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Ranking House Oversight Committee Member Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) Demands Answers After Reports DOGE is Feeding Americans’ Private Data Into Unapproved AI Systems, Using AI to Slash Programs

By
lowkell
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0

See below for a press release from from the House Oversight Committee, where Rep. Gerry Connolly is the ranking Democratic member. Regarding folks who argue that Democrats shouldn’t “waste time writing letters,” I’d argue that this is just ONE tool in the toolkit, and an important one at that, and that Democrats should be doing “all of the above” – legal action, legislative action, public protests and town halls, writing letters and carrying out oversight functions as much as possible, etc. In the end, though, voters unfortunately – in their “infinite wisdom” – handed control of the White House, US Senate and US House to Republicans, so that’s where we’re at right now, plus of course the right-wing-dominated Supreme Court, thanks to Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. So…yeah, we’re in deep sh*t right now, but we’ve got to do whatever we can to fight back, as Rep. Connolly is doing here.

Ranking Member Connolly Demands Answers After Reports DOGE is Feeding Americans’ Private Data Into Unapproved AI Systems, Using AI to Slash Programs
Washington, D.C. (March 12, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent letters to 24 federal agencies requesting documentation that any potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) at their agencies complies with federal laws, protects Americans’ sensitive and private data, and does not financially benefit Elon Musk.

“I write with serious concerns about the use of unapproved, third-party artificial intelligence (AI) software employed by members of the U.S. DOGE Service (DOGE) at federal agencies.  The American people entrust the federal government with sensitive personal information related to their health, finances, and other biographical information on the basis that this information will not be disclosed or improperly used without their consent, including through the use of an unapproved and unaccountable third-party AI software,” wrote Ranking Member Connolly.

To underscore the gravity of Americans’ concerns, Ranking Member Connolly highlighted instances in which DOGE’s use of AI has raised red flags.  For example:

“Illustrative of my concerns is the ongoing DOGE-related activity at the Department of Education (ED).  On February 6, 2025, the Washington Post reported that members of the DOGE team assigned to ED had begun probing internal datasets using AI software.  These datasets contain sensitive internal financial data as well as the personally identifiable information of people who manage grants.  The reporting further detailed that the DOGE team is feeding this private information into AI software accessed through a private cloud computing service as a method of examining ED disbursements.   In one reported incident, DOGE team members allegedly uploaded agency staffing and expenditure reports into an AI platform and asked the algorithm to identify ‘inefficiencies.’  After tasking the AI to suggest ways to cut ED’s budget by over 50%, DOGE operatives began drafting proposals to gut the agency.”

The letters cite the multiple legal requirements agencies are bound by in their use of AI software, including the Federal Risk Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), which ensures that the whole-of-government uses secure cloud services.  If DOGE failed to ensure its AI vendors have adequate FedRAMP approval, it risks violating the Privacy Act of 1974, the Federal Information Security Management Act, and the E-Government Act of 2002.

In addition, any use of AI in federal agencies or DOGE is covered by the Advancing American AI Act which requires agencies to keep an inventory of “current and planned uses” of AI and for those inventories to be made public.

To better understand how DOGE is using AI to make critical decisions about government programs, services, and benefits that impact millions of Americans, Ranking Member Connolly asked for a response to his requests no later than March 26, 2025.

“Without clear purpose behind the use of AI, guardrails to ensure appropriate handling of data, and adequate oversight and transparency, the application of AI is dangerous and potentially violates federal law,” he concluded.

Click here to read the letters to the 24 CFO Act agencies.

Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus: “Firing half of the Department of Education’s staff is…yet another direct attack on education, this time from the President of the United States.”

By
lowkell
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3

See below for some statements/reactions by Virginia Democrats to Trump and Musk (illegally/unconstitutionally) gutting the US Department of Education. Of course, if the law and the constitution aren’t enforced, and if the Republican-controlled Congress won’t assert its rights as a co-equal branch of government, those laws and constitutional requirements and prerogatives of Congress won’t just magically function by themselves (instead, our democracy, rule of law and separation of powers/checks-and-balances will be toast, if they aren’t already)…

Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus Responds to Reckless Cuts to the U.S. Department of Education Threatening Virginia Schools, Students, and Federal Workers

RICHMOND, V.A. — Today, the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus released the following statement in response to the federal administration’s decision to cut the U.S. Department of Education’s workforce in half by, firing over 1,000 employees:

“Firing half of the Department of Education’s staff is not just cutting the government. This is yet another direct attack on education, this time from the President of the United States. This action impacts school systems across the country, including Virginia’s K-12 schools, student programs, and college funding. It is chaos with no purpose.

