General Assembly | FFXnow

Published January 28, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated January 28, 2026 at 9:42AM

Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (photo via Senator's Office)

With the nation’s eyes on Minneapolis after residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot by federal agents this month, Democratic lawmakers have become increasingly critical of the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement, with some calling for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s impeachment.

In Richmond, state Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim is pushing three pieces of legislation that he says will keep “the chaos, lawlessness, and violence that we have seen perpetrated against Minnesotans from coming to Virginia.”

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Virginia Democrats to appeal after judge rules redistricting resolution illegal

By Angela Woolsey and Associated Press

Published January 27, 2026 at 5:20PM

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)

A Virginia judge ruled Tuesday that a proposed constitutional amendment letting Democrats redraw the state’s Congressional maps was illegal, potentially foiling their efforts to pick up seats in the U.S. House in November.

Tazewell Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley Jr. struck down the legislature’s actions on three grounds, ruling that lawmakers failed to follow their own rules for adding the redistricting amendment to a special session; failed to approve the amendment before the public began voting in last year’s general election; and failed to publish the amendment three months before the election, as required by law.

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Virginia Senate panel advances gun safety bills once vetoed by Youngkin

By Markus Schmidt / Virginia Mercury

Published January 27, 2026 at 10:10AM

Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee hears testimony on State Sen. Jennifer Boysko's firearms storage bill (via Virginia Senate/YouTube)

Democratic lawmakers on Monday advanced a sweeping slate of gun safety proposals — many of them previously vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin — as they test whether Virginia’s new Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger, will take a more favorable view of firearm restrictions.

Over nearly four hours, the Democratic-led Senate Courts of Justice Committee approved more than half a dozen bills tightening rules on assault-style firearms, gun storage, concealed carry reciprocity, ghost guns and weapons in public spaces, while rejecting the lone Republican proposal that would have increased mandatory minimum sentences for repeat firearm offenses.

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Fairfax County casino bill advances from Virginia Senate subcommittee

By Emily Leayman

Published January 23, 2026 at 2:45PM

State Sen. Scott Surovell presents his Fairfax County casino bill to the Senate's subcommittee on gaming on Jan. 23, 2026 (via Virginia Senate/YouTube)

A Virginia Senate subcommittee has advanced the Tysons casino bill, setting it up for further consideration after its 2025 defeat in a House of Delegates committee.

The Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology voted 5-3 today (Friday) in favor of the legislation from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) to add Fairfax County as an eligible host for a casino.

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Fairfax County casino bill back on the table for 2026 session

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 21, 2026 at 9:15AM | Updated January 21, 2026 at 10:48AM

Virginia Players Alliance table at the 2025 Asia on Main Festival in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) is once again rolling the dice on legislation to allow a casino in Fairfax County.

A bill that would add the county to Virginia’s list of localities eligible to host a casino was officially introduced yesterday (Tuesday) in the state Senate, which referred it to a Committee on General Laws and Technology.

News

JUST IN: McGuire declares victory in 17th House District special election

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 20, 2026 at 9:20PM

Garrett McGuire (photo via campaign)

Democrats are on track to add another vote to their already-comfortable majority in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Garrett McGuire, who won a primary last month to become the Democratic nominee, has declared victory in today’s special election for the 17th House District, which covers the Franconia area of Fairfax County from I-95 to Hayfield and Huntington.

News

JUST IN: Bulova to succeed Bulova after winning House District 11 special election

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 13, 2026 at 8:35PM

Gretchen Bulova (photo courtesy of candidate)

That’s one special election down, three more to go for Fairfax County voters.

In a low-turnout, low-suspense contest, Democratic nominee Gretchen Bulova handily defeated Republican candidate Adam Wise to become the next delegate for Virginia’s 11th House District, taking over a seat most recently filled by her husband, David Bulova.

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Residents urge Fairfax’s state legislators to ‘seize the moment’ in 2026 session

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 13, 2026 at 2:45PM

Elizabeth Lower-Basch speaks to legislators (screenshot via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly heads to Richmond this week with plenty of requests from constituents.

Nearly 100 of them descended on the Fairfax County Government Center Saturday morning (Jan. 10) to make their case on issues ranging from social services to economic development.

News

Fairfax elections staff trying to keep up as another wave of special elections hits

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 13, 2026 at 8:30AM

A voting ballot scanner in the Cedar Park Elementary School polling precinct in September 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County election officials say they are holding their own as a series of special elections keeps local voters on their toes.

“We’ve got a fantastic team,” said Eric Spicer, the county’s registrar and elections director, at the Jan. 7 Electoral Board meeting.

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Fairfax leaders name education funding as top ask from 2026 state legislature

By Scott McCaffrey

Published January 12, 2026 at 3:45PM

Fairfax legislators listen to public testimony in advance of the 2026 General Assembly session (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax County elected officials seem in alignment on their top priority for the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session.

“Number one is always K-12 education funding,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the annual legislative public hearing, held Saturday (Jan. 10) at the Fairfax County Government Center.