Glenn Youngkin

Virginia voters head to the polls Nov. 3 to decide three constitutional amendments — on reproductive rights, marriage equality, and automatic restoration of voting rights for felons after sentence completion — alongside federal races. Sen. Mark Warner seeks a fourth term against Bert Mizusawa, while competitive U.S. House contests play out in the 1st (Wittman vs. Taylor), 4th (McClellan vs. Murray and Bell), and 5th (McGuire vs. Perriello and Harvey) districts. Richmond and Chesterfield voters will also weigh a 1% sales tax increase to fund school construction, alongside 45 other Virginia localities, plus local School Board and Board of Supervisors races. Early voting runs through Oct. 31.

Virginia's parole board, reconstituted by Gov. Abigail Spanberger in mid-March, has approved parole at a rate far exceeding that of former Gov. Glenn Youngkin's board. According to a Washington Examiner analysis of state parole data, the board's 13.89% release rate over roughly six months is more than ten times Youngkin's full-year 2025 rate of 1.23%. The panel has granted parole to 38 prisoners, already surpassing Youngkin's year-end total of 32, including six convicted murderers and 11 sex offenders. In more than 49% of parole-violation cases, the board allowed violators, including repeat offenders, to remain on parole rather than revoking their release.

Supporters of the board's approach point to rehabilitation factors such as vocational achievement, faith-based program participation, and age at time of offense. Critics, including the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, argue the trend reflects a shift toward more lenient criminal-justice policy and raises public-safety concerns. The board maintains an overall denial rate above 86%. Spanberger's administration has also expanded prison reentry programs and restored voting rights to tens of thousands of formerly incarcerated Virginians this year.

Early voting opened Sept. 18 in Virginia ahead of the Nov. 3 election, with voting continuing through Oct. 31 and a voter registration deadline of Oct. 23. Voters statewide will decide three constitutional amendments covering reproductive rights, marriage equality (protecting gay and interracial marriage), and automatic restoration of voting rights for felons who complete their sentences.

Congressional races include Democratic Sen. Mark Warner seeking a fourth term against Republican Bert Mizusawa, plus contests in the 1st District (Rob Wittman vs. Shannon Taylor), 4th District (Jennifer McClellan vs. Robert Murray Jr. and Joan Bell), and 5th District (John McGuire vs. Tom Perriello and Cooke Harvey). Richmond and Chesterfield voters, along with 45 other localities, will also weigh a potential 1% sales tax increase dedicated to school construction, projected to raise roughly $47 million annually in Richmond and up to $70 million in Chesterfield. Local races include a Richmond School Board special election and a contested Chesterfield School Board seat.

President Donald Trump delivered a lengthy keynote at the Republican National Committee's first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, urging supporters to treat November "like I'm on the ballot" and framing the elections as a choice between GOP prosperity and what he called Democratic-led "communism." He touted 2025 tax cuts, including ending taxes on tips and an expanded child tax credit, and pledged a $5,000 "Trump Dividend" per citizen if Republicans hold Congress. Trump gave an energetic endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his Senate race against Democrat James Talarico, and paid tribute to Charlie Kirk on the anniversary of his assassination.

The two-day "Trumpapalooza" event drew scrutiny for a half-empty arena, steep fundraiser ticket prices, and low turnout from vulnerable California Republicans, several of whom skipped the gathering entirely. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman appeared via video praising Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, a notable cross-party moment. Critics, including Democratic strategists, argued Trump's self-focused approach, delivered amid low approval ratings and high gas prices, could hurt Republicans in competitive districts ahead of the midterms.