This is yet another reckless and thoughtless move by the President and the unelected President, Elon Musk. And, let us not forget all of this is silently upheld or loudly reinforced by our governor. This decision punishes hardworking federal employees in Virginia, leaving families wondering if they will have food on the table and clothes on their backs because they no longer have jobs. Will Governor Youngkin stand up for the livelihoods being destroyed by this administration?

Will he fight for the thousands of federal workers in our Commonwealth, or will he continue to stand by in silence? So far, he has done nothing. He is like the Roman Emperor Nero, fiddling while Virginia is burning as a consequence of federal actions.”

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Ranking Member Connolly’s Statement on DOGE’s Efforts to Gut the Department of Education

Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement in response to the initiation of reduction in force (RIF) at the Department of Education (ED).

“The future of the United States depends on a strong Department of Education.  Today, President Trump allowed an unelected billionaire to annihilate this essential institution.  By purging nearly half of the dedicated civil servants at ED, they are paving the way for their cronies in private education to fill in the gaps.  Trump University should not be the model for K-12 education in America.” 

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Beyer Statement On Trump’s Illegal Assault On The Department Of Education

March 12, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) issued the following statement today on Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s mass firing of thousands of employees at the U.S. Department of Education:

“Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s political purge of the Department of Education is a gross betrayal of American students. It is also illegal: Trump is plainly trying to eliminate by fiat a department established in law by Congress.

“Gutting the Department of Education would have horrific effects on American students and schools. Teachers will be fired, students will go hungry, college will be less affordable, and the worst harm will fall on students with disabilities and students of color. All this just to put a few more dollars into the pockets of billionaires – it is truly disgusting.

“Department of Education workers, many of whom I represent learned of their terminations in waves last night that included the eliminations of entire offices. These steep cuts heavily targeted hundreds of attorneys, student aid workers, and civil rights office staff. Trump and Musk’s abysmal abuse of the federal civil service is only getting worse, and the loss of these workers and their expertise will further harm the delivery of key services to the American people – in this case to our students.

“I will be joining colleagues to conduct vigorous oversight of this matter. This provides still more reason to vote against continuing the status quo of Trump-inflicted destruction of the federal government and mass firings of federal workers, if any were needed.”

VAPLAN’s 2025 Virginia General Assembly Scorecard Is Out; There Are Some Surprises and Some Significant Differences with W-Nominate’s Scores

By
lowkell
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2

The much-anticipated VAPLAN scorecard for the 2025 Virginia General Assembly session is now available. Great work as always to Cindy, both for putting together this scorecard and – just as importantly – keeping close track of what’s going on with the General Assembly AND informing the public. Thanks!

With that, here are a few things that jumped out at me.

