Abigail Spanberger

Gov. Spanberger and AG Jones slam Trump election interventions at Alexandria NAACP event

Published October 2, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated October 2, 2026 at 3:09PM

Gov. Abigail Spanberger at the Alexandria NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund Dinner on Thursday night (Oct. 1) at The Satire, Autograph Collection hotel in Old Town North. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) heavily criticized President Donald Trump on Thursday night in Alexandria and said that his administration’s attempts to upend voter registrations across the country won’t work in Virginia.

Spanberger was the keynote speaker at the Alexandria branch of the NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund Dinner, held at The Satire, Autograph Collection hotel in Old Town North. Spanberger, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) and Mayor Alyia Gaskins (D) all received “breaking barriers” awards from the organization.

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March starting in Alexandria to rally for Virginia data center moratorium

By Emily Leayman

Published September 23, 2026 at 1:45PM

A commercial building at Plaza 500 (via Google Maps)

Organizations and residents opposed to planned data center development just outside city limits are leading a march starting in Alexandria’s West End.

At 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, the march will run from Aslin Beer Company (950 S. Pickett Street) to the Plaza 500 center (6295 Edsall Road in Lincolnia) where data centers and a proposed substation are planned.

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EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Abigail Spanberger tours Alexandria nonprofit Cornerstone Craftsman

By James Cullum

Published September 15, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated September 15, 2026 at 3:02PM

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger shakes hands with Cornerstone Craftsman pre-apprentices, Sept. 15, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (D) got a firsthand look at Alexandria-based nonprofit Cornerstone Craftsman Tuesday morning (Sept. 15).

Spanberger made expanding workforce programs for children a part of her Growing Virginia Plan when she ran for governor. She toured the space and met with Cornerstone Craftsman’s stakeholders, including Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey, Alexandria City School Board Chair Chris Harris and Clark Mercer, chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

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Bennett-Parker, McPike rally in Arlandria to restore voting rights to former felons

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2026 at 3:45PM

State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) speaks at Tenants and Workers United about changing the state constitution to establish a permanent, automatic process to restore voting rights to individuals with past felony convictions, Sept. 8, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

State legislators representing Alexandria called on constituents today (Sept. 8) to support a referendum to restore voting rights to former felons.

In the city’s Arlandria neighborhood, state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) was flanked by Del. R. Kirk McPike (D-5) and nonprofit leaders joining Virginians for the Right to Vote in asking for support for her constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights for former felons without having to make a request to the governor.

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Bennett-Parker, more lawmakers seek special session on Dominion-NextEra merger

By Emily Leayman

Published September 2, 2026 at 9:15AM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker speaking at a debate for Virginia’s 39th Senate District at Charles Houston Recreation Center, Jan. 12, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) and a handful of other Democratic lawmakers are calling on Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) to convene a special session in September on the proposed Dominion Energy and NextEra merger.

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Alexandria intervenes in proposed Dominion Energy, NextEra merger case

By Emily Leayman

Published August 26, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated August 26, 2026 at 3:11PM

A Dominion Energy lineman lifts himself up to work on a power line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in North Augusta, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr., File)

The City of Alexandria is formally intervening in the proposed merger of Dominion Energy with Florida-based NextEra Energy under consideration by state and federal regulators.

The city government has filed as a participant in the case under review by Virginia’s State Corporation Commission. Along with the SCC, the $67 billion merger proposal is under consideration at the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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Judge dismisses DOJ’s lawsuit seeking Virginia’s voter rolls

By Emily Leayman

Published July 15, 2026 at 2:45PM

Voters at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit seeking Virginia to hand over its voter rolls to the federal government has been tossed out by a federal judge.

The ruling yesterday (Tuesday) came from Judge Roderick Young, who President Donald Trump nominated in 2020 at the recommendation of Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. The ruling found that the Civil Rights Act does not require Virginia to provide the federal government with unredacted voter rolls.

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Gun restrictions, paid leave and foam container ban: Virginia bills taking effect on July 1

By Emily Leayman

Published June 30, 2026 at 1:45PM | Updated July 1, 2026 at 10:20AM

Del. Charniele Herring at her campaign kickoff at Clyde's at 1700 N. Beauregard Street on April 3, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Over 1,100 bills made it out of the latest General Assembly session, and many will take effect Wednesday (July 1).

As Democrats gained a trifecta with the election of Gov. Abigail Spanberger and control of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, legislators’ bills focused on priorities like immigration enforcement, gun control, housing and tenant protections, reproductive rights and more. Democrats also passed Virginia’s first-ever paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and child care assistance programs for workers.

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Virginia redistricting amendment passes narrowly, but legal challenges remain

By Emily Leayman and The Associated Press

Published April 22, 2026 at 11:45AM

Signs supporting and opposing redistricting on April 6, 2026 in Old Town Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

The redistricting amendment passed in Virginia Tuesday will allow Democrats to pursue redrawn congressional district maps for the 2026 midterm elections.

The Associated Press called the race in favor of the redistricting amendment’s passage at 8:49 p.m. Tuesday. According to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections, more than 1.5 million votes (51.45%) supported the amendment and more than 1.4 million (48.6%) opposed.

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

By Emily Leayman

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.