Virginia government | FFXnow

Published August 29, 2025 at 9:15AM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaking at the Capital One headquarters in Tysons on Feb. 24, 2025 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

While Virginia’s unemployment rate has been ticking up for months, the state’s Republican leadership contends the jobless rate is just one piece of a larger, more complex economic puzzle.

“Virginia has jobs,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in an Aug. 19 statement accompanying the latest batch of state employment figures. “This month’s reports reflect modest payroll growth, continued positive revisions in recent months, and strong labor force demand, reinforcing the resilience of Virginia’s job market.”

Countywide

Fairfax supervisors to ‘step up’ economic development efforts while criticizing state leaders

By Scott McCaffrey

Published August 28, 2025 at 8:30AM

Board Chair Jeff McKay (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Fairfax leaders unanimously agreed on Tuesday (Aug. 26) to reinforce existing local economic development work, while criticizing efforts at the state level.

“Virginia’s economy is dependent in no small part on Fairfax County’s success,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said. “Now is the time to double down. If Virginia is not going to step up … we will.”

Countywide

Voter turnout jumps for Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Fairfax County

By Jared Serre

Published June 18, 2025 at 11:45AM

Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones (photos via campaign websites)

Though only one party had races on the ballot, Fairfax County saw a year-over-year increase in voter turnout for yesterday’s primary election.

Approximately 9% of the county’s registered voters cast a ballot on Tuesday, June 17, according to unofficial results — a jump from the 7.98% overall turnout last June, when both parties had U.S. House races on the ballot.

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Virginia Democrats vying for lieutenant governor and attorney general locked in tight races

By Associated Press

Published June 17, 2025 at 9:45PM

Virginia State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi is among six candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Virginia's lieutenant governor (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrats seeking to be Virginia’s next lieutenant governor and attorney general remained locked in tight races in Virginia’s primary election Tuesday night.

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JUST IN: Virginia lifts drought watch for Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 16, 2025 at 1:45PM

Rain falls on Virginia Center Blvd at the Nutley Street intersection near the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An abundance of rain in recent weeks has alleviated the drought plaguing Northern Virginia, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says.

The department announced this morning (Monday) that it has lifted drought advisories for the entire Commonwealth, including a drought watch for Fairfax County and the rest of Northern Virginia that had been in place since September.

Countywide

Democratic lieutenant governor candidates have mixed views on a Tysons casino

By Angela Woolsey and Jared Serre

Published May 23, 2025 at 2:45PM

Democratic lieutenant governor candidates share their thoughts on a Tysons casino and gaming in a televised debate on May 22, 2025 (via WJLA 7News)

With early voting in the June 17 Democratic primary underway, Fairfax County residents might be curious where the politicians on the ballot stand on the prospect of a casino development in Tysons.

Fortunately, the topic was one of the first to crop up last night (Thursday) during a televised debate between the six lieutenant governor candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination — right after a discussion about how they would protect Virginia’s economy and help workers affected by the Trump administration’s federal government cuts.

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Early voting in Virginia’s 2025 Democratic primaries to kick off tomorrow

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 1, 2025 at 9:45AM

A voting ballot drop box at the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Early voting in Virginia’s 2025 Democratic primary begins tomorrow (Friday), officially kicking off the party’s bid to retake statewide seats that were swept by Republicans in 2021.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger has already secured the gubernatorial nomination, setting up a historic race with Republican nominee and current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears that will give Virginia its first-ever female governor.

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Youngkin amends state budget bill to increase rainy-day reserves over changes in D.C.

By Associated Press

Published March 25, 2025 at 11:15AM

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announces Alarm.com expansion in Tysons in February 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Monday that he hoped to bolster Virginia’s rainy-day fund by $300 million in light of economic uncertainty surrounding the White House’s overhaul of federal jobs and its impact on the state’s workforce.

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Va. lawmakers direct researchers to review book bans, court funding methods, storm risk studies

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published March 13, 2025 at 3:45PM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

The General Assembly has given the green light for state researchers to launch studies on removing books in public school libraries, the funding methodology used to determine judicial allocations and the total cost of coastal storm risk management.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts analysis and provides oversight of state agencies on behalf of the legislature, is responsible for the studies. Research completed by JLARC often prompts new legislative proposals and changes to governance.

Countywide

Herrity leads GOP lieutenant governor candidates in fundraising, but trails Democrats

By Jared Serre

Published January 29, 2025 at 11:15AM

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity (photo via patherrity.org)

It hasn’t taken long for Fairfax County’s own Pat Herrity to become the GOP’s top fundraiser in the lieutenant governor race.

The 64-year-old’s campaign announced more than $200,000 in total contributions within a week of its Jan. 3 launch, handily surpassing the $645.53 raised by Williamsburg businessman John Curran, who was the first Republican to declare his candidacy for Virginia’s second-highest statewide office.