  • Sen. Lamont Bagby went from #15 last year to #1 this year; Danica Roem jumped from #14 last year to #3 this year; Sen. Adam Ebbin went from #12 last year to #2 this year. What changed between the last session and this session? Not sure, but in general, I’d expect to see a relatively progressive or relatively conservative State Senator stay fairly consistent from year to year, maybe move up or down a few spots, but no big movements. Not sure what’s up in these cases.
  • Two Democratic State Senators (Aaron Rouse and Ghazala Hashmi) are running for Lt. Governor; they’re ranked #9 and #6, respectively, both strong progressive scores.
  • Not surprisingly, far-right-extremist Sen. Mark Obenshain ranks as the *least* progressive (e.g., most conservative) member of the State Senate, with some other really right-wingnuts (e.g., Bill DeSteph, Mark Peake, Bryce Reeves, etc.) also towards the bottom of the list.
  • Glen Sturtevant, who’s morphed from a relatively mild-mannered “moderate” Republican into a MAGA firebrand, at least rhetorically, surprisingly ranked in VAPLAN as one of the LEAST conservative Republicans in the Virginia State Senate. That honestly makes little if any sense to me…the guy’s a total right wingnut, period. Luther Cifers is also very surprising, as I expected he’d be towards the bottom, based on his hard-right views. (In contrast, W-Nominate ranked both these guys as among the most conservative in the State Senate)
  • Sen. Jeremy McPike is in a solid-blue district, yet according to the VAPLAN 2025 scorecard, ranked *last* among Senate Democrats in his progressive score?  That’s surprising and striking – and kind of hard to understand. Similarly, Sen. Louise Lucas is in an overwhelmingly blue district, but ranked #20 on the VAPLAN scorecard? Got me. And Sen. Mamie Locke ranked #18 on the VAPLAN scorecard, while also representing a deep-blue district? Again, I’m kinda baffled. (and again, there are some major differences between VAPLAN and W-Nominate)
  • In the House of Delegates, I’m definitely NOT surprised that Del. Nick Freitas ranked dead last on the VAPLAN scorecard, because he’s as far right as you can get, pretty much, without being a member of the Alternative fur Deutschland party, lol. Thank goodness Abigail Spanberger (narrowly) defeated Freitas in 2020 for U.S. House in VA07, or we’d have another John McGuire, Ben Cline, etc. in there – and that would really suck. Also not surprising: VA House GOP Leader and former Speaker Todd Gilbert, who’s super right wing, ranks #98.
  • Some of the LEAST-conservative-ranking House Republicans are, unsurprisingly, in “purple”/competitive districts: Carrie Coyner (Kamala Harris won this district by 6 points), Ian Lovejoy (Kamala Harris won this district by 1 point), Kim Taylor (Kamala Harris won this district by 4 points). We’ll see if these delegates’ relatively “moderate” voting records help save them in November…but they really shouldn’t, as these delegates are far worse than a Democrat would be.
  • According to this scorecard, the most-progressive delegates are generally in deep-blue districts: Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-Alexandria), Rozia Henson (D-Prince William/Fairfax), Katrina Callsen (D-Charlottesville), Adele McClure (D-Arlington), etc. On the other hand, there are Democrats in deep-blue districts who are towards the lower end of the progressive rankings among Democrats, like Del. Luke Torian (D-Prince William), Del. Delores McQuinn (D-Henrico), etc. Not sure if that’s just something about the way VAPLAN does its rankings or if anything more fundamental is going on here.
  • Compare VAPLAN’s scores to the W-Nominate scores from Chaz Nuttycombe: Luther Cifers is in the top-5 most-conservative Senate Republicans in W-Nominate, but that’s not the case in VAPLAN’s scorecard; Glen Sturtevant is also in the top-5-most-conservative Senate Republicans in W-Nominate, but again that isn’t the case in VAPLAN’s scorecard; Mamie Locke is the most-liberal State Senator in W-Nominate, again a big contrast with VAPLAN. So yes, there’s decent overlap between the two methodologies, but also some striking differences. It would be interesting to know more about why this is the case…

So what jumps out at you? There’s a lot of information here, so definitely check it out.

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Every year VAPLAN’s legislative tracking culminates in a scorecard, ranking legislators from most “progressive” to least, across policy areas. We score votes on dozens of bills, both in committees and on the floor, to determine the ranking. It’s messy and imperfect as any measure would be, but the methodology has been fairly consistent for the eight years we’ve been delivering it. Without further ado, here it is! (Full spreadsheet here.)

2025’s most progressive legislators

House

Senate

2025’s most centrist legislators

House

Senate

2025’s least progressive legislators

House

Senate

Methodology notes and caveats

  • We have used approximately the same methodology for the 8 years we’ve done the scorecard: legislators score a +1 on a bill if their final vote (either in committee if the bill died there, or on the floor just before it passed or died for the last time) matches what we consider a progressive vote. They receive -1 if their vote disagrees, and 0 if they never cast a vote on it.
    • We include both committee and floor votes because lots of the most important bills don’t get to the floor, with the important work happening in committee.
  • Legislators also can earn (or lose) a point for being the patron or co-patron of a good (or bad) bill.
  • We divide by the number of bills the legislator could have cast a vote on. This reduces–but does not eliminate unfortunately–the bias of who sits on which committee.
  • Beginning a couple years ago, we also added or removed a point for a bill that a committee chair did not docket (+1 for not docketing a bad bill, -1 for not docketing a good bill).
    • This year in particular, there was some unexplained weirdness going on between House Democrats and Senate Democrats that resulted in good bills being killed for no obvious reason. I admit we have a low tolerance for that, so we definitely included many of those bills.
  • Bills were selected to cover as wide a range of policy issues as possible, as many committees and subcommittees as possible, and with emphasis on bills that separate out legislators within their party.
  • Finally, if you’re interested in perusing the voting data, or doing analysis of your own, LIS has recently added features that make it much easier to track a legislator’s votes (follow the links above). Additionally, we at VAPLAN would be lost without the great work of our good friends at recordedvote.org who have a great database for tracking legislation, and for identifying dissenting votes, close votes, votes by committee etc.

