LIVE COVERAGE: Virginia redistricting referendum • Virginia Mercury

It’s Election Day in Virginia! Voters will decide the fate of the redistricting amendment with major implications for the state’s congressional map.

Follow our live blog for updates, turnout, and results throughout the day:

virginiamercury.com/2026/04/21/l...

Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills wife, then himself, police say • Virginia Mercury Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own life early Thursday at the family’s home in Annandale, Fairfax County police said, in what authorit...

Full story: Fmr. Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife in their Annandale home before taking his own life, police say.

One of their teenage children called 911 just after midnight.

virginiamercury.com/2026/04/16/f...

Virginia Mercury wins multiple Virginia Press Association awards • Virginia Mercury The Virginia Press Association recognized the outstanding work of dozens of news publications across the state on April 11 in Lynchburg, with The Virginia Mercury receiving first and second place…

The Virginia Mercury's 2025 headline writing, feature stories, breaking news reporting and commentary won multiple honors at the Virginia Press Association awards banquet Saturday night in Lynchburg. Our winning stories and columns: virginiamercury.com/2026/04/12/v...

Spanberger sworn in as Virginia’s first woman governor, moves swiftly to set agenda • Virginia Mercury Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor, making history as the first woman to hold the commonwealth’s highest office and pledging to lead with unity,…

Spanberger's exec. orders confront rising costs, reinforce public education and prep the state for disruptions from federal policy shifts. Her tenth order redirects Virginia law enforcement to focus on core public safety duties, not federal immigration operations.

Spanberger sworn in as Virginia’s first woman governor, moves swiftly to set agenda • Virginia Mercury Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor, making history as the first woman to hold the commonwealth’s highest office and pledging to lead with unity, affordabilit...

NEW: Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor — and the first woman to hold the office — invoking unity, warning of “recklessness” coming out of Washington and moving quickly to define her agenda.

virginiamercury.com/2026/01/17/s...

Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia’s first woman governor.

Virginia Senate Democrats advance mid-decade redistricting amendment • Virginia Mercury Virginia Senate Democrats on Friday approved a controversial constitutional amendment that would allow the General Assembly to redraw the state’s congressional districts mid-decade, advancing a long-s...

NEW: Virginia Senate Democrats advance a controversial amendment allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting. 

New maps would be drawn in a special session and shown to voters ahead of a possible April referendum. #valeg

virginiamercury.com/2026/01/16/v...

The Made in Virginia Market, held Friday afternoon in Richmond, kicked off Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger's inauguration weekend. Spanberger, seen here greeting market attendees, will be sworn in as Virginia's 75th governor on Saturday. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)

When Virginia GOP senator’s solar farm stalled, the Youngkin admin got involved • Virginia Mercury Sen. Richard Stuart is planning a solar farm on his property that has ignited a fight over easements designed to protect land from development.

Virginia GOP Sen. Richard Stuart’s own solar project ran into a permitting snag — and the Youngkin administration stepped in to help move it forward, prompting scrutiny over political influence in energy siting and regulatory policy. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/13/w...

Virginia Senate Democrats pledge action on affordability as 2026 session begins • Virginia Mercury On the eve of the 2026 General Assembly session, Senate Democrats on Tuesday rolled out an ambitious agenda centered on lowering the financial strain on Virginia families, while signalling openness to...

Virginia Senate Democrats open the 2026 General Assembly session with a focus on affordability, vowing to address rising costs in housing, health care, energy and more as they begin work with a Democratic trifecta in Richmond.

virginiamercury.com/2026/01/14/v...

Happening now:

Speaker Don Scott takes his oath of office for the second time, leading a House of Delegates with a 64-seat majority. #valeg

It's the 1st day of Virginia's 2026 legislative session. I caught
@kimadamsforva.bsky.social having a moment after she was sworn in to the Virginia House of Delegates.

In statewide survey, employers say Virginia child care crisis negatively impacts businesses • Virginia Mercury Virginia’s employers say the lack of affordable, high-quality child care is hurting businesses, with 88% of survey respondents reporting employee lateness or absences, and 65% reporting reduced work…

A Virginia survey shows 88% of employers report worker lateness or absences due to child care shortages, with high costs and limited access hurting hiring and retention. Lawmakers propose bills to expand support and subsidies. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/09/i...

The struggle inside and outside of data centers | News From The States The struggle inside and outside of data centers

Virginia is home to over 500 data centers and counting. In today's episode of States Newsroom's podcast Stories from the States, Virginia Mercury Energy and Environment reporter Shannon Heckt shares insights about the fast-growing, energy-intensive industry. www.newsfromthestates.com/episode/stru...

Virginia’s probe into public universities’ displacement of Black neighborhoods no longer theoretical • Virginia Mercury A Newport News task force revealed its preliminary findings in a recent meeting, the most public update yet in a process many residents have urged be more transparent

A new state commission and a local task force are digging into how institutions like Christopher Newport University and others used eminent domain or land acquisitions to displace Black neighborhoods — and they’re making the findings public for the first time.

Teddi Fishman, a Democratic poll greeter at a precinct in reliably red Hanover County, said several voters expressed support for Democratic governor nominee Abigail Spanberger this morning, which “surprised and encouraged” her. More on #ElectionDay in Virginia: virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...

