Reflections on Virginia’s Political Landscape
Last November, many of my neighbors in Loudoun County cast their votes for Abigail Spanberger, viewing her as a reliable option. She’s a former CIA officer, describes herself as a pragmatist, and she focused on everyday concerns rather than divisive cultural issues. After four years under Glenn Youngkin—who prioritized tax cuts, empowered parents in schools, and built a cooperative relationship with federal law enforcement—her message was straightforward: keep the experienced leadership, just swap out the candidate. Now, ten months later, it’s clear to Virginians just what that message amounted to. It feels as if our state is edging toward becoming the Mid-Atlantic’s version of California.
This shift should concern voters well beyond Virginia’s borders. Many have already witnessed how this situation unfolds. Over the last decade, countless Californians have fled high taxes, strict regulations, and lenient crime policies, moving to places like Texas, Florida, and Nevada. High-profile companies like Tesla and Chevron opted to relocate their headquarters to Texas. Those who left sought out safer communities, lower taxes, and governments that respect their independence. Next Tuesday, governor’s races across states including Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Ohio will be crucial. In each case, Democrats are presenting candidates who appear reasonable on screen, pledging to lead from a centrist position. Virginia has heard similar claims, and it’s important to share what we’ve experienced with other voters.
From her first day in office, the changes were evident. Just hours after taking the oath, Governor Spanberger reversed Youngkin’s executive order that aimed to strengthen state law enforcement’s collaboration with ICE. Soon after, she mandated that Virginia agencies abandon their 287(g) agreements with federal immigration authorities, even supporting laws that limited local police and sheriffs from enforcing these agreements. When ICE requested that Virginia uphold a detainer for an undocumented immigrant accused of murder, they refused. Although she insists Virginia isn’t a sanctuary state, actions speak louder than words. Having parents and a grandfather who served as NYPD detectives, I learned that public safety relies on coordination among agencies, not on selective enforcement of laws. Subsequently, a federal judge intervened to block the sanctuary legislation. Virginians shouldn’t need a court to safeguard them from their own governor.
The promises regarding affordability crumbled quickly as well. Within weeks of her swearing-in, Democratic lawmakers initiated numerous proposed tax increases—including fresh levies on dog walking, gym memberships, and home repairs. Despite campaigning on reducing costs, the governor failed to oppose these measures. Shortly thereafter, Senate leaders from her own party targeted the incentives that made Northern Virginia a hub for data centers. The resulting budget standoff extended beyond the regular session and into a special one. This uncertainty was damaging; Spanberger’s finance secretary even admitted that Compass Datacenters removed Virginia from consideration for two upcoming projects due to unclear tax policies for the following year. The final arrangement imposed a new tax on the electricity used by the industry, which could total up to $600 million annually. This from a state that saw budget surpluses during Youngkin’s tenure. There was no financial emergency, just an insatiable appetite, and every CEO weighing their options received a clear message.
Then, of course, there was the cultural agenda she claimed she would avoid. Just a month into her governorship, the same candidate who pledged to prioritize economic issues signed off on sending major constitutional amendments regarding abortion and marriage to November’s ballot. Abortion was already legal in Virginia up until the second trimester, and same-sex marriage was the law of the land. The proposed amendment on reproductive rights is framed so broadly that critics warn it could make even minimal restrictions nearly impossible to enforce. Apparently, rewriting the state’s constitution took precedence over addressing housing and energy costs.
When facing obstacles in the discourse, Democrats sought to change the game itself. Virginia’s congressional makeup is currently 6 to 5, reflecting its genuinely competitive nature. However, Democrats attempted to rush through a mid-decade constitutional amendment to redraw district lines that would give them a 10-to-1 advantage. A circuit judge found that they circumvented the legal process to push this onto the ballot, a ruling the Virginia Supreme Court also upheld. This exemplifies a party that wins one election and figures it should skip the challenge of fair competition from then on. One can only imagine what Sacramento would think.
Anyone who observed Virginia in 2020 and 2021, when Democrats seized total control of Richmond, is not surprised by any of this. They overreached, and voters responded by electing Glenn Youngkin. This cycle is rather predictable: a moderate face during campaigning, but an activist agenda behind closed doors leads to immediate disillusionment. By summer, more people in Virginia disapproved of Spanberger than approved of her. We’re currently grappling with the aftermath of that decision.
The key takeaway for voters in areas like West Palm Beach, Houston, Atlanta, Detroit, and beyond is fairly simple. A governor is guided by the legislators, interest groups, and activists who helped get her into office, and those priorities become hers the moment she steps in. The polished advertisements you see in October contrast sharply with the reality you’ll face in January. Many have left California to escape this kind of governance. Let’s not choose to bring it to our own states.
Election Day is approaching on November 3, and the next four years hinge on the choices made then.
