ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down the state’s April 21 redistricting ballot measure that voters had approved and that would have helped Democrats to pick up four additional seats and bolstered Black political power in Congress. The 4-3 ruling comes just two days after the FBI raided the offices of Democratic […]
Virginia Voting Rights
Voting rights in Virginia are being reshaped. Explore what’s changing and what it means for Black voters and communities in the state.
For more on voting rights across the country, explore our Voting Rights in America coverage.
Posted inEducation, Higher Education, Politics & Policy
Republicans Allege Discrimination at George Mason, but the Data Tells a Different Story
FAIRFAX, Virginia — Amani Banks, a George Mason University freshman, sat on the south side of the campus last week and pointed out that the student body is more diverse than her professors. When the college’s president, Gregory Washington, arrived on campus in 2020, he encouraged the hiring of more people of color through what […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Virginia’s History-Making Governor’s Race Win Is About More Than Representation
ARLINGTON, Virginia — Democrats secured victories in key races in Virginia on Nov. 4. Abigail Spanberger, 46, won the governor’s race and will be the first woman to enter the state’s Executive Mansion in the role. She defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, 61. And Jay Jones, 36, overcame a scandal involving violent text messages. He defeated […]
Posted inEconomy, Employment, Politics & Policy
Employment and Health Care Take Center Stage in Virginia Governor’s Race
ARLINGTON, Va. — Sequoia Ross was stunned when she saw the price of groceries during a recent trip to the store. Items ought to be more affordable, said the single mother of four and eighth grade English teacher, who lives in Amelia County, located in Virginia’s Richmond metropolitan area. “And I don’t mean through stipends […]
Posted inEducation, K-12
Black Virginia School Board Member Censured After Turning Point USA Clash
Weeks after a heated debate over the possibility of starting a high school chapter of deeply conservative Turning Point USA, a Black Virginia school board vice chairman has been censured for “unbecoming” conduct after a board meeting. Prince William County School Board member Tracy L. Blake is accused of being “aggressive” and bullying another board […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy, Rural Issues, Voting
The Powerful, Unsung Role Black Rural Voters Can Play in Our Elections
For years, Garrett Snuggs questioned why the predominantly white town council of Wadesboro, North Carolina, didn’t reflect its population — 69% of which is Black. In the rural town of 5,000, about 52 miles away from Charlotte, he noticed that many Black folks, particularly youth and men, were disengaged from the political process. That changed […]
Posted inElections, Politics & Policy
Black Voters Flex Political Power in Some Key States
Tyronne Walker is working overtime to let Black voters know what’s on the line in Louisiana. The Urban League of Louisiana and its partners recently hosted a statewide registration day for Black and brown voters. Walker told Capital B that he and his colleagues’ primary goal is “to position [Black communities] to show their collective […]
