Republicans are crying foul, saying the wording of the ballot question is heavy-handed and misleading. Democrats say it’s not.
David M. Poole
David M. Poole is a former political writer for the Lynchburg News & Advance and Roanoke Times. In 1997, Poole founded the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonprofit dedicated to providing fact-based information about state politics. In August, the University of Virginia Press will publish Poole's first book, "Trusted Source," an inside look at VPAP and a quarter century of Virginia politics. He and his wife, Clare, live in Richmond.
Pro-redistricting group launches campaign with $5 million from donors it doesn’t have to disclose
Meanwhile, the leader of a 2020 push for bipartisan redistricting helps found a new group that hopes to defeat the referendum to allow partisan mapmaking.
A 10-1 map would give Virginia the most aggressive gerrymander of any other state
Virginia Democrats want to eliminate four Republican-held congressional seats. On a percentage basis, that’s higher than any other state that’s engaged in a mid-decade redistricting.
Tazewell County judge sped up redistricting ruling to beat General Assembly vote to move the case
The judge had given both sides until next week to provide written arguments but acted before then to head off a Democratic attempt to relocate the case to Richmond.
NIL could be made more transparent with new bill calling for work group on student athlete endorsement deals
The legislation comes as Virginia’s state universities have resisted calls to be more forthcoming about how they are complying with new compensation rules, which took effect last July, that allow schools to pay athletes directly.
Virginia colleges resist disclosing athletic revenue-sharing
While Virginia Tech launches a massive $229 million campaign to compete nationally, college officials across the state are guarding financial details, refusing to release revenue-sharing records that are public at other ACC schools.
After 36 years, suburban growth along I-95 corridor finally caught up with Del. Bobby Orrock
The Republican legislator lost reelection by more than 4 percentage points in a district that little resembles the one that first sent him to Richmond in 1990.
Long before Abraham Lincoln, Virginia’s last royal governor issued his own Emancipation Proclamation. Here’s what happened next.
In a bid to quell the growing revolution, Virginia’s royal governor tried a new strategy. He issued an emancipation proclamation to free slaves if they joined the British.
Elections agency stays mum on campaign finance audit
The post-election audits are a big step for Virginia’s campaign finance system, which until last year, strictly relied upon the honor system, but the first audit raises unanswered questions.
State’s first-ever audit of campaign finance report leaves many questions unanswered
Seven candidates from 2024 were selected at random for audits. The Department of Elections said the review highlighted limitations in what documents it can ask for.


