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☆ Analysis: Virginia elections offer the most important test for both parties heading into 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Harry Enten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In 2021, Republicans retook the Virginia House. The Virginia Senate wasn’t up in 2021 – state senators face their voters every four years. That one time was in 2011, when the two parties ended up tied in the state Senate, with the Republican lieutenant governor serving as the tie-breaker. Democrats hold the thinnest of majorities in the state Senate, while Republicans narrowly control the state House. In those elections, Democrats have been greatly outperforming the Democratic baseline (measured by comparing their candidates’ performances with Biden’s in 2020).

Persons: bode, Joe Biden, – Biden, Donald Trump –, we’ve, Biden’s, Roe, Wade, Biden, Glenn Youngkin Organizations: CNN, Virginia Legislature, Republicans, Virginia, GOP, The Virginia Senate, Virginia Senate, Republican, Washington Post, Democratic, Democrats, Republican Gov, Virginia Democrats Locations: Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, Washington

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — In a closing message to voters in this year's closely watched Virginia legislative elections, Republican Gov. Virginia is one of four states — the others are Louisiana, Mississippi and New Jersey — with legislative elections this year. The legislative candidates are running this year under maps redrawn during the last redistricting. He said he was “cautiously confident” about the possibility of a GOP trifecta — both legislative chambers as well as the governorship. Biden, who has not announced any plans to campaign in Virginia before Tuesday, recently sent a fundraising email on behalf of Virginia candidates and issued nearly two dozen endorsements.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, “, we'll, ” Youngkin, Youngkin's, Virginia's, It's, Roe, Wade, there's, ” Sen, Monty Mason, Danny Diggs, Democrat Joe Biden, Diggs, Virginia doesn't, —, “ We're, ” Kay James, Rich Anderson, “ MAGA, “ MAGA Republicans ”, Donald Trump's “, Biden, ”, Heather Williams Organizations: Republican Gov, Republican, Democratic, Virginians, General Assembly, Supreme, Youngkin's PAC, GOP, Democrat, Republican Party of Virginia, Democrats, U.S . House, “ MAGA Republicans, Biden's, Republicans, Democratic Legislative Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Louisiana , Mississippi, New Jersey, Southern, U.S, Richmond, Tidewater, Washington, Yorktown, Commonwealth

Now, as abortion restrictions and bans in red states have become reality, the issue is again on the ballot, both explicitly and implicitly, in races across the country. In Kentucky, Democrats are testing whether abortion can provide a political advantage even in a red state, as Gov. In Ohio, a socially conservative state, a ballot question that would enshrine abortion rights in the State Constitution will measure the extent of the country’s political pivot toward abortion rights. And in Virginia, the only Southern state without an abortion ban, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, is trying to flip the script in the state’s legislative elections, casting Democrats as “extreme” and saying his party supports a “common-sense position” — a 15-week ban.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Andy Beshear, Roe —, Glenn Youngkin Organizations: Democrat, Republican Locations: In Kentucky, Ohio, State, Virginia

☆ Can Glenn Youngkin Save the G.O.P. from Trumpism? - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Michelle Cottle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Glenn Youngkin, who is not on the ballot but is stumping hard for his fellow Republicans. This makes a certain political sense: Joe Biden won this county in 2020, as did Mr. Youngkin’s Democratic rival in 2021. But the fact that Mr. Youngkin is aggressively campaigning in blue areas is not only a sign of his popularity, it differentiates him from Mr. Trump, who largely sticks to safe conservative spaces. Mr. Youngkin’s sales pitch casts the G.O.P. It’s revealing about Mr. Youngkin’s brand of politics, but it’s also about as edgy as the guy gets.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin’s, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, ”, Liberty ”, Trump, MAGA, Joe Biden, Youngkin, ruddy, —, it’s Organizations: American Legion, Liberty, Republican, Democratic, Virginians, Democrats Locations: Virginia, Middleburg

☆ Can Glenn Youngkin Pull Off Another Magic Trick in Virginia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Molly Ball | Photographs Valerie Plesch For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

CHANTILLY, Va.—The Republican Party’s great hope sat scrunched in the back of his gubernatorial SUV, acknowledging the high-stakes gamble he has undertaken. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has put all his political capital on the line in Tuesday’s statehouse elections, hoping to prove that a bluish state can be persuaded to go for conservative governance and restrictions on abortion. “I don’t know how to hedge my bets,” said Youngkin, the lanky, affable former private-equity executive elected in 2021. I think that we are driving towards an outcome that I think is best for Virginia, and therefore I’m going to go to work with everything I have in order to try to deliver.”

Persons: Republican Party’s, Glenn Youngkin, “, ”, Youngkin Organizations: Republican, Virginia Gov, Tuesday’s statehouse Locations: CHANTILLY, Va, Virginia, Tuesday’s

Steve Beshear – faces Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a protege of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In Mississippi, Republican Lynn Fitch is seeking a second term against Greta Kemp Martin, the litigation director of Disability Rights Mississippi. Democratic attorney Lindsey Cheek won the other runoff slot by taking 23% of the all-party primary vote. In Mississippi, Republican incumbent Michael Watson is seeking a second term and should easily defeat Democrat Ty Pinkins. She will face Democratic attorney, accountant, and small business owner Gwen Collins-Greenup, who finished second in the primary.

Persons: — it’s, Kentuckians, Andy Beshear, Jeff Landry, Beshear, Steve Beshear –, Daniel Cameron, Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s, He’s, Cameron, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Presley, Reeves, Democrat hasn’t, Jim Hood, Glenn Youngkin’s, Winsome Sears, Youngkin, Phil Murphy, Democratic Sen, Robert Menendez, Joe Biden, Max Baer, Carolyn Carluccio, Daniel McCaffery, Donald Trump, wouldn’t, Roe, Wade, Ohio’s, Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Janet Mills, Russell Coleman, McConnell, Pamela Stevenson, Republican Lynn Fitch, Greta Kemp Martin, Fitch, Liz Murrill, Landry, Lindsey Cheek, Michael Adams, Buddy Wheatley, Adams, Michael Watson, Ty Pinkins, Shuwaski Young, Young, Kyle Ardoin, Nancy Landry, Gwen Collins, Greenup Organizations: Democratic Gov, Democratic, Republican, Gubernatorial, Gov, Lean Democratic, Republican Gov, Public Service Commission, Democrat, Mississippi, Public, Impact Research, Lean Republican, State Legislative, Virginia, GOP, Senate, Republicans, House, George Mason University, Assembly, , New Jersey Republicans, Pleas, Superior Court, Ohio, Sierra Club, AFL, of Commerce, Avangrid Inc, Trump, Air Force, Disability Rights Mississippi, State, Iraq Locations: Mississippi, Virginia, Republican . New Jersey, Garden, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, In Kentucky, Republican Mississippi, U.S, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Washington, New Jersey, , New Jersey, Montgomery County, In Ohio, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Massachusetts, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, State Kentucky, In Mississippi

☆ Why a 2023 Virginia Election Is a Proving Ground for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Scott Calvert | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

THE PLAINS, Va.—For clues about the strength of both parties’ messages heading into 2024, look no further than this suburban Northern Virginia enclave, where Democrats and Republicans are betting big on a hotly contested state Senate race. Typically, such local elections don’t have a major impact outside their direct communities. But this one could decide control of the Virginia legislature and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin ’s ability to enact conservative policies on abortion, taxes and education—making it closely watched in the run up to next year’s presidential race.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin ’ Organizations: Republicans, Republican Gov Locations: Va, Northern Virginia, Virginia

☆ Virginia Erroneously Purged Nearly 3,400 From State’s Voter Rolls
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Chris Cameron | More About Chris Cameron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Election integrity has become a key issue in Virginia, with conservative activists using next week’s election as a testing ground for a larger strategy to detect voter fraud in the 2024 election. The affected voters were people previously convicted of felonies who had their voting rights restored after completing their sentences, according to the state’s Department of Elections, and a software error misclassified probation violations as new felonies that would automatically strip the residents of their voting rights under Virginia law. Mr. Youngkin, who took office last year, had rescinded policies enacted by previous governors that automatically restored voting rights to residents who had completed felony sentences. Lyn McDermid, Virginia’s secretary of administration, said that the governor had asked the state’s inspector general to investigate the “causes and circumstances” of the purge of the voter rolls. The potential election impact is likely to be small among the more than six million Virginians registered to vote.

Persons: Brennan, Youngkin, Lyn McDermid, Ragnar Organizations: state’s Department, Elections, Brennan Center for Justice, Virginians, Ragnar Research Partners Locations: Virginia

But this year, abortion is on the ballot, with party control of the closely divided chambers of the legislature determining whether Virginia will lose its status as the last Southern state where abortion is mostly legal and accessible. Democrats, meanwhile, see the races as critical not only to sustaining abortion rights in swing-state Virginia but as a test of how powerful the issue remains nationally. Predicting winners is always difficult in state legislative races, but especially hard in Virginia. Where Democrats have an edge, experts say, is on the motivating factor of abortion rights. Since Dobbs, pro-abortion rights voters have become more energized, Rackaway says, since they're trying to regain something they lost in the Supreme Court ruling.

Persons: Danica Roem, Danny Diggs, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin's, Chapman Rackaway, Youngkin –, Zack Roday, Dobbs, Steven Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington, Ohioans, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Jaime Harrison, Harrison, Kyle Kondick, Biden, Youngkin, Farnsworth, –, Rackaway, you've, Diggs, Roday doesn't, they've, Roday, Heather Williams Organizations: Senate, Republican, Gov, Old Dominion, Republicans, Radford University, U.S . Senate, GOP, Youngkin's PAC, Jackson, Health Organization, University of Mary, Democratic, Bluegrass State, Democratic National Committee, Center, Politics, University of Virginia, Virginia, Democrats, The Washington Post, –, National Democrats, Democratic Legislative, Republican National Committee, Republican Party of Virginia, Campaign Locations: Northern Virginia, Virginia, Southern, Old, Dobbs – California , Kansas , Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Kentucky

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A power company's plans for an enormous offshore wind farm off Virginia's coast gained key federal approval Tuesday after the Biden Administration evaluated the project's potential impact on the environment. The utility will still need federal approval of its construction and operation plans before more pilings rise above the Atlantic Ocean. Dominion said its project will be the largest offshore wind farm under development in the United States. The administration said it wants to build 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030 — enough to power more than 10 million homes. The Southern Environmental Law Center cited the importance of offshore wind for cutting carbon pollution, which fuels climate change.

Persons: what's, “, Deb Haaland, Joe Biden's, Glenn Youngkin, Will Cleveland, Michael Town, ” Organizations: Biden Administration, Dominion Energy, of Ocean Energy Management, Dominion, Interior Department, Republican Gov, Southern Environmental, Virginia League of Conservation Voters Locations: VIRGINIA BEACH, Va, Virginia's, Atlantic, Virginia Beach, United States, Virginia

The free-wheeling Senate District 27 race in the Fredericksburg area features Republican Del. “I’ve always run a true independent campaign. But because the race could determine control of the state Senate, much of the focus has been on abortion. “I’ve always been very honest and transparent than I am pro life,” Durant said. Griffin, a Democrat, said he would leave current Virginia law in place but seek to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Persons: Republican Del, Tara Durant, Joel Griffin, Monica Gary, Gary, “ I’ve, ”, Glenn Youngkin, Durant, ” Durant, ” Griffin, Griffin, she's, Stephen Farnsworth, restauranteur Matt Strickland, Strickland, deride Durant, Youngkin, She, “ Organizations: Democrat, Republican, Marine, Stafford, Economic Development Authority, Republican Gov, Democrats, Associated Press, Mary Washington University, Life, Republicans, AP Locations: FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Fredericksburg, Stafford County, Virginia, Durant

☆ In one week, the GOP could win a political trifecta in Virginia that could upend abortion access in the South
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Virginia is a critical Southern battleground in the fight over abortion policy ahead of 2024. Winsome Sears and now-Attorney General Jason Miyares in a GOP sweep that put Democrats on notice that Virginia still had a purplish tinge. The Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. Zach Gibson/Getty ImagesA GOP trifecta would be a stunning development for Virginia, which only two years ago had a government controlled by Democrats, with then-Gov. This year, Democrats in the state Senate were able to block his proposal, making the chamber a bulwark against his plans.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin, —, Roe, Wade, Youngkin, Winsome Sears, Jason Miyares, Barack Obama, it's, Zach Gibson, Ralph Northam Organizations: Republican Gov, Service, Gov, GOP, Democratic, Hampton Roads, Republicans, Schar, Virginia State Capitol, Democrats, Commonwealth, Southern Locations: Virginia, Commonwealth, Northern Virginia, Hampton, Richmond's, —, Washington, Richmond, Southern, Florida, South Carolina

☆ With eye on 2024, Republicans push for early voting despite Trump's rhetoric
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

That could make it difficult for the party to deliver a coherent message on early voting. In an advertisement that aired during the first Republican presidential debate in August, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said into the camera: "When Republicans vote early, we win." With Trump railing against the practice, Democrats have increased their edge in early voting. In 2022, that gap widened, with Democrats accounting for 42.5% of early ballots and Republicans 33.8%. But Youngkin advisers said their data showed the early vote campaign had brought in ballots from low-propensity voters as well.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin, Jonathan Ernst, Donald Trump, Trump, haven't, Youngkin, Ronna McDaniel, Tom Bonier, Bonier, Dave Rexrode, Joseph Ax, Nathan Layne, Colleen Jenkins, Deepa Babington Organizations: Virginia Republican, REUTERS, Virginia, White House, U.S, Senate, Republican, Republican State Leadership Committee, Republican National Committee, Trump, University of Florida, Banking, Democrats, Republicans, Democratic Legislative, Committee, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Chantilly , Virginia, U.S, Virginia, Henrico County, Iowa

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn has decided against a bid for governor in 2025 and will instead run next year to represent the competitive northern Virginia congressional seat being vacated by a fellow Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton. “This is an unfair, devastating reality that she now has to navigate,” Filler-Corn said, adding that she had discussed her plans with Wexton. The open seat dynamic in the Loudoun County-centered 10th District — Filler-Corn said she lives just outside it — could set up a competitive race with implications for party control of the U.S. House. Filler-Corn is a strong fundraiser who led the Democratic House caucus during the national scandal and party strife that exploded after the 2019 discovery of a racist photo in former Gov. Neither has publicly committed to a run and both have also said they are focused on this year's legislative races.

Persons: Eileen, Jennifer Wexton, “, Abigail Spanberger, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, Wexton, Barbara Comstock, Ralph Northam’s, —, That's, Glenn Youngkin's, Spanberger, she’s, Wahoo, Connor Joseph, she's, Stoney, Kevin Zeithaml, Jason Miyares, Winsome Earle, Sen, Amanda Chase, Chase Organizations: —, Virginia, U.S . Rep, Virginia General Assembly, Associated Press, Richmond Mayor, Democratic, U.S . House, Republican Rep, Gov, Commonwealth, Republican Gov, University of Virginia, Democratic Party, AP, District, Republicans, Sears, U.S . Senate Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Richmond, Washington, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Congress, “, Spanberger

Hobbs said he brought it up nonstop, even in front of others, which irked Youngkin. Should he decide to make the leap after next month's elections, a potential campaign would face significant logistical hurdles. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign, though Rexrode and others working for Youngkin's PAC have years of national political experience. Several other voters there said they were familiar with Youngkin and praised the job he’s done but said he shouldn’t run. In Virginia, Republican voters and legislators praised his performance as governor so far, but many said they want Youngkin to finish the job he signed up for.

Persons: — Glenn Youngkin, he’d, Brad Hobbs, Hobbs, irked, ’ ” Hobbs, Donald Trump, “, ” Eric Levine, Youngkin, he’s, Suzanne Youngkin, ”, Dave Rexrode, Rexrode, Trump, Ron DeSantis ’, Sen, Tim Scott of, Steven Cheung, Ron DeSantis, Renate Plitzko, “ It's, Margaret Garland, he's, overextended ”, “ Will, ” ___ Price, Matthew Barakat, Holly Ramer Organizations: White, Associated Press, Harvard, Republican, GOP, Trump, The Washington Post, Virginia PAC, Florida Gov, Youngkin's PAC, AP, New, New Hampshire Republican Party Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Trump, New York, Virginia Beach, The Washington, Alabama, Arkansas, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Dover , New Hampshire, New Hampshire, Stafford County, Nashua , New Hampshire

[1/3] A view of a sign supporting Democratic candidate for Virginia State Senate District 27 Joel Griffin on a lawn in Stafford, Virginia, U.S. October 3, 2023. Democrats argue even a 15-week limit is unacceptable and warn that Republicans might seek to restrict abortion further in the future. Every seat in the state Senate and House is on the ballot in November, and control in each chamber is likely to come down to a handful of competitive districts. Like other Democrats in the state, Griffin has made protecting abortion rights a pillar of his campaign. Reporting by Gabriella Borter in Stafford, Virginia and Joseph Ax in New York Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joel Griffin, GABRIELLA BORTER, Britainy Riggins, Riggins, Griffin, forestalling, Glenn Youngkin's, Donald Trump, Todd Gilbert, Susan Swecker, Monica Gary, Tara Durant, AdImpact, Griffin's, Durant, Zack Roday, Mary Jane Mitchell, Roe, Gabriella Borter, Joseph Ax, Colleen Jenkins, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Democratic, Virginia State, District, REUTERS, U.S, Virginia Republicans, Republican, Gallup, Democratic Party, States, Virginia Public, Republicans, Marine Corps, Twitter, Reuters, Youngkin's PAC, Democrat, Air Force, Wade, Thomson Locations: Stafford , Virginia, U.S, STAFFORD , Virginia, Republican, Virginia, U.S ., Stafford, New York

The governor has the sole discretion to restore those civil rights, apart from firearm rights, which can be restored by a court. It called on DOJ to look into the matter as a possible violation of the Voting Rights Act or other federal laws. The Virginia Department of Elections said in a statement Tuesday that impacted voters will receive written notification that their registrations have been reinstated. It also offered some pushback against the letter, saying it incorrectly claimed that voters were purged “without notice.”“This is false. Macaulay Porter, a spokeswoman for Youngkin, said in a statement that the effort to determine which voters may have been improperly removed was ongoing.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin's, General Merrick Garland, Macaulay Porter, Youngkin, ” Porter, Aryele Bradford, Corinne Geller, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Robert “ Bobby ” Scott, Gerry Connolly, Donald Beyer, Abigail Spanberger, Jennifer Wexton, Jennifer McClellan Organizations: —, Democratic, U.S . Department of Justice, Republican Gov, DOJ, Department of Justice, The Virginia Department, Elections, Virginia State Police, Department, U.S Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Sens

Glenn Youngkin's administration acknowledged this week, with early voting underway, that it is working to fix an error that caused an unknown number of eligible Virginians to be removed from the voter rolls. The Richmond news outlet reported the problem appears to stem from recent changes the agency has made in an attempt to remove people from the rolls who had their voting rights restored by a governor but went on to be convicted of a new felony. The governor has the sole discretion to restore those civil rights, apart from firearm rights, which must be restored by a court. “It is unacceptable that we are two weeks into early voting and the Youngkin administration does not even know how many Virginians they wrongfully purged from the voter rolls. Corinne Geller, a spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, told VPM the agency was making changes to the data it provided the Department of Elections to prevent further problems.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin's, Andrea Gaines, VPM, Aaron Mukerjee, Susan Swecker, ”, Jason Miyares, Corinne Geller, ” Geller Organizations: —, Virginians, Virginia State Police, Department, American Civil Liberties Union of, Virginia Democrats, Democratic Party of Virginia, administration’s Department, Republican, Virginia Department, Elections, Virginia Central Criminal Records Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Richmond, Virginia, Arlington County, American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia

☆ A ‘dark-horse’ Republican candidate could emerge as Trump’s legal problems mount, ex-U.S. ambassador says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A growing legal headache for early frontrunner Donald Trump could pave the way for a "dark horse" Republican presidential candidate to win the backing of the party in the race for the White House. That's the view of one former U.S. ambassador ahead of the Republican Party's second televised presidential debate on Wednesday evening. The former president, who skipped the first Republican Party presidential debate in Wisconsin last month, boasts a lead of more than 40 points over his nearest competition, according to a recent national NBC News poll. Trump has said he doesn't plan to take part in the second Republican debate on Wednesday evening and will instead deliver a speech to autoworkers in Detroit. Republican Party donors have encouraged Youngkin to enter the race and challenge Trump's sizable lead in the polls.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan, Trump, Donald Trump's, Lew Lukens, CNBC's, Lukens, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis —, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin Organizations: Republican, White, Republican Party's, Foundation & Institute, Trump —, NBC News, Signum Global Advisors, Republican Party, Florida Governor, Trump Locations: U.S, Simi Valley , California, Wisconsin, Detroit, Virginia

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. said Monday that it's pausing construction of a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan until it is confident it can run the factory competitively. The move comes as the company is in the midst of national contract talks with the United Auto Workers union, which wants to represent workers at battery factories and win them top wages. In February, Ford announced plans to build the plant in Marshall, Michigan, employing about 2,500 workers to make lower-cost batteries for a variety of new and existing vehicles. But Ford spokesman TR Reid confirmed Monday that plant construction has been paused and spending has been limited on it. Earlier this year Virginia dropped out of the race for the same Ford plant after Republican Gov.

Persons: —, Ford, Marshall, TR Reid, ”, Shawn Fain, Sarah Lightner, Ford “, “, ” Lightner, Sam Abuelsamid, Abuelsamid, Biden, Glenn Youngkin, Joey Cappelletti, David Koenig Organizations: DETROIT, — Ford Motor, United Auto Workers union, UAW, Ford, Detroit, General Motors, EV, Amperex Technology, . Ltd, Republican State Rep, Guidehouse, Republican Gov, Chinese Communist Party, ____ Associated Press Locations: Michigan, Marshall , Michigan, Detroit, Marshall, China, U.S, Virginia, Lansing , Michigan, Dallas

(AP) — Tropical Storm Ophelia was expected to make landfall on the North Carolina coast early Saturday morning with the potential for damaging winds and dangerous surges of water, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Ophelia was about 70 miles (115 kilometers) south of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, and heading north-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph) late Friday after spinning into tropical storm during the afternoon. A tropical storm warning was issued from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Fenwick Island, Delaware. The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland declared a state of emergency Friday as some schools closed early and several weekend events were canceled. The North Carolina Ferry System on Friday suspended service on all routes until conditions improve, officials said.

Persons: Ophelia, Roy Cooper, ” Cooper, Glenn Youngkin’s, ” Youngkin, Wes Moore, Scott Bierman, ” Bierman, Michael Brennan, “, ” Brennan, Lee, Nancy Shoemaker, Bob, “ We’re, ” Nancy Shoemaker, ___ Brumfield, Jackie Quinn, Lisa Baumann Organizations: U.S, National Hurricane Center, North Carolina Gov, North Carolina Ferry, Virginia Gov, Maryland Gov, Nationals, AP Radio Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, North Carolina, Virginia, Cape Lookout , North Carolina, Sunday, Bogue Inlet , North Carolina, Chincoteague , Virginia, Fear , North Carolina, Fenwick Island , Delaware, Surf City, Ocracoke, Maryland, Annapolis, Washington, Boston , New York, , Maryland

☆ Tropical storm Ophelia could slam mid-Atlantic states on Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tropical storm Ophelia approaches North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, U.S. in this image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-East weather satellite, September 22, 2023. In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the storm, dubbed Ophelia, which is expected to hit the state on Friday evening. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for much of the area, along with storm surge warnings, the National Weather Service said. Late Friday, the agency also issued a hurricane watch for parts of Eastern North Carolina, saying that Air Force Reserve hurricane hunters had found that Ophelia had strengthened. In addition to life-threatening storm surges along the coast, Ophelia could spur flooding from North Carolina to New Jersey through Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin, Ophelia, Youngkin, Sharon Bernstein, Josie Kao, Timothy Gardner Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Handout REUTERS, National Weather Service, Air Force Reserve, Air Force, Thomson Locations: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, U.S, Delaware, Chesapeake, Potomac, Eastern North Carolina, New Jersey

The issue that comes up the most — particularly among women and even from some Republicans and independents, she says — is protecting abortion rights. For those on either side of the debate, Virginia — where all state House and Senate seats are up for election and early voting begins Friday — is among the biggest fights this year over abortion rights. The other is the resounding defeat of incumbent Sen. Joe Morrissey, a scandal-plagued, self-described “pro-life” Democrat, by his June primary challenger, Lashrecse Aird, who centered her campaign around abortion rights. In August, Ohio voters rejected a measure pushed by Republicans that was seen as a proxy for an abortion rights question on the ballot this fall. Perry defended her record and said she believes Virginia — and her Senate matchup against Segura — will be bellwethers for 2024.

Persons: Russet Perry, Roe, Wade, Glenn Youngkin —, —, ”, Perry, Virginia —, Democrat Joe Biden, Youngkin, Kamala Harris, They’re, Zack Roday, Youngkin’s, “, Roday, Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump's, Kaitlin Makuski, Susan B, Anthony Pro, There’s, Timmaraju, Democratic Sen, Aaron Rouse, Rouse, Sen, Joe Morrissey, Lashrecse Aird, Juan Pablo Segura, Segura, Segura —, ” ___ Burnett Organizations: —, U.S, Supreme, Republican Gov, Democratic, GOP, CIA, Democrat, Democratic National Committee, Youngkin’s, Virginia PAC, Commonwealth, NARAL, Associated Press, Virginia Democrats, Republicans, Republican, ” “ Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, U.S, Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio, Chicago

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Months after withdrawing from a data-sharing interstate compact to fight voter fraud, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration on Wednesday announced a series of recent steps it has taken to improve the accuracy of the state's voter rolls. Among them is the launch of new, individual data-sharing agreements with five other states and Washington, D.C., the Virginia Department of Elections said in a news release. “Secure elections start with accurate voter lists,” Elections Commissioner Susan Beals said Wednesday, two days before the start of early voting in this year's legislative elections. Virginia voters can check their registration status online.

Persons: Glenn Youngkin's, Susan Beals, ERIC, It’s, There’s, Aaron Mukerjee, Bob McDonnell, It's, Donald Trump’s, Beals, Andrea Gaines, Gaines, ” Organizations: Virginia Gov, Wednesday, D.C, Virginia Department, Elections, Registration, Democratic Party of Virginia, Virginia, Republican, GOP, Associated Press Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Washington, Washington , Georgia , Ohio, South Carolina , Tennessee, West Virginia, “ Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — More Virginia Democrats on Tuesday cast the controversy surrounding a legislative candidate who livestreamed herself performing sex acts as a distraction from the stakes in this fall's elections, while stopping short of fully championing her continued campaign. Virginia Democrats, Gibson among them, have made protecting abortion access a top campaign priority. Gibson's campaign did not respond to an interview request or a detailed list of questions from the AP on Tuesday. The state party also maintained its silence on Tuesday, with spokesperson Liam Watson declining to comment. Among elected officials, Democratic state Sen. Louise Lucas has stood out for her early, clear and vocal support of Gibson.

Persons: livestreamed, Susanna Gibson, Gibson, MAGA, Amy Friedman, Don Scott, Del, Dan Helmer, David Owen, Owen, Glenn Youngkin's, Gibson's, Liam Watson, Sen, Louise Lucas, Abigail Spanberger, Spanberger, ”, Cassady Craighill, Bob Holsworth, “, Holsworth, ” Aaron Evans, David, Evans, Denise Lavoie Organizations: —, Virginia Democrats, House Democratic, MAGA Republicans, Virginians, ”, Democratic, Associated Press ., House Democrats, General Assembly, Republicans, Senate, Democrats, Republican, GOP Gov, Richmond Times, Dispatch, U.S . Rep, Clean Virginia, Republican Party of Virginia, “, Associated Press Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Richmond, Virginia, Glen Allen , Virginia

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