AGP Executive Report

War Powers Showdown: Senate Democrats led by Sen. John Hickenlooper filed a resolution to end what they call unauthorized U.S. military involvement against Iran, escalating pressure on President Trump’s conflict management. Federal Funding Crunch: The Senate passed a stopgap continuing resolution to keep the government funded through Dec. 11, pushing the next shutdown fight past the November midterms. Virginia Election Politics: A Fox News report spotlights Shannon Taylor’s past as Henrico commonwealth attorney, arguing her earlier prosecutorial decisions and “sanctuary” ties could clash with how she’s pitching herself in Virginia’s 1st District race. Dominion-NextEra Fallout: Gov. Abigail Spanberger is moving to intervene in the proposed $67B Dominion-NextEra merger, with electric-bill concerns driving the push. Data Center Backlash: Virginia continues to see mounting scrutiny of data centers—local residents and officials are challenging impacts on land, water, and power costs. ACLU in Court: ACLU of Virginia filed suit over King George middle school students seeking an LGBTQ+-supportive club, adding to the week’s education-and-civil-rights legal fights.

Dominion-NextEra Merger: Gov. Abigail Spanberger is taking the unusual step of intervening in the $67B Dominion–NextEra deal at the State Corporation Commission, arguing Virginians deserve answers on affordability and transmission costs. School Desegregation: A federal judge ordered Shenandoah County to remove Confederate names from two schools it restored in 2024, finding the move violated civil rights protections. Data Centers & Power: Wytheville-area residents are pushing back against proposed AI data center campuses over farmland, water, and rising electricity rates, as Spanberger directs data centers to cover full transmission infrastructure costs. Federal Courts/Homelessness Funding: A judge blocked HUD from imposing new conditions on Fiscal Year 2026 Continuum of Care funding, continuing a fight over permanent supportive housing dollars. U.S. Senate/Russia Sanctions: The Senate passed Russia sanctions legislation backed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, setting up a House vote next. Military/China: The Navy says 19 planned Virginia-class submarines will be reclassified as guided-missile subs with added missile capacity—aimed at countering China’s defenses.

Dominion-NextEra Merger Fight: Gov. Abigail Spanberger took an unprecedented step to formally intervene in the SCC review of the $67B Dominion Energy–NextEra deal, arguing Virginians’ concerns about bills, jobs, and the state’s energy future deserve a direct voice in the process. Data Center Backlash: The governor’s move lands amid mounting scrutiny of data centers’ strain on Virginia’s power grid and costs, with regulators pushing companies to cover transmission upgrades. Local Politics: Arlington’s treasurer race just got a rare independent challenger—Aasim Rawoot, a longtime activist, filed against incumbent Kim Rucker, marking the first independent bid for the post since 1991. Public Safety: An Appomattox County deputy, Burlie W. Duvall III, was killed while assisting at a Campbell County crash scene. Courts & Civil Rights: A federal judge ordered Shenandoah County School Board to remove Confederate school names, finding the board violated students’ civil rights.

Dominion-NextEra Fight: Gov. Abigail Spanberger is intervening in the SCC’s review of the $67B Dominion Energy–NextEra merger, aiming to protect Virginia ratepayers and energy affordability as regulators also order data centers to cover transmission costs. Data Center Backlash: The SCC’s latest orders push more grid upgrade costs onto data centers, while local and state lawmakers keep pressing for limits amid water and power strain. Court Fight Over “Slush Fund”: IRS workers’ union has joined litigation in Virginia federal court challenging Trump’s proposed $1.8B “slush fund” and related audit immunity. Hemp vs. THC Rules: Virginia hemp businesses sued to block new THC limits that could make most products illegal, with another suit targeting Virginia’s hemp law changes. Birthright Citizenship Orders: The ACLU says Trump’s new executive orders restricting birthright citizenship will fail in court, after the Supreme Court struck down a prior attempt. Public Safety & Corrections: Virginia launched an Intensive Reentry Program at Red Onion State Prison, and Swim RVA was allowed to operate under an exemption after a 9-year-old’s drowning death.

