DLCC: Virginia House Democrats Use New Majority to Pass Legislation to Raise Minimum Wage and Ban Assault Weapons 

From the DLCC:

Virginia House Democrats Use New Majority to Pass Legislation to Raise Minimum Wage and Ban Assault Weapons 

WASHINGTON — Today, the progressive agenda of the new Democratic majority in the Virginia House of Delegates was on full display. As we approach one month of the legislative session under the new Democratic majority won in November’s legislative elections, today House Democrats passed legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 and ban assault weapons. House Democrats advanced these proposals to help working families, strengthen the state’s economy, and protect communities from senseless gun violence.

Today’s action in the House shows that elections have consequences. Under the leadership of newly-elected Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, Democrats are delivering on their promise to fight to help Virginia communities succeed. Their agenda stands in stark contrast to Republicans’ MAGA extremism – including their plan to pass an abortion ban – and illustrates what happens when Democrats lead the state legislature. In November, the DLCC and our partners won majorities in both legislative chambers in Virginia, protecting reproductive rights for millions of Virginians and giving Democrats full legislative control in a key political battleground state.

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Communications Director Abhi Rahman issued the following statement:

“Virginia House Democrats are wasting no time in getting to work for Virginia communities by passing legislation to make a real, lasting impact on people’s lives. These Democratic proposals to raise the minimum wage and ban assault weapons are long overdue and show that elections have consequences. Speaker Scott and Virginia Democrats’ agenda is a night and day difference compared to Republicans, who continued to push extreme policies like a dangerous abortion ban. If Democrats were not put in charge, Republicans would have focused on unpopular culture wars that would move Virginia backward. The balance of power in states has a tangible impact on people’s lives – this is the most important level of the ballot.

“The DLCC applauds Democrats in action in Virginia thanks to the monumental victory we earned last year, and we look forward to the Democratic majority continuing to advance Virginians’ fundamental freedoms. 2025 is right around the corner, when we have a critical opportunity to create a Democratic trifecta.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.