Wednesday News: “A Great Unraveling Is Underway”; “How Do You Like the Trade War Now?”; “Lutnick says Trump’s policies are “worth it” even if they lead to recession”; “Education Department Fires 1,300 Workers, Gutting Its Staff”; “Trump Poses With a Tesla, a Move Aimed Solely at Helping Musk”

By
lowkell
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14

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, March 12.

Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07) Condemns “Blatant Lies and Intimidation from US Attorney Pushing Trump’s Retribution Campaign”

By
lowkell
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0

More deeply disturbing, unAmerican, thuggish behavior from the Trump administration, this time directed against Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07), who says it’s Trump “punishing people who believe in democracy,” also “weaponizing government and lying to intimidate and silence public servants like me, and it’s not going to work.”  Just appalling, but good for Rep. Vindman for fighting back – and we all need to have his back!

Vindman Condemns Blatant Lies and Intimidation from US Attorney Pushing Trump’s Retribution Campaign 

WASHINGTON – Congressman Eugene Vindman (VA-07) condemns an unhinged letter from the acting U.S. Attorney of the District of Columbia. A Washington Post investigative reporter just released an in-depth story on this topic titled D.C. U.S. attorney targets Ukraine whistleblower Rep. Vindman.

“Since he’s become President, Trump’s been focused on weaponizing government and lying to intimidate and silence public servants like me, and it’s not going to work. He is punishing people who believe in democracy like my constituents – FBI agents, prosecutors, military officials, federal workers, and intelligence agency leaders who disagree with him. It’s dangerous and deeply disturbing. He’s angry that we stand in the way and will hold him accountable.”

“While Trump promised that his number one priority would be to lower prices, he is instead spending his time focused on spewing lies and harassing people that serve this country honorably.”

“How is enacting a retribution campaign going to help lower the cost of living for folks in the Seventh District and across the country? Spoiler alert, it is not.”

“Those who wrote and encouraged this weird attempt at intimidation are lying.”

 

New Report Finds “Virginia added a state record 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in 2024 and now has over 6.8 GW of installed solar capacity, 8th among all states”

By
lowkell
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1

Check out the following press release from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) about their new report (the U.S. Solar Market Insight 2024 Year in Review report; released today). Specifically with regard to Virginia, the report finds:

“Virginia added a state record 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in 2024 and now has over 6.8 GW of installed solar capacity, 8th among all states and enough to power 800,000 homes…The solar industry supports the careers of roughly 5,000 Virginians and has invested over $7 billion into the Commonwealth’s economy.“

So that’s very good news, thanks overwhelmingly to Democrats, and no thanks to Glenn Youngkin (who wants to push for SUPER-expensive, speculative, most likely not-technologically-viable-for-years-to-come small modular nuclear reactors or even nuclear fusion power) or Virginia Republicans, who mostly have opposed efforts – such as the Virginia Clean Economy Act and Inflation Reduction Act – to jumpstart renewable power nationally and in Virginia (see below for state solar PV installation rankings,  with the “red” state of Texas #1, another big “red’ state – Florida – #3, and another big “red” state – Ohio – #5).

In the United States overall, as the following press release from SEIA notes, “solar and storage account for 84% of all new electric generating capacity added to the grid last year,” with the U.S. installing “a record-breaking 50 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity in 2024, the largest single year of new capacity added to the grid by any energy technology in over two decades,” and with “13 states [including Virginia] add[ing] over 1 GW of new solar capacity in 2024.” Good stuff, and again, thanks heavily to Democrats…with little if any help (quite the contrary) from Republicans.

As for why solar power has been booming, the reasons pretty simple: solar power has gotten super-cheap; it’s inexhaustible and clean (no greenhouse gas or other dangerous emissions); and it’s simply a better option in most ways compared to building new (expensive, polluting) fossil-fuel-generated power facilities. The obstacles to even more-rapid solar power growth in the US and in Virginia? They’re mostly political, with opposition unsurprisingly from the fossil fuel industry (which continues to receive huge direct and indirect subsidies, despite being highly destructive, and continues to rake in huge profits while it trashes the planet) and their Republican buddies (including the climate-science-denying, fossil-fuel-loving Trump administration); as well as organized disinformation campaigns, funded heavily by fossil fuel interests, to turn local communities against siting solar in their areas. Plus, there are power transmission bottlenecks and other obstacles to getting the solar power from where it’s generated to where it’s needed.