CDC Leadership: The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as permanent CDC director in a 51-44 vote, with Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine the only Democrat to support her, setting up a new chapter after months of turmoil at the agency. Energy & Utilities: Gov. Abigail Spanberger says she’ll formally intervene in the Dominion Energy–NextEra merger before the State Corporation Commission, arguing the deal could raise rates and reshape Virginia’s workforce and clean-energy commitments. Virginia Courts & Public Safety: Middlesex Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Hurd sued to force the county to fund an assistant commonwealth’s attorney tied to the sheriff’s body-cam workload, or to stop using the cameras. Local Land Use: A lawsuit challenges the proposed “Rosegill Village” development near Urbanna, alleging more archaeology is needed and that the site plan violates rezoning proffers. Public Health & Law: A Virginia court fight over overseas voting rights is heating up, with Republicans targeting U.S. citizens abroad who vote through family ties. Data Centers Backlash: Virginia’s data-center boom keeps colliding with politics and infrastructure strain, with new reporting highlighting water/power pressure and regulatory pushback.

Data Center Costs: Virginia’s State Corporation Commission ordered data centers to pay for dedicated new transmission infrastructure tied to their builds, a move Gov. Abigail Spanberger says could save ratepayers “hundreds of millions” and shift costs away from homeowners and small businesses. Local Governance: Loudoun County’s school board is back in Virginia Supreme Court with new motions seeking permission to file additional replies in its fight to halt Dominion Energy’s Golden-to-Mars transmission line work across school property. Elections & Voting Rights: Virginians will vote this November on a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to people with felony convictions upon release, removing the governor-by-governor reinstatement requirement. Public Safety & Community: Spanberger joined National Night Out events in Harrisonburg and Augusta County, while a separate national story highlights renewed calls for tougher action after a Good Samaritan died following an alleged shoplifting-related assault. Military Education: The U.S. Department of War selected Virginia Tech and UNC-Chapel Hill to host Senior Service College Fellowships for training senior officers. Business & Consumer Policy: A new Virginia law lets home bakers sell online and ship statewide, expanding market access for small producers.

Virginia House primaries: Democrats picked establishment nominees to take on GOP incumbents in two House districts they’re targeting to flip in November—Shannon Taylor in the 1st vs. Rob Wittman, and Elaine Luria in the 2nd in a rematch against Jen Kiggans. Data centers & power fights: Loudoun supervisors delayed action on Dominion’s Golden Substation vote, while pressure is building to reconsider Rt. 606 for the Golden-to-Mars transmission project after lawmakers asked the State Corporation Commission to revisit its approval. Cybersecurity: The FBI urged water systems to boost defenses after a wave of cyberattacks hit utilities across multiple states, raising fears of operational disruption. Immigration enforcement & local control: Massachusetts signed a sweeping “PROTECT Act” limiting ICE activity in sensitive places; the move echoes similar efforts in Virginia and other states. Military policy: The U.S. Navy began monthly facial hair accountability reporting for sailors with medical shaving accommodations. Jobs in Southwest Virginia: Gov. Spanberger announced Virginia Steel and Fabrication will invest $3.6 million in Bland County and add 52 jobs. National politics: House Democrats expanded their “Districts in Play” list by 12 GOP-leaning seats for the midterms.

Virginia Primary Aftermath: Virginians picked nominees Tuesday, setting up major November matchups: Shannon Taylor (D) will challenge Rob Wittman (R) in VA-1, Elaine Luria (D) won VA-2 to rematch Jen Kiggans (R), and Doug Ollivant (R) will face Eugene Vindman (D) in VA-7. Democrats’ Map Fight Echoes: The results land after Democrats’ redistricting effort was struck down by the state Supreme Court, leaving the party still chasing flips in competitive districts. Data Center Backlash Spreads: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a pause on new data center grid approvals pending audits, a move that underscores how power, water, and local impacts are driving opposition nationwide. Local Governance & Growth Pressure: On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Wicomico and Dorchester leaders are weighing one-year moratoriums on data center development. Animal Welfare Protest: Peaceful Fields Sanctuary and a Northern Virginia petition group plan a protest Aug. 15 outside the Clarke County Fair over the “pig scramble.” Public Health Tour: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Danville to highlight rural health and substance-use treatment amid federal funding pressures.

