Political whiplash: Virginia lurches left under Spanberger and Democratic lawmakers

Virginia’s newly sworn-in governor and Democratic-led General Assembly have revealed a liberal agenda that critics warn will raise costs, impose crippling regulations and increase crime.

Residents are poised to face a series of tax increases under a bevy of legislative proposals from Democratic state lawmakers. Meanwhile, Gov. Abigail Spanberger, also a Democrat, swiftly abandoned the state’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents seeking to deport criminals who are illegal immigrants.

“In Virginia, our hardworking, law-abiding immigrant neighbors will know that when we say that we will focus on the security and safety of all of our neighbors, we mean them too,” Ms. Spanberger said during her inaugural address Saturday.

Ms. Spanberger’s end to cooperation with ICE is among many stark reversals residents are about to see now that Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, has exited Richmond, leaving the state entirely under Democratic control.

Ms. Spanberger was elected as the state’s first female governor after campaigning as a moderate Democrat who would improve affordability.

In an address Monday to the Virginia General Assembly, she outlined an agenda focused on reducing the costs of health care, energy and housing.

Her actions so far have checked off wish-list items for the party’s liberal wing. Democrats who control the General Assembly are weighing tax increases, new regulations and more lenient treatment of convicted criminals.

Republicans, now relegated to the political sidelines in Virginia, pounced on the Democrats’ agenda. They said it contrasted starkly with campaign promises to make the state’s cost of living more affordable.

“Now that they’re in office, their legislative agenda tells a very different story,” said Garren Shipley, spokesman for House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, a Republican.

Republicans have scoured the Democratic proposals pending in the General Assembly and exposed several that would increase taxes.

They include a bill to create a sales tax on Amazon, FedEx and Uber Eats deliveries, a tax of up to 10% on admissions to events and certain businesses, an 8% tax on people earning more than $600,000 annually, an 11% sales tax on all firearms and ammunition, and a $500 tax on firearm suppressors.

Republicans also seized on Democratic-sponsored legislation that would allow local governments to install speed cameras and ban gas-powered leaf blowers.

Ms. Spanberger announced to the General Assembly that she would revive green energy policies, including a plan to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which critics say will increase energy bills.

Mr. Youngkin withdrew Virginia from the initiative in 2024, which he said saved state ratepayers $937 million. Republicans say inclusion in RGGI will cost Virginia families more than $1,000 annually in higher utility bills.

“That’s nothing more than an energy tax dressed up as climate policy,” said Ken Nunnenkamp, executive director of the Republican Party of Virginia.

Ms. Spanberger said inclusion in the program would save money. It caps emissions and requires power plants that exceed those caps to purchase “allowances.” Those costs are passed along to consumers, but proponents say the caps lead to savings through energy efficiency and solar and wind projects, and the money is spent on subsidies for low-income households.

“Withdrawing from RGGI did not lower energy costs,” Ms. Spanberger said. “In fact, the opposite happened. It just took money out of Virginia’s pocket. It is time to fix that mistake.”

Ms. Spanberger plans to invest in solar, wind and costly battery storage for renewable energy. She said she plans to fight the federal government’s effort to halt offshore wind projects, including Virginia’s $11 billion wind farm that is set to increase energy prices. Offshore wind is typically the most expensive form of energy because of building and maintenance costs.

Ms. Spanberger will be in a position to sign into law a host of Democratic bills circulating in the General Assembly.

One of those measures, sponsored by Delegate Rae C. Cousins, who represents Richmond, would eliminate or reduce mandatory minimum sentences for crimes including assault on a law enforcement officer, rape and manslaughter. It would also repeal mandatory minimum sentencing for child sex crimes that carry mandatory life sentences.

The activist group Justice Forward Virginia lists the bill as a top legislative priority for the General Assembly’s 2026 session.

The group says mandatory minimum sentencing does not reduce crime or recidivism rates and forces defendants “to plead guilty including those who are innocent, and prevent judges from being fair in circumstances where fairness is warranted.”

Ms. Spanberger hasn’t commented on Ms. Cousins’ bill but signaled Monday that she supports legislation advancing through the General Assembly that will redraw congressional district lines in the state and practically wipe out all Republican representation in Congress.

The state’s Democratic-controlled Senate last week approved a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters in a spring special election, would allow Democrats to carve out a new congressional map that gives them a 10-1 advantage over Republicans.

The move would create four seats that favor Democratic candidates. It follows moves last year by Republican-led legislatures in Texas and other states to redraw congressional maps in favor of Republican candidates.

“Virginia’s proposed redistricting amendment is a response to what we’re seeing in other states that have taken extreme measures to undermine democratic norms,” Ms. Spanberger said. “This approach is short-term, highly targeted and completely dependent on what other states decide to do themselves,” she said. “For those who may oppose Virginia’s response, I call on you to make clear your opposition to what is happening in other states.”

Mr. Nunnenkamp said the redistricting push would give Democrats control of 91% of Virginia’s congressional seats even though they have won only about half of the popular vote. Ms. Spanberger won the governor’s race with 57.6% of the vote.

“That choice speaks volumes about their real priorities,” Mr. Nunnenkamp said. “Nothing about her agenda aligns with the idea of pragmatic, kitchen-table governance.”

Mr. Youngkin has remained mostly silent about his successor’s policies.

Jason Miyares, who served as the state attorney general in the Youngkin administration, attacked the Democratic agenda Tuesday.

“Virginians were told they were voting for moderation. Somehow, massive tax hikes, a criminals-first justice policy and extreme partisan gerrymandering never made their TV ads,” he said.