Republican Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Democratic challenger Jay Jones appear outside the elections office for the City of Fairfax, Va., Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert Yoon)

By ROBERT YOON Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Virginia will elect its first woman as governor Tuesday as Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger look to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Voters will also decide races for lieutenant governor, attorney general and the state House of Delegates.

News

Democrat Abigail Spanberger backs Virginia legislature’s redistricting push

By The Associated Press

Published October 27, 2025 at 9:07PM | Updated October 28, 2025 at 6:13AM

FILE - Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., speaks during an interview at Libbie Mill Library in Henrico County, Va., Nov. 25, 2024, after she announced she will run for Virginia governor. (AP Photo/Ryan M. Kelly, File)

By STEVE PEOPLES and OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, said Monday that she would not oppose a push by the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature to redraw congressional districts ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

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Virginia Democrats will try to reshape US House districts in counter to Trump’s redistricting push

By The Associated Press

Published October 23, 2025 at 7:34PM | Updated October 24, 2025 at 5:00AM

FILE - The state and U.S. flags fly over the Virginia State Capitol as the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly gets underway, Jan. 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

By OLIVIA DIAZ and DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Democrats are taking steps to redraw their state’s U.S. House districts, hoping to boost their party’s chances in next year’s midterm elections and counter President Donald Trump’s push for more partisan districts in Republican-run states.

News

Senate rejects bills to pay federal workers during government shutdown

By The Associated Press

Published October 23, 2025 at 1:33PM | Updated October 23, 2025 at 2:14PM

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., holds a news conference on day 23 of the government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the government shutdown, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week.

News

‘We need these people’: Alexandria’s Goodwin Living forced to lay off workers under Trump immigration crackdown

By The Associated Press

Published October 18, 2025 at 9:04AM

Jackie Conteh, an advanced care partner originally from Sierra Leone, helps Donald Goodness, 92, put on fresh socks in his apartment at Goodwin House Alexandria, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Eric Lee)

By PAUL WISEMAN and GISELA SALOMON Associated Press | Editor’s Note: This Associated Press story has been localized for Alexandria readers. Original headline: ‘Trump’s immigration crackdown threatens America’s job market and ability to recruit foreign talent.’

Maria worked cleaning schools in Florida for $13 an hour. Every two weeks, she’d get a $900 paycheck from her employer, a contractor. Not much — but enough to cover rent in the house that she and her 11-year-old son share with five families, plus electricity, a cellphone and groceries.

News

Shutdown impact: What it means for workers, federal programs and the economy

By The Associated Press

Published October 18, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated October 18, 2025 at 9:31AM

FILE - A sign that reads "Closed due to federal government shutdown," is seen outside of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government shutdown is quickly approaching the second longest on record with no end in sight. Some lawmakers are predicting it could become the longest, surpassing the 35 days from President Donald Trump’s first term.

News

Obama, aiming to boost Democrats in New Jersey and Virginia, endorses Sherrill and Spanberger

By The Associated Press

Published October 17, 2025 at 12:18PM | Updated October 17, 2025 at 2:52PM

FILE - Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

By MIKE CATALINI and OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Barack Obama has endorsed the Democratic candidates for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, seeking to boost Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger ahead of high-stakes elections next month.

News

Senate Democrats, holding out for health care, reject government funding bill for 10th time

By The Associated Press

Published October 16, 2025 at 12:10AM | Updated October 16, 2025 at 12:08PM

With the government shutdown now in its third week, a sign turns away tourists at the entrance to the Capitol Visitor Center, in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

By STEPHEN GROVES and MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats rejected for the 10th time Thursday a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government, insisting they won’t back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits.

News

Judge temporarily blocks the Trump administration from firing workers during the government shutdown

By The Associated Press

Published October 15, 2025 at 1:10PM | Updated October 15, 2025 at 3:25PM

Students from Columbus, Ohio, wait outside a barrier as U.S. Capitol Police watch over the East Plaza where congressional leaders will have a news conferences on the government shutdown at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

By JANIE HAR Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration for now must stop firing workers during the government shutdown, a federal judge ordered on Wednesday.

News

Democrats say they won’t be intimidated by Trump’s threats as the shutdown enters a third week

By The Associated Press

Published October 15, 2025 at 11:54AM

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. speaks to reporters at the Capitol, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Entering the third week of a government shutdown, Democrats say they are not intimidated or cowed by President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire thousands of federal workers or by his threats of more firings to come.

News

Federal workers endure financial strain and fear layoffs as the government shutdown drags on

By The Associated Press

Published October 15, 2025 at 7:12AM | Updated October 15, 2025 at 8:57AM

FILE - A sign that reads "Closed due to federal government shutdown," is seen outside of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

By FATIMA HUSSEIN, JOEY CAPPELLETTI, JESSE BEDAYN and SAFIYAH RIDDLE Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — With every passing day of the government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay face mounting financial strain. And now they are confronting new uncertainty with the Trump administration’s promised layoffs.