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☆ LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman and Microsoft's AI chief are backing Abigail Spanberger's 2025 Virginia governor run
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Two of the tech industry's biggest AI champions are backing Rep. Abigail Spanberger's run for governor of Virginia in 2025, campaign finance records show. Hoffman donated $250,000 on November 30, and Scott donated $125,000 on December 22. The donations, representing a total of $500,000 are the three largest individual contributions on record for Spanberger's campaign, which ended 2023 with over $3.6 million in funds received. Aside from their personal connections to the state, Virginia is home to the largest concentration of data centers in the world. Hoffman has previously donated over $300,000 to WinVirginia, a PAC that supports Democratic candidates in the state.

Persons: Abigail Spanberger's, Reid Hoffman, Kevin Scott, Hoffman, Scott, Shannon Hunt, Hunt, Prince William County, they're, Spanberger, Glenn Youngkin, Ohio US Sen, JD Vance, Joe Biden's, Nikki Haley, Ellen Thomas Organizations: Microsoft, Business, Democratic, Spanberger, University of Virginia, Culpeper ., CIA, Virginia Gov, Republican, LinkedIn, Ohio US, Trump Republicans, South Carolina Gov, PAC Locations: Virginia, Greylock, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Richmond, San Francisco Bay, Rural America, Silicon, Hampshire

There's broad agreement that some kind of public comment time management is necessary in Virginia's sessions, which generally run no longer than 60 days. When the opponents' six minutes ran out after only three speakers, Watts attempted to cut the group off. Gilbert also suggested the limited public comment could have been by design in this instance. By the end of the public comment, then-sponsor Sen. Chap Petersen, a Democrat, threw up his hands and said: “Do what you want with the bill. She also questioned why the Senate is not taking online public comment in subcommittees or allowing the submission of written public comments.

Persons: —, “, ”, Sally Hudson, Del, Vivian Watts, Watts, Michael Grey, Melinda Wallin, Ryan Mehaffey, I'd, Wallin, We've, ” Watts, ” Wallin, legislates, capitols, can’t, Todd Gilbert, Gilbert, Sen, Chap Petersen, Megan Rhyne, Joan Porte, she’s, Creigh Deeds, Deeds, “ there's Organizations: Capitol, University of Virginia, GOP, Democrat, Delegates, Virginia Coalition, Open Government, League of Women Voters, Democratic Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Spotsylvania County, Richmond, Virginia

This time, liberal and moderate candidates took control in high-profile races in conservative Iowa, and the swing states of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Pennsylvania saw a number of Democratic victories in school boards, particularly in districts that have recently seen GOP-led school boards adopt policies targeting transgender students, as well as reading materials and curriculum on LGBTQ+ history. Turn PA Blue, a partisan political organization, said Democrats gained control of at least seven school boards and gained ground in a half-dozen others in Pennsylvania, a swing state. In the Central Bucks School District north of Philadelphia, Democrats flipped three seats, ousting the incumbent school board president, and retained two others, giving the party majority control. School board politics have also become contentious in Virginia since 2021, when Republican Gov.

Persons: “, ” Randi Weingarten, Michael Geer, ”, ’, Bonnie Chang, Glenn Youngkin, Toni Morrison, Stephen Chbosky, Kirk Twigg, Mike Pence, Kim Reynolds, Brittania Morey, ___ Mulvihill, Matthew Barakat, John Hanna, Heather Hollingsworth Organizations: —, The American Federation of Teachers, Liberty, Associated Press, Conservative, PA Family Institute, Pennsylvania, Democratic, GOP, Central Bucks School District, Philadelphia Inquirer, Republicans, Turn Bucks, School, Republican Gov, Linn, Mar Community School District, Gov Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Virginia, York County, Philadelphia, Bucks County, Central Bucks, Spotsylvania County, Washington, D.C, Loudoun County, Cedar Rapids, Cherry Hill , New Jersey, Falls Church , Virginia, Topeka , Kansas, Mission , Kansas

School board members refuse to cede any ground. One was a discordant school board meeting in September that stretched over nearly five hours. The other was a school board candidates forum that drew a full room in October. Since then, the school board has hired its own private security to stand guard at meetings. While she does not have proof, Drane thinks it was retaliation for her vocal resistance against the new school board majority.