Va. launches statewide food drive to counter federal government shutdown, delayed SNAP benefits • Virginia Mercury Building on a temporary state-level version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) announced last week, state agencies are collaborating on a food drive effort to further…

Under the new Virginia Cares Initiative, people can sign up to donate food and money to the state’s regional food banks. Participants will then receive a list of high-demand food items, drop off locations and hours of operation for the banks. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/y...

BREAKING: The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race in Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s favor, as of 8:00 p.m.

More updates from Spanberger’s victory party coming soon. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...

BREAKING: State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi has won the Virginia lieutenant governor's race, the Associated Press reports. More updates: virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...

Democrats sweep Virginia’s statewide races, reclaiming full control of executive branch • Virginia Mercury Democrats completed a clean statewide sweep in Virginia on Tuesday night, as former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger defeated Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for governor, Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond,…

BREAKING: Democrat Jay Jones defeated Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in the attorney general race, completing the party's full sweep of statewide office elections in Virginia. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/d...

BREAKING: Democrat Abigail Spanberger wins Virginia governor's race • Virginia Mercury The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race in Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s favor, as of 8:00 p.m. Spanberger clenched a victory over Republican opponent Winsome Earle-Sears,…

“It's a big deal that the girls and the young women I have met along the campaign trail now know with certainty that they can achieve anything,” Democrat Abigail Spanberger said after defeating Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears in the Virginia governor race. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/b...

Check out @charlottewords.bsky.social's dispatch from today's Spanberger rally: 👇🏾
#VaGOV

Virginia SNAP substitute to roll out weekly through November • Virginia Mercury Dubbed Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance, or VENA, the newly-created program is expected to send money to SNAP beneficiaries’ Electronic Benefit Transfer cards starting on Nov. 3.

Virginia launches its own food-assistance fallback amid federal halt.

Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance will distribute $37.5 M/week beginning Nov. 3 to about 850,000 SNAP-eligible Virginians — payments go out Monday, Wednesday & Friday through Nov.

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Yes, Virginia, our elections are secure • Virginia Mercury Secure elections and voting rights protections are both critical to our confidence in Election Day outcomes. Just as important, though, is that citizens take their own responsibility to vote seriously...

In an new column, @virginiamercury.com's Ivy Main shares how serving in elections deepened her trust in the process—and why secure elections also require informed, engaged citizens.

Read the full story here: virginiamercury.com/2025/10/29/y...

Yes, Virginia, our elections are secure • Virginia Mercury Secure elections and voting rights protections are both critical to our confidence in Election Day outcomes. Just as important, though, is that citizens take their own responsibility to vote seriously...

Commentary: “Yes, Virginia, our elections are secure,” argues columnist Ivy Main — but she emphasizes that electoral integrity depends just as much on citizens taking responsibility and showing up to vote.

virginiamercury.com/2025/10/29/y...

Orange County board asks state regulators to test biosolids for forever chemicals • Virginia Mercury Farmers nationwide often use biosolids — human waste that has been treated by wastewater facilities — as a cheaper, readily available fertilizer option for their soils. But there is a rising concern…

Orange County supervisors and community members want the state to test for "forever chemicals" in biosolids used as farmland fertilizer before they approve permits. They're concerned that PFAS leeching into crops can cause "significant harm to human health." virginiamercury.com/briefs/orang...

Democrats push redistricting amendment as special session jolts Virginia ahead of election • Virginia Mercury With just one week before Election Day, Virginia lawmakers returned to the state Capitol Monday for a surprise special session that swiftly turned into a partisan clash over the future of the state’s…

Democrats presented a measure that would allow legislators to consider a proposed constitutional amendment giving them authority to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts mid-decade. Republicans said it runs counter to voters' wishes and the law. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/d...

Thousands flood Richmond streets for No Kings rally in protest of Trump administration • Virginia Mercury Thousands of Virginians gathered at Capitol Square in Richmond for the No Kings protest against the Trump administration.

At Richmond's No Kings rally, thousands marched from the state Capitol and speakers from pro-democracy and civil rights organizations shared messages of resistance to the federal government upheaval that has come to define President Donald Trump’s second term. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/18/t...

In Damascus, business is down but hopes are high one year after Hurricane Helene • Virginia Mercury A year after Hurricane Helene battered southwest Virginia, the town of Damascus is coming back strong.

Hurricane Helene washed away homes, battered businesses and nearly wiped popular hiking and biking trails off the map in the tiny Southwest Virginia town of Damascus. A year on, the community is primed for a major comeback. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/22/i...

Federal judge says restoring Stonewall Jackson name at Shenandoah school violates students’ rights • Virginia Mercury A federal judge in the U.S. Western District Court opined on Tuesday that Shenandoah County School Board’s decision to restore the moniker of Stonewall Jackson High School violated a group of…

Siding with the students, Judge Urbanski wrote that Jackson’s name “is expressive as a symbol of racial exclusion in public schools.”

He granted the students’ summary judgement, denied the school board’s counter motion and deferred a final ruling until December. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/10/f...