By the way, for those who argue that we should just install solar power on homes and businesses, in parking lots, etc., thus saving farmland, the issue – as the report makes clear – is cost: namely, that it’s only 1/3 as expensive as utility-scale, ground-mounted solar projects (see graphic, below).

But the bottom line is that solar makes the most sense for many reasons, which is why in 2024, 66% of new US electricty-generating capacity additions were solar, with 10% wind and only 4% natural gas. The question is, to what exent will the Trump administration attempt to override the obvious economic and environmental advantages of solar power by putting their thumbs heavily on the scales in support of fossil fuels, ergo “picking winners and losers” (something they always criticized when it was aimed at helping boost CLEAN energy)? Will there be pushback from states, including ones that voted for Trump (e.g., Texas, Florida, Arizona, Ohio) which are benefitting greatly from solar power? And how about the public, which in many polls over the years has expressed strong support for moving towards cleaner, renewable energy sources? This year and beyond, we’re going to find out, for better or for worse…

REPORT: Solar Adds More New Capacity to the Grid in 2024 Than Any Energy Technology in the Past Two Decades 

Solar and storage account for 84% of all new capacity added to the grid in 2024 
Mar. 11, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. —  The United States installed a record-breaking 50 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity in 2024, the largest single year of new capacity added to the grid by any energy technology in over two decades.

According to the U.S. Solar Market Insight 2024 Year in Review report released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, solar and storage account for 84% of all new electric generating capacity added to the grid last year.

In addition to historic deployment, surging U.S. solar manufacturing emerged as a landmark economic story in 2024. Domestic solar module production tripled last year, and at full capacity, U.S. factories can now produce enough to meet nearly all demand for solar panels in the United States. Solar cell manufacturing also resumed in 2024, strengthening America’s energy supply chain and cementing its place as a solar powerhouse.

“Solar and storage can be built faster and more affordably than any other technology, ensuring the United States has the power needed to compete in the global economy and meet rising electricity demand,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “America’s solar and storage industry set historic deployment and manufacturing records in 2024, creating jobs and driving economic growth. It’s critical that lawmakers continue to support an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy that fosters the growth of American energy sources like solar and storage.”

Total U.S. solar capacity is expected to reach 739 GW by 2035, but the report forecasts include scenarios showing how policy changes could impact the solar market. Sudden changes to federal tax credits, supply chain availability, and permitting policy will create uncertainty for investors, increase costs for developers and manufacturers, and cause a slowdown in solar deployment.

The low case forecast shows a 130 GW decline in solar deployment over the next decade compared to the base case, representing nearly $250 billion of lost investment. A slowdown at this scale could leave the U.S. without the electricity needed to meet rising demand, threatening growth in the manufacturing and technology sectors that rely on abundant power.

Many of the fastest-growing solar states such as Texas, Indiana, and Florida would see the largest declines in deployment under the low-case scenario. Texas alone could lose out on over $50 billion of solar investment over the next decade.

“Last year’s record-level of installations was aided by several solar policies and credits within the Inflation Reduction Act that helped drive interest in the solar market,” said Sylvia Levya Martinez, Principal Analyst, North America Utility-Scale Solar for Wood Mackenzie. “We still have many challenges ahead, including unprecedented load growth on the power grid. If many of these policies were eliminated or significantly altered, it would be very detrimental to the industry’s continued growth.”

Texas led all states for new solar capacity additions last year, replicating a record-setting 2023 with 11.6 GW of new installations. In total, 21 states set new annual installation records, and 13 states added over 1 GW of new solar capacity in 2024.

The utility-scale segment saw historic gains in 2024, growing by 33% year-over-year with a record 41.4 GW of installed capacity. The community and commercial solar markets also set annual records, growing by 35% and 8%, respectively. The residential solar market experienced its lowest year of installations since 2021 due to state-level policy changes and elevated interest rates nationally. Forecasts show that the market is expected to rebound over the next decade.

Learn more at seia.org/smi.

