Curated News from The Virginia Council 3/1/26

Legislative updates:

Virginia changes date for 2026 primary elections - WTOP News By Thomas Robertson

New Poll Shows What Virginians Think About Redistricting By George Caldwell

House Majority Forward sends $5M to Virginia redistricting effort By Ally Mutnick & John Bresnahan

Why Virginia's lobster is blue: A closer look at the political dynamics in the proposed congressional districts - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

(5) Wren Williams on X: "“No new taxes.” lol. Their own budget authorizes a $1.47 billion annual payroll tax on every worker and employer in Virginia. The Department of Planning and Budget literally calls it a “payroll tax” in the fiscal impact statement. A tax by any other name is still a tax." / X

State lawmakers considering bill that would allow victims to sue gun dealers and manufacturers | WVTF By Michael Pope

(5) National Association for Gun Rights on X: ""Assault handguns, not semi-automatic handguns" ......... Live now from Virginia: https://t.co/DUQBil2h8Z" / X

Virginia sheriffs push back on proposed gun restrictions, citing Second Amendment rights By Alexia Stanbridge

Virginia's return to Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative picks up steam By Patrick Larsen

Democrats, Republicans spar over making Virginia more affordable By Henry Graff

Call their bluff: It’s time for data centers to pay sales taxes like the rest of us • Virginia Mercury By Ivy Main

Proposal to eliminate data center tax break creates strange bedfellows in Virginia | WVTF By Brad Kutner

(5) Brandon Jarvis on X: "The group backing iGaming spent a lot of money before this legislative session https://t.co/2tVZA5cjPk" / X

Spanberger speaks with union members as they fight for bargaining rights | WVTF By Brad Kutner

Virginia Government updates:

New population estimates: 32 times more people have moved out of Fairfax County than out of all rural Virginia - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

Spanberger and Dems Lie About Gerrymandering Scheme | RealClearPolitics By Ben Cline, R-Virginia’s 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

‘Moderate’ Abigail Spanberger Endorses Anti-ICE School Walkouts in Otherwise Dull SOTU Rebuttal By Chuck Ross

Virginia Democrats sharpen focus on ICE limits after Spanberger’s State of the Union rebuttal • Virginia Mercury By Markus Schmidt

ICE won't be at polling places this year, a Trump DHS official promises By Miles Parks

(5) DataRepublican (small r) on X: "I already generated a dossier on Spanberger, but the most interesting part of it is that she is part of a cohort of 50+ military-intelligence veterans that have been recruited to run as Democratic candidates starting in 2018. @SomeBitchIIKnow first hypothesized this, but my new" / X

Miranda Devine: Dems will roll out their perfect agent of subterfuge, Abigail Spanberger, in response to SOTU

Board of Visitors picks, political donors in Virginia continue to overlap By Dave Cantor

The effort to crackdown on last minute agenda changes is moving forward | WVTF By Michael Pope

After 15% of in-custody deaths went unreported, Del. Price aims to strengthen state requirements | WVTF By Dave Cantor

Articles, News, & Quotes:

(5) Quantus Insights on X: "📢 NEW POLL: Virginia Voters See Criminals as Far Greater Threat Than Guns Themselves Amid ongoing debates over gun rights and public safety, our new Quantus Insights survey captures clear sentiment from likely voters in Virginia: 📊 Do you believe firearms are inherently https://t.co/a22Btkmauw" / X

Poll: Virginians back tighter gun laws, favor current redistricting system • Virginia Mercury By Markus Schmidt

Richmond FOIA lawsuit fuels mistrust concerns, costs city $671K - Axios Richmond By Sabrina Moreno

Italian rocket manufacturer to bring 1,500 jobs, $500 million investment to Pittsylvania - Cardinal News By Grace Mamon

History, Tradition, & the 250th Anniversary of Independence:

Hillsdale College National Quiz on Presidential Selection

(5) Susan Kokinda on X: "Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger chose the chambers of the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg to give the Democratic response to the State of the Union — and apparently hoped nobody would crack open a history book. "In 1705," she said, "the people of the Virginia colony https://t.co/opzNlcdWKj" / X

The Constitution, Bill of Rights, & Liberty:

Virginia’s Firearm Debate: Where Voters Draw the Line Data show broad support for Second Amendment protections, strong preference for enforcement over new laws, and clear electoral risks for overreach.

State lawmakers considering bill that would allow victims to sue gun dealers and manufacturers | WVTF By Michael Pope

(5) National Association for Gun Rights on X: ""Assault handguns, not semi-automatic handguns" ......... Live now from Virginia: https://t.co/DUQBil2h8Z" / X

Virginia sheriffs push back on proposed gun restrictions, citing Second Amendment rights By Alexia Stanbridge

The Next Front in the Censorship War Against Christians By S.A. McCarthy