Youngkin dodges questions about Trump run and more Va. headlines

The State Capitol. (Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury)

• Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s winning formula in Virginia’s governor’s race mostly didn’t transfer to the 15 GOP gubernatorial candidates he campaigned with ahead of the midterms. Just four had clear victories as of Wednesday. A Youngkin advisor said “every state is different, every candidate is different.”—Washington Post

• Youngkin said the midterm results show a “divided country” and continued to dodge questions about whether former President Donald Trump should run again.—WJLA

• Youngkin sent a personal note to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi apologizing for his widely criticized reference to the attack on her husband during a campaign speech.—Associated Press

• Ahead of a “major announcement” by D.C.’s attorney general about the Washington Commanders, the team stoked controversy again by invoking the recent shooting of running back Brian Robinson to criticize high crime in D.C. On Twitter, Robinson’s agent rebuked the move as classless.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• A Virginia judge approved an order requiring Newt Gingrich to testify in front of a Georgia grand jury looking into efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.—Washington Post

• Political experts say redistricting was a major factor in explaining why Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria lost to Republican state Sen. Jen Kiggans in the 2nd District.—Virginian-Pilot

• A double murder conviction in Fairfax County was vacated because a juror allegedly used her own rifle at home to see if a suicide theory was possible and told other jurors about her conclusions.—Washington Post

• A new pro-abortion rights PAC is being formed to support General Assembly candidates who favor preserving abortion access in Virginia.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• “Violent crime is up in Roanoke from 2019 levels. Here’s what the city is doing about it.”—Cardinal News

• Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney rolled out a plan to send one-time tax rebate checks to city homeowners to ease angst over soaring property assessments.—Axios

• Washington County’s Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 to declare Washington an anti-abortion county.—Bristol Herald Courier

• A Democratic delegate wants Virginia to ban the practice of declawing cats.—WRIC

by Staff Report, Virginia Mercury

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