Virginia Politics & Elections: Virginia Republicans head to the polls Tuesday in a primary that could shape the balance of power in Congress, including the GOP contest to face Sen. Mark Warner this fall. Data Centers & Local Control: Botetourt County supervisors voted to create an independent commission to study a proposed Google data center campus, after rejecting a planning-commission forum; separately, the county also approved a special exception for a vision care facility that will relocate the Botetourt Farmers Market. Criminal Justice Oversight: Gov. Abigail Spanberger opened applications for a Governor’s Community Partnership Council on Corrections, aimed at improving safety and transparency at VADOC by hearing directly from staff and impacted families. AG Legal Battles: Virginia’s Democratic AGs are among a broad coalition suing to stop Trump’s latest tariffs, arguing they’re unlawful and will hit consumers. National Security & Military: The U.S. Navy is reclassifying Virginia-class submarines to reflect increased attack capabilities, while AUKUS allies ran an undersea defense exercise involving U.S. and Australian systems. Public Safety Events: National Night Out is set for Tuesday, with local law enforcement hosting community events across the region.

Virginia Primaries & Nominees: Virginia voters head to the polls Tuesday to pick congressional nominees after a chaotic redistricting fight left candidates scrambling and some races reshuffled. Education Access: A new Virginia law requires SAT “School Day” testing for juniors and seniors during the school day, aiming to cut barriers to college-readiness exams. Tariffs in the Courts: A coalition of 25 states, including Virginia Democrats, sued the Trump administration over new Section 301 tariffs on dozens of trading partners, arguing the forced-labor rationale is a pretext and seeking to halt the duties and recover money already paid. Military Update: The U.S. Navy is reclassifying 19 planned Virginia-class submarines with the Virginia Payload Module as guided missile submarines, reflecting added strike capacity. Data Center Pressure: Virginia lawmakers and communities keep pushing back on the data center boom, with renewed attention on groundwater strain and calls for moratoriums or tighter oversight. Local Government: Portsmouth voters will decide in November on a 1% sales tax to fund long-delayed school renovations and a new K-8 school.

Virginia Primary Day (Aug. 4): Polls open Tuesday for Virginia’s unusually timed summer primary, with voters choosing nominees for U.S. Senate and House plus local races—an outcome that could matter for control of Congress in November. Data Center Politics & Water: Two Virginia state senators are pushing for a special session after a groundwater report warned new industries like data centers could strain supplies, with lawmakers arguing the findings landed after the session and budget were already set. AG Action on Health Data: New York Attorney General Letitia James is co-leading a multi-state lawsuit against the Trump administration over a plan to expand access to sensitive TANF recipient information across federal agencies. Immigration Enforcement at Airports: A Johns Hopkins public health researcher, Fatima Ameaka, was detained by ICE after a flight and later released, spotlighting the administration’s use of airport detentions tied to alleged visa issues. Virginia Tech/Local Tech & Public Safety: Virginia Beach is turning to Peregrine Technologies to connect police data systems as staffing shortages strain investigations. Remembering Janet Howell: Former state Sen. Janet Howell, a longtime Fairfax-area Democrat and first woman on the Senate Finance Committee, has died at 82.

DOJ Disability Fight: A new DOJ legal memo is backing states in court to reinterpret the Olmstead “integration mandate,” arguing the ADA doesn’t require moving people with serious mental disabilities out of institutions—sparking alarm from advocates. U.Va. Health & AI: U.Va. Health says it’s rolling out AI in “low-risk” ways across patient care, operations, and research, including documentation help and better bed and staffing planning. Virginia Data Center Backlash: Virginia Sen. Glen Sturtevant is urging Gov. Abigail Spanberger to impose an immediate moratorium on data center approvals and development while the state decides rules and capacity. Voting Rights: Spanberger announced voting rights restored for more than 66,000 Virginians with past felony convictions, including the right to vote, serve on a jury, and run for public office. Election Watch: Virginia’s Aug. 4 GOP primary for the Senate seat against Mark Warner is set for Tuesday, with three candidates on the ballot. Public Safety: A Prince George’s County shooting at a car meetup prompted police to renew warnings that participants and spectators can face arrest and serious consequences. Immigration Enforcement: Advocates and attorneys say ICE is increasing airport detentions, including targeting visa overstays, as part of a broader crackdown.

Virginia Primaries Preview: Voters head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 4, to pick nominees for U.S. House races and a Senate primary, with the most national attention on VA-02, where Democrats are targeting the seat as a potential House-flip path. Election Logistics: Polls run 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters choose either the Democratic or Republican primary—no cross-over. Spanberger Voting Rights: Gov. Abigail Spanberger restored voting rights for more than 66,000 Virginians with past felony convictions, a move framed as timed for the midterms. Life Sciences Funding: Spanberger announced $2.4 million in Virginia Catalyst grants tied to biomedical products and research, with UVA involved across the projects. Federal Health Court Fight: A whistleblower lawsuit against Sentara over allegedly high ACA premiums was dismissed by a federal judge, who said courts can’t second-guess state-approved insurance rates. Tech/AI Governance: UVA is involved in state grant-funded biomedical research, while national coverage highlights the growing push to govern and audit AI agents making consequential decisions. Powerball: Jackpot climbs again after no winner—next drawing Monday, Aug. 3, estimated near $748 million.

Voting Rights Rollback Reversal: Gov. Abigail Spanberger restored voting and other civil rights to 66,085 Virginians with past felony convictions, a sharp break from the far smaller restorations under Glenn Youngkin. Data Center Fight: Virginia lawmakers are pushing for a statewide data center moratorium as concerns mount over power reliability, water use, and transparency; in Franklin County, residents say records tied to “Project Flash” suggest decisions moved ahead before the public got clear answers. Elections & Democracy: Spanberger’s restoration comes with early voting for the 2026 midterms approaching, while national Democrats are also reshaping the 2028 presidential calendar, with Virginia expected to be among the early states. Press Freedom Clash: The DOJ subpoenaed a New York Times freelancer over a 2025 North Korea story, adding to a broader crackdown on journalists’ sources. Federal Courts/Justice Department Drama: Trump blasted U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after she moved to drop the Reflecting Pool vandalism case, with Trump insisting the damage was caused by vandals even as filings point to faulty installation. Public Safety & Community: Roanoke County’s “Cuts with Cops” event paired first responders with barbers and health partners to provide back-to-school supplies and haircuts.

Pay Transparency in Virginia: A new Virginia law requiring employers to post good-faith salary ranges and banning salary-history questions took effect July 1, joining a growing list of states pushing more open hiring pay practices. Virginia Courts & Health Costs: A federal judge dismissed a Charlottesville whistleblower lawsuit against Sentara that alleged monopoly power inflated ACA premiums, ruling courts can’t second-guess rates approved by the state Bureau of Insurance. Election Watch (Aug. 4): With Virginia’s primary Tuesday, Aug. 4, coverage highlights the scramble after the redistricting referendum was struck down, plus reminders that early voting ends Saturday. Workforce Shortage: Virginia’s dental hygiene pipeline gets a boost in the new budget, with added funding for community college programs aimed at easing a statewide hygienist shortage. National/Defense: The Pentagon is stepping back from leading NATO’s Ukraine weapons and training coordination, shifting command of SAG-U to another NATO member while keeping a reduced U.S. role. Tech & Media: NPR reports Truth Social is offering paid “early access” to Trump posts via a new “Truth API,” raising ethical and legal concerns.

UN Leadership Watch: Rebeca Grynspan has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Antonio Guterres after the UN Security Council’s first informal straw poll, with Virginia Gamba and others also in the mix. Virginia Elections: With Tuesday’s Aug. 4 primary looming, Virginia voters face contested congressional primaries, including the 5th District where Democrats and Republicans both have challengers. Voting Rights: Gov. Abigail Spanberger says her administration has restored voting rights to more than 66,000 formerly incarcerated Virginians, adding new voters ahead of midterms. Health Care Fight: Sentara says contract talks with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield have stalled, warning of expiring agreements; meanwhile Virginia AGs are also backing lawsuits aimed at blocking federal moves that would raise health insurance costs. Public Safety & Community: National Night Out events are set across Northern Shenandoah Valley communities. Military & Local Impact: Kaine and Warner toured the USS Gerald R. Ford during maintenance in Norfolk, pressing for better support for service members’ families. Courts & Speech: A federal ruling says Virginia personalized license plates are private speech protected by the First Amendment, in a case involving “FTP&ATF.” Local Economy/Infrastructure: The FAA has cleared environmental steps for commercial expansion at Washington Manassas Airport, leaving certification as the next hurdle.