Persons: ”, ___, Michelle Obama, Belén Rodas, that’s, Jordan Lynch, Dale Swanson, Swanson, Glenn Youngkin, distresses Frank Morgan, “, Tamara Quick, didn't, ” Rabih Abuismail, ” Kirk Twigg, Twigg, Mark Taylor, Taylor, Toni Morrison, Tom Eichenberg, Abuismail, Lisa Phelps, Fabiana Parker, Parker, Heather Drane, we’re, Drane, It's, Lynch, ” Rodas, ___ Swenson, Serkan Gurbuz Organizations: Spotsylvania School, Democratic, Republican, GOP, Spotsylvania School Board, Rappahannock Conservative Women’s Coalition, Republicans, Liberty, Republican Gov, Virginians, ”, Youngkin, NAACP, Associated Press, AP Locations: FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Spotsylvania, United States, Virginia, ”, Spotsylvania County, America, Spotsylvania ., Rockingham County, Goochland County, South Carolina, Manassas, New York

☆ Just 11 people were responsible for most 2021-2022 school book challenges. A Virginia woman challenged 71 out of the 73 books she read.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Over half of all book challenges made in the 2021-2022 school year came from just 11 adults. One woman said she read 73 books, scanning for sexually explicit content, and challenged 71 of them. Book challenges, once a school library issue, are becoming a community-wide library issue. According to an analysis by the Post, 60% of book challenges made in the 2021-2022 school year came from the same 11 adults. A library staffer told the Post that nearly a dozen people spent 40 hours per week just on Petersen's book challenges.

Persons: —, Jennifer Petersen, Petersen Organizations: Service, Spotsylvania County Public Schools, The Washington Post, Post, New York Times Locations: Virginia, Spotsylvania

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Derrick Anderson, a U.S. Army combat veteran and attorney, announced plans Monday to again seek the Republican nomination for a Virginia congressional seat that could be a key to determining party control of the U.S. House. The former Green Beret pledged in a statement to run a “tireless, heartfelt, and genuine” campaign to represent the 7th District in the Fredericksburg area, where he grew up. Vega went on to lose to Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who has represented the 7th District since 2018. Speculation has swirled for months that Spanberger, seen by Democrats as a rising star and by Republicans as a formidable opponent, will run for Virginia governor in 2025. The 7th District was overhauled during the redistricting process that ended in late 2021.

Persons: — Derrick Anderson, I’ll, ” Anderson, Yesli Vega, Vega, Abigail Spanberger, Jennifer Wexton, Connor Joseph, Spanberger, she's, Bill Moher, Cameron Hamilton, Jon Myers, Shaliek, Craig Ennis Organizations: U.S . Army, Republican, U.S . House, Green Beret, Democratic U.S . Rep, District, Republicans, Virginia, Democrats, U.S . Rep, Monday, Spanberger, Spotsylvania County, Virginia Tech, Georgetown Law, Democratic Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Fredericksburg, Washington, Virginia's, Richmond, it's, exurban Washington, Spotsylvania, Afghanistan, Iraq

☆ Voters in one of the most competitive House races in the country sound off on abortion, inflation, January 6, and 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

One of this year's most competitive House races is in Virginia's 7th district, just southwest of DC. Some GOP voters insisted Trump won the 2020 election, while Democrats said they want younger leaders. Martin Cevala, a construction superintendent, thinks Trump won the 2020 election. Jill and James Sherk want a full ban on abortion with no exceptions except for the life of the mother. She said she voted for Trump with her "nose held" and that she doesn't know whether he won the 2020 election.

☆ Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger says she sought out Liz Cheney's endorsement in her nail-biter race against Yesli Vega
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger told Insider she sought out GOP Rep. Liz Cheney's endorsement. Spanberger faces a tight race against Yesli Vega, who has sympathized with January 6 rioters. "People are enthusiastic about it," Spanberger said of the high-profile endorsement in a phone interview with Insider on Saturday. In her statement announcing the Spanberger endorsement, Cheney said Vega was "promoting conspiracy theories, denying election outcomes she disagrees with, and defending the indefensible." "I have spent almost my entire adult life in service to this nation," Spanberger told the crowd of volunteers.

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