###
About SEIA®:

The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. SEIA works with its 1,200 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

About Wood Mackenzie:

Wood Mackenzie is the global insight business for renewables, energy and natural resources. Driven by data. Powered by people. In the middle of an energy revolution, businesses and governments need reliable and actionable insight to lead the transition to a sustainable future. That’s why we cover the entire supply chain with unparalleled breadth and depth, backed by over 50 years’ experience in natural resources. Today, our team of over 2,000 experts operate across 30 global locations, inspiring customers’ decisions through real-time analytics, consultancy, events and thought leadership. Together, we deliver the insight they need to separate risk from opportunity and make bold decisions when it matters most. For more information, visit woodmac.com.

Levar Stoney Campaign “Internal” Poll of the 2025 VA Democratic Lt. Governor Primary Has Stoney Up 16%-10%-8%-2% Over Aaron Rouse, Ghazala Hashmi and Babur Lateef; 63% of Voters “Not Sure”

By
lowkell
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3

See below for a new “internal” poll by the Levar Stoney for Lt. Governor campaign. A few thoughts:

  • As far as I’m aware, there have been no public polls released on the 2025 Virginia Democratic Lt. Governor primary.
  • I’ve heard there could be other “internal” polls by other Democratic Lt. Governor campaigns, but I haven’t seen them.
  • When it comes to “internals,” obviously keep in mind which campaign conducted them, but also look at: a) whether the firm that did the poll is serious/legitimate (in the case of Garin-Hart-Yang, that’s definitely the case); b) whether the questions, including “neutral” descriptions of the candidates being polled, are fair/balanced (that seems to be the case here as well); c) whether the results make intuitive sense, based on what we already know about the candidates’ name IDs (in this case, you’d definitely expect Stoney’s name recognition to be the highest, given that he got a LOT of publicity over tearing down Confederate monuments in Richmond, also as Secretary of the Commonwealth…); etc. (again, I’d say that appears to be the case with this poll).
  • As for the results of this poll, “Levar Stoney currently leads the field in the Democratic primary for Lt. Governor, although a substantial majority of voters are undecided.” Of course, with an enormous 63% of likely Democratic primary voters not knowing who they support, and with the highest support for any candidate at just 16% (for former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, followed by State Senator Aaron Rouse at 10%, State Senator Ghazala Hashmi at 8%, Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef at 2%), it’s really a wide-open race, which will depend heavily on whether candidates have the resources to communicate with likely Democratic primary voters – and whether they communicate effectively/persuasively/etc. That will require money, of course, with the next major campaign finance reports due to be released publicly in mid-April.
  • “Stoney starts the race with a firm advantage in the Richmond area (where he recently completed his two-terms as Richmond’s Mayor). While Virginia Beach Senator Rouse similarly leads in his native Tidewater region, Stoney currently polls in the double digits in Tidewater whereas Rouse is in single digits in Richmond.”
  • “Former Mayor Stoney expands his lead after we provide positive, biographical statements for each of the candidates that included the following core biographical  information…Former Mayor Stoney expands his lead after we provide positive, biographical statements for each of the candidates that included the following core biographical information” (Stoney hits 30% after the descriptions of the candidates are read, while Rouse goes up to 18%, Hashmi to 15% and Lateef to 4%).
  • There are three other Democratic candidates in this race – relative unknowns Alex Bastani, Carl Eggleston, Victor Salgado – but they aren’t mentioned in this poll.
  • I’d definitely be interested in seeing other LG campaigns’ “internals,” and a poll of the Democratic Attorney General primary would also be nice.

CNN: Virginia House Democratic Caucus “Advertising Blitz” Exposes GOP Delegates for “Following the Leader” on Trump and Elon’s Job-Killing Agenda

By
Blue Virginia
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0

From the VA House Democratic Caucus:

CNN: Virginia House Democratic Caucus “Advertising Blitz” Exposes GOP Delegates for “Following the Leader” on Trump and Elon’s Job-Killing Agenda
RICHMOND, VA— In case you missed it, CNN highlighted the Virginia House Democratic Caucus’ digital ad campaign exposing Virginia House Republicans for blindly following Donald Trump and Elon Musk—whose reckless policies are slashing jobs, hurting local businesses, and threatening Virginia’s economy.

First offered exclusively to POLITICO, the ad campaign is gaining additional national and local attention, with coverage from CNN and The Richmond Times-Dispatch. The ads expose 12 vulnerable GOP delegates for siding with Musk’s reckless workforce cuts and Trump’s attacks on Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.

