News from this week
A look back at political news from this week.
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Virginia elections update with Brandon Jarvis
Here is my latest conversation with Tom LoBianco about Virginia politics.
A lawsuit against Earle-Sears
Josh Stanfield filed a lawsuit against Republican gubernatorial nominee, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, on Friday for failing to disclose multiple trips paid for by outside organizations on her required financial disclosure forms.
Context on this:
Republican gubernatorial nominee Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is facing potential legal scrutiny after failing to disclose multiple trips paid for by outside organizations on her required financial disclosure forms.
Earle-Sears amended her Statement of Economic Interests (SOEI) last week to reflect participation in seven trips funded by third-party groups, despite originally certifying in February that she had taken none.
The Earle-Sears campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Virginia Scope.
Democratic activist Josh Stanfield first reported the discrepancy on May 16, highlighting a 2024 trip to Israel that Earle-Sears promoted on social media but did not list in her original filing.
On her original SOEI filing in February of 2025, Earle-Sears said she did not receive “any lodging, transportation, money, or other thing of value with a combined value exceeding $100 during the prior calendar year.”
She signed the form, swearing the information was “full, true, and correct to the best of my knowledge.”
Stanfield published his original story on May 16, revealing that Earle-Sears had not disclosed the trip to Israel. He also stated that he had sent a FOIA to her office, requesting information about the trip on May 15.
On May 22, Earle-Sears filed an amended SOEI form that now includes seven trips paid for by outside groups.
The amended filing raises questions about whether Earle-Sears violated state disclosure laws, which require public officials to report gifts, travel, and other benefits received in connection with their official duties.
Under Virginia law, enforcement of SOEI violations falls to the attorney general. But that position is complicated in this case: Attorney General Jason Miyares is Earle-Sears’ running mate as they both seek reelection in November.
Miyares’ office declined to comment for this story.
Advocates say a contraception initiative for low-income women will be a lifeline with federal government cuts looming
A state-funded initiative that provides free contraception to low-income Virginians is reducing unintended pregnancies across the state, according to a new report delivered to the General Assembly. This report comes as Republicans in Virginia have opposed codifying the right to access contraception in recent years.
The Virginia Contraceptive Access Initiative, or CAI, launched as a pilot in 2018 and expanded in 2020. About 95% of women served are between 15 to 44 years of age and 60% of women served are 100% at or below the federal poverty level, which is $25,820 for a family of three, according to VDH.
The program currently has an annual budget of $4 million.
A study conducted by Vanderbilt University and the Virginia Department of Health found the initiative lowered birth rates by 1.6 to 3.5% in participating counties, with no negative impact on infant health. In fiscal year 2023, CAI supported more than 6,200 patient encounters through 18 health care providers across the state.
The findings land amid renewed political debate over contraception access in Virginia.
House Republicans to choose a new leader
House