Abigail Spanberger

Spanberger signs Alexandria legislators’ bills on guns, immigration, national popular vote

Published April 14, 2026 at 12:30PM | Updated April 14, 2026 at 1:43PM

(Left to right) Virginia House Majority Leader Del. Charniele Herring (D-4th), State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39th) and Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3rd) at the Alexandria Democratic Committee's Labor Day Picnic at The Garden Alexandria, 5380 Eisenhower Avenue, Sept. 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Numerous pieces of legislation from Alexandria lawmakers are officially set to become law or are heading back to the General Assembly with amendments after action by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

Among the approximately 1,200 bills passed out of the 2026 session, legislation on guns, housing, the national popular vote, energy and immigration enforcement all came by way of state senators and delegates representing Alexandria. Most signed bills will take effect on July 1, 2026, unless otherwise specified.

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Virginia’s top education officials bring statewide listening tour to Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published April 9, 2026 at 11:45AM

Virginia's Secretary of Education Jeffery O. Smith listens to concerns at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus, April 8, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia’s top education officials were in Alexandria on Wednesday as part of a statewide listening tour on public education needs.

Secretary of Education Jeffery O. Smith was joined by Virginia Department of Education Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway, Alexandria City School Board members and approximately 100 participants at Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus. House of Delegates Majority Leader Del. Charniele Herring (D-4) attended an earlier roundtable with the officials.

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Gov. Spanberger signs first group of bills on housing, health care, energy

By Emily Leayman

Published April 1, 2026 at 8:30AM

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs bills on March 31, 2026 (via Office of the Governor of Virginia)

After more than 1,200 bills passed in the Virginia General Assembly, Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the first set of bills tackling several areas of affordability.

The governor’s action marks the first major set of bills signed from the 2026 General Assembly session. Spanberger had previously signed voter referendum legislation allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting to go before voters on April 21. The signed bills address housing, health care and energy.

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New kayak launch on Four Mile Run wins Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award

By Emily Leayman

Published March 26, 2026 at 8:30AM | Updated March 27, 2026 at 12:05PM

New Four Mile Run kayak launch (via City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities/Facebook)

A new kayak launch now open at Four Mile Run Park in Alexandria is one of 11 projects that earned a Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award from Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

The Four Mile Run Conservancy, in partnership with the city, completed the public kayak and canoe launch with a 187-foot raised boardwalk ramp, 775-square-foot floating dock, a roller-entry launch, wheelchair transfer platform and 30-foot gangway. It is the city and region’s first ADA-accessible paddling access to the Potomac River.

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Ballots in Tuesday’s special election include races for State Senate, House of Delegates

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2026 at 2:00PM | Updated February 9, 2026 at 3:48PM

Casting a ballot at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center precinct on election day, Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Election Day is just around the corner in Alexandria. Here’s what to know about Tuesday’s special elections for State Senate and the House of Delegates.

Ballots tomorrow will include races for Virginia’s 39th District in the State Senate and 5th District in the House of Delegates. The following candidates are running.

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Alexandria high school students feel confident about gun safety bills advancing in Richmond

By Emily Leayman

Published January 28, 2026 at 3:45PM

Alexandria City High School chapter of Students Demand Action meets with Del. Alfonso Lopez (courtesy of Virginia chapter of Students Demand Action)

Students from Alexandria City High School went to Richmond last Thursday to push for gun safety legislation with lawmakers as they hope the odds for passage have increased under the Democratic trifecta.

ACHS’ Students Demand Action chapter took part in Advocacy Day at the state capital, which included conversations with several legislators representing Alexandria — House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-4), State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), Dels. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) and Alfonso Lopez (D-3). They were joined by Virginia Moms Demand Action and other SDA chapters statewide.

Around Town

Del Ray resident’s hand-painted designs will be featured at Spanberger inauguration market

By Emily Leayman

Published January 12, 2026 at 2:45PM

Alexandria-based business Ella Bella (courtesy of Ella Bella)

The hand-painted designs of Del Ray-based Ella Bella will soon be in the hands of people from around Virginia attending Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s inauguration market.

Ella Bella Flourish Fearlessly is one of two businesses from the D.C. area invited to participate in the Made in Virginia Market in Richmond on Friday, along with Occoquan’s Hello Jackson Home Fragrance Co. Spanberger will make remarks at the market to kick off a weekend of inauguration festivities.

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Political domino effect hits Alexandria as Sen. Ebbin resigns to join Spanberger administration

By James Cullum

Published January 7, 2026 at 9:20PM | Updated January 7, 2026 at 9:45PM

State Sen. Adam Ebbin speaks at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Rumors in Alexandria have finally been confirmed as State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) announced Wednesday night that he will be resigning to join Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration.

Ebbin will be the senior advisor at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, according to a press release, and his resignation will go into effect Feb. 18. Soon after Ebbin’s announcement, Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) and former Del. Mark Levine (D-45) announced their intention to run for Ebbin’s seat.

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Gov.-elect Spanberger taps Alexandria Sheriff for transition committee

By James Cullum

Published December 10, 2025 at 1:45PM

Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey at the swearing in of Police Chief Tarrick McGuire, Dec. 10, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey has been named to Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s Transition Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Policy.

Casey was notified last week in an email from Spanberger’s staff that he was named to the committee and assigned to its eight-member Criminal Justice/Corrections Subcommittee.

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UPDATED: Spanberger elected Virginia governor, Hashmi lieutenant governor, in historic firsts

By The Associated Press

Published November 4, 2025 at 8:10PM | Updated November 4, 2025 at 11:44PM

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger speaks during a campaign event with former President Barack Obama, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

RICHMOND, Va — Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s race Tuesday, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to give Democrats a key victory heading into the 2026 midterm elections and make history as the first woman ever to lead the commonwealth.

Spanberger’s win was the first in a big night for Democrats in Virginia and around the country, casting new doubts about President Donald Trump’s political strength less than a year into his second White House term.

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Spanberger rallies with Latino legislators in Del Ray ahead of Election Day next week

By James Cullum

Published October 30, 2025 at 4:30PM | Updated October 30, 2025 at 6:20PM

Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger speaks at Los Tios in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood, Oct. 30, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger appeared in a “Latinos for Spanberger” rally today (Thursday) in Alexandria.

Spanberger spoke at a packed event at Los Tios (2615 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray, flanked by Latino legislators Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Del. Alfonso Lopez D-Virginia House District 3), and City Council Member Canek Aguirre. Spanberger has a 10-digit lead against her opponent, Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, according to a recent Roanoke College poll.