As CNN’s Fredreka Schouten reports, the ads will test whether Musk “will prove a political liability for Republicans as he continues to take a leading role in chopping the federal workforce and shuttering parts of the government,” while The Richmond Times-Dispatch names Chesterfield seats held by Republican Dels. Carrie Coyner and Mark Earley as “competitive.”

With Republicans backing job losses and attacks on essential programs, Virginia Democrats are making their vulnerability a liability—holding them accountable, standing up for veterans and working families, and building momentum for November.

You can read the press highlights below:

CNN: Political advertising’s new rising star: Trump’s cost-cutter in chief Elon Musk

  • The advertising blitz tests whether Musk – whom Forbes pegs as the world’s richest person – will prove a political liability for Republicans as he continues to take a leading role in chopping the federal workforce and shuttering parts of the government.
  • Recent polling suggests that Musk is an unpopular messenger for the administration’s cost-cutting moves – particularly among the Democratic voters that the party needs to turn out in off-year elections in places such as Virginia. The […] state legislative contests are on the ballot in the Commonwealth this year, and elected officials there are grappling with the fallout of DOGE-driven cuts to the state’s sizable federal workforce.
  • Fifty percent of respondents in a Marist/NPR/PBS national poll conducted in late February had an unfavorable view of Musk, compared to 39% who had a favorable opinion.
  • A separate poll from Quinnipiac University found, overall, that 55% of voters think Musk has too much power in making decisions affecting the US.
  • The poll also revealed a stark partisan divide: Among Democrats, 96% said Musk had too much power; only 16% of Republicans felt that way.
  • Some Americans see the tech CEO “as the face of somebody who fired their uncle or shifted their cousin’s factory overseas,” said Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic strategist. “Musk is now the image of the incredibly wealthy billionaires who have a major role in the Trump administration.”
  • In Virginia […] Democrats are hoping their Musk-focused advertising will sway voters as residents start to feel the impact of his efforts to pare down the federal workforce.
  • Musk “is taking a chainsaw to their lives and livelihoods, and decades of public service in many cases,” said state Delegate Dan Helmer, who chairs campaign efforts for Virginia’s House Democratic caucus and represents an outer suburb of the nation’s capital.
  • Last year, Virginia was home to more than 144,000 federal civilian workers, according to a tally by the Congressional Research Service.
  • Democrats, who currently control 51 seats in the state House of Delegates to Republicans’ 49, are seeking to tie Musk to vulnerable Republican incumbents. The Democrats’ targets include 12 GOP state lawmakers, eight of whom serve in districts that Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, prevailed in last year, Helmer said.

POLITICO: Virginia Dems’ new ad campaign weaponizes Musk

  • Virginia Democrats are launching an opening salvo in their quest to make Elon Musk a political liability for Republicans trying to regain ground in the House of Delegates this year.
  • The world’s richest man takes on a starring role in a new digital and streaming ad campaign from the Virginia House Democratic Caucus. Musk’s image appears five times in the 30-second ad that paints a chaotic picture of President Donald Trump’s first weeks in office, saying an endangered social safety net is “so billionaires can reap the benefits.”
  • Virginia Republicans, the spots say, are “following the leader” as a picture of Trump and Musk flashes across the screen, “cutting taxes for them. Leaving us to foot the bill.”
  • It’s a strategy Democrats telegraphed earlier this month as Musk began to enact his plans to pare down the federal government. Now they’re putting money behind it. The buy […] is just the start of a larger campaign to weaponize Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency against the GOP.
  • Virginia’s off-year elections are always a test case for voters’ reactions to a new administration. That’s more true than ever in 2025. Tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors live in Virginia. Some have already lost their jobs, and those who haven’t know that unemployment could be imminent.
  • Democrats, who hold a narrow majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, have leaned heavily into DOGE and needled Republicans, saying they are not standing up for Virginians.
  • “Virginia House Republicans are too busy taking orders from Donald Trump and his billionaire handler Elon Musk to fight for the people they were elected to serve,” said Virginia state Del. Dan Helmer, who chairs Democrats’ campaign caucus.
  • The spots will run in 12 GOP-held Virginia House districts, largely in the suburbs and exurbs of Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads area. The incumbents receiving the attacks ads: Dels. Paul Milde, David Owen, Bobby Orrock, Geary Higgins, Ian Lovejoy, Kim Taylor, Mark Earley Jr., Carrie Coyner, Chad Green, Amanda Batten, Chris Obenshain and A.C. Cordoza.
  • Those districts offer a road map of where Democrats think they can cut into Republicans’ margins in Virginia. The elections will shed light on whether DOGE cuts upset moderates and independents who voted for Trump and whether his actions reverberate beyond just the northern portion of the state. Democrats already control the state delegate districts in Arlington and Fairfax, where many federal employees live.
  • Early Democratic polling has suggested that Musk is unpopular with voters in key congressional districts. House Democrats have focused on the threat DOGE could pose to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare — three popular programs. They believe voters will punish Republicans if Trump scales back any of them.
  • Virginia Democrats are making the same bet.

Richmond Times–Dispatch: Democrats targeting 2 Chesterfield House seats

  • Democrats have their eyes on two Chesterfield County House seats held by Republican Dels. Carrie Coyner and Mark Earley.
  • Coyner’s House District 75, where she won with 53% of the vote in 2023, is competitive. It includes the city of Hopewell and parts of Chesterfield and Prince George counties.
  • Earley’s House District 73, which covers the western part of Chesterfield, leans Republican, but Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by a small margin last year in a contest with a large presidential year turnout.
  • The Virginia House Democratic Caucus has launched a statewide advertising campaign targeting what it calls “12 of the most vulnerable House Republicans” — including Coyner and Earley.
  • The five-figure ad buy across YouTube and streaming platforms accuses Coyner and Earley of following President Donald Trump’s push to cut taxes for billionaires while regular Virginians foot the bill.

Tuesday News: “The Diseases Are Coming” – Thanks to Trump and Musk; “US stock market loses $4 trillion in value as Trump plows ahead on tariffs”; “Musk Melts Down as Tesla Stock Price Plunges”; “This Is the Greatest Threat to Free Speech Since the Red Scare”

By
lowkell
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14

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, March 11.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08) on House GOP Appropriations Bill: “This is not a funding bill, it is a defunding bill, and I will vote against it.”

By
lowkell
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7

Total no-brainer: every House Democrat should join Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08) in opposing this crazy “defunding bill.” Also, as Rep. Beyer points out:

“Anyone who refers to that arrangement as ‘clean’ should have their head examined, it is a fundamentally dishonest approach to legislating. Allowing Elon and company to continue looting the federal government is as dirty as it gets.”

This is interesting, in part because there were actually “journalists” – like this guy with “Punchbowl News” – who falsely claimed that it’s a “clean” continuing resolution. Then, when called out on his obviously false report, he didn’t retract it.  That’s journalism at its absolute worst, and should be completely unacceptable to everyone.

*********************************

Beyer To Oppose Republican Defunding Bill

March 10, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today announced that he will oppose the Republican appropriations bill scheduled for a vote in the House later this week. The partisan measure cuts funding for veterans’ medical benefits, evicts 32,000 households from their homes, and cuts funding for critical medical research, while failing to incorporate guardrails to ensure money is not shut off, only spent in Republican districts, or repurposed. The bill was introduced against a backdrop of a Musk-Trump Administration impounding federal funds previously appropriated by Congress, while conducting a political purge of the federal workforce, both in obvious violation of law.

Beyer said:

“Donald Trump and Elon Musk just spent seven weeks recklessly and illegally shutting down federal agencies, mass firing federal workers, and freezing congressionally mandated funding. The status quo for my district today is massive job losses with impending economic chaos for the entire region. The damage to my constituents is already far worse than that caused by the longest government shutdown in American history – which was also inflicted on them by Donald Trump.

“On Saturday, when I organized an event with local governments to offer support to federal workers and contractors with financial and career counseling, mental health resources, and food assistance, over a thousand people came. The need, desperation, and pain in that room were palpable.

“Speaker Johnson now proposes that Congress enact partisan legislation to perpetuate this disastrous status quo. Johnson calls the Republican bill ‘clean,’ despite changes to cut veterans’ medical care and medical research; but the entire premise of the legislation is that it would appropriate funds with the expectation that Trump and Musk will immediately cancel huge swathes of that funding and continue their illegal destruction of the federal government. Anyone who refers to that arrangement as ‘clean’ should have their head examined, it is a fundamentally dishonest approach to legislating. Allowing Elon and company to continue looting the federal government is as dirty as it gets.

“This is not a funding bill, it is a defunding bill, and I will vote against it.”

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