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Virginia
Winsome Earle-Sears to face Abigail Spanberger in historic Virginia governor's race
RICHMOND, Va. — With a little over 200 days until Virginians select the 75th governor of the Commonwealth, it is already shaping up to be a historic election as all potential options left for voters are women.
Thursday was the deadline for candidates to submit paperwork and the required number of signatures to the Virginia State Board of Elections.
Candidates for the statewide offices of governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general had to collect at least 10,000 signatures with at least 400 from each of Virginia’s congressional districts and file them with the Virginia State Board of Elections (SBOE). It is then up to the state Democratic and Republican parties to verify the signatures.
Governor
Since Virginia does not allow governors to serve consecutive terms, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is not in the running this November.
On the Democratic side, SBOE said former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger was the only candidate to file and her signatures have already been verified by the Democratic Party of Virginia and will be the party’s nominee in November.
On the Republican side, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears has been verified and will be on the ballot as well. However, while former Delegate Dave LaRock said he was unable to collect the necessary number of signatures, former State Senator Amanda Chase announced she submitted her signatures on Thursday.
The Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) said Saturday that Earle-Sears was the “sole candidate to qualify for the Republican primary ballot in June and will be the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee for the November election. That means Chase did not have enough signatures to qualify to be on the ballot.
Watch: What contested primary could mean for candidates in Virginia’s gubernatorial race
What contested primary could mean for candidates in Virginia’s gubernatorial race
Lieutenant Governor
It’s a similar situation for Republicans for the lieutenant governor primary. The party said it has verified the signatures of Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity. But it has not announced signature verification for two other candidates — Navy veteran John Curran, Jr. and former radio host John Reid.
On the Democratic side, DPV said they have verified the signatures of the six candidates who filed and they will be on the ballot. In alphabetical order, they are union leader and attorney Alex Bastani, State Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef, State Senator Aaron Rouse, former federal prosecutor Victor Salgado, and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.
Attorney General
For the position of attorney general, incumbent Jason Miyares is running uncontested on the Republican side, and the party said it has verified his signatures.
While on the Democratic side, the DPV said it has verified the signatures for the two candidates who filed: former Delegate Jay Jones and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor.
What’s Next
The SBOE will release the official list of candidates, including the Virginia House of Delegates where all 100 seats are on the ballot, the week of April 14.
The primary is Tuesday, June 17 and early voting begins on Friday, May 2.
The general election is on Tuesday, November 4 and early voting begins on Friday, September 19.
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Virginia
Ding! Ding! Virginia Beach trolley season kicks off May 10
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Four new trollies will join the VB Wave Trolley fleet beginning May 10, when Virginia Beach Wave Trolley will resume its seasonal service along the oceanfront.
Trolley season lasts through September 25-27 for the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival.
A total of 14 new trollies will be part of the fleet this year, gradually replacing the older versions. The 29-foot trolley replica buses seat 29 people and feature wooden seats, with “sky-blue and sand-colored brown exterior,” according to Hampton Roads Transit (HRTS). Last year, 281,507 riders used the trolley system.
“This year marks the 42nd season of the VB Wave trolley, and these new trollies will provide a comfortable, safe, and efficient ride for visitors and locals alike,” William E. Harrell said. He is the president and CEO of HRT. “As part of our partnership with the city of Virginia Beach, the VB Wave makes it easy for everyone to visit attractions and explore the Oceanfront and beyond without the hassles of parking or the high cost of gas,” Harrell said.
The following routes will operate May 10 through Sept. 27 for the Neptune Festival:
Route 30 is the Atlantic Avenue Trolley, running along the Oceanfront between JT’s Grommet Island Park to Fortieth Street. This service operates daily from 8 a.m.- 2 a.m.
Route 31 is the aquarium and campground trolley along General Booth Boulevard. It runs daily from 9:30 a.m.-11:10 p.m. through Labor Day and again on Fridays through Sundays from Sept. 11 through Sept. 27. Route 31 also extends to Atlantic Avenue and 18th Street.
Route 35 is the Bayfront Bus, providing service between Parks Avenue and 19th Street and Shore Drive and Pleasure House Road, enabling customers to visit Chesapeake Bay beaches, First Landing State Park, and Bayfront restaurants. It operates daily from 8 a.m.-12:30 a.m. through Labor Day and then Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only from Sept. 11 through the Sept. 27 festival
The VB Wave trolley connects to HRT bus lines, Routes 20 and 960, with access to the Newtown Road Light Rail Station and the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center.
Fares are $2 one way or $4.50 for an all-day pass. Kids 17 and under ride free with a paying adult. Riders can pay for tickets using HRT’s GoMobile app and a credit card. Riders can create and manage multiple virtual cards and reload value for easy group boarding, and need to have a unique scannable virtual card for boarding. Children are not required to scan a virtual card or pay fare when boarding with an adult.
Customers can also tap to pay using credit and debit cards. KOA Campground, Virginia Gift Shop, nine Sunsations locations, and Ocean Wave Gift Shop sell tickets. Riders can also pay with exact change cash onboard the trolley.
In addition, HRT is introducing a new route in Virginia Beach beginning May 10. The new Route 981 will connect the Amazon Fulfillment Center (ORF 4) at 1795 Dam Neck Road with the Downtown Norfolk Transit Center.
Route 33 service is being restored to Atlantic Avenue and 68th Street 365 days a year to support the oceanfront hospitality industry.
Virginia
PHOTOS: Virginia Beach Police investigate firearm-related incident at Carriage House Apartments
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach Police are at the scene of a firearm-related incident at Carriage House Apartments Saturday afternoon, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
The department also confirmed there are no shooting victims at this time.
10 On Your Side is at the scene and working to gather more information about the situation.
10 On Your Side will update this story when more information is available.
Virginia
Hampton Roads leaders, experts weigh in on Virginia Supreme Court redistricting ruling
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Democrats are not happy about a state Supreme Court decision declaring last month’s referendum to draw new congressional districts null and void.
Democrats, however, have filed a motion asking the Virginia Court to delay its 4-3 decision while they file an emergency appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
Virginia’s current map that favors Democrats by a narrow 6-5 margin will stay in effect for the midterms. Both sides, though, have a lot to say to say about today’s decision.
Two months ago, you couldn’t avoid the political ads and mailers on both sides of the issue.
“Everybody remembers we got a few million dollars worth of flyers in our mailboxes, and everything with redistricting that whole referendum has now been overturned by the court decision,” said Old Dominion University Associate Professor of Political Science Jesse Richman.
On April 21, Virginia voters approved redrawing congressional maps that would have given Democrats a 10-1 advantage, giving them a strong chance to pick up four additional seats in November.
More than two weeks later, the Virginia Supreme Court rendered the results null and void, saying the required constitutional processes were not followed before this was put up for a vote. So what does that mean for Virginians?
“As it is, we stay with the districts we have,” Richman said. “If [Democrat] Bobby Scott’s your representative, he’s still your representative. The lines aren’t moving. If [Republican] Jen Kiggans is your representative, [she’s] still your representative.”
Scott and Kiggans spoke to 10 On Your Side shortly after today’s decision.
“I’m disappointed,” Scott said. “People voted, three million people voted, it carried in 55 of the 100 House of Delegates districts, so the people spoke.”
“It’s a big day for Virginia today,” Kiggans said. “It’s a victory for the rule of law [and] it’s a victory for fairness.”
That split reaction has also been felt among voters, some even rallying in front of the Virginia Supreme Court. One of them was Hampton’s NAACP Branch President Gaylene Kanoyton.
“We have got to make sure that we mobilize and don’t let this get us down,” Kanoyton said. “We need to be energized.”
Virginia Democrats have vowed to fight Friday’s ruling, saying they intend to file an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I expect we’ll see more intense political campaigning in the midterms in this area because of the Supreme Court’s decision,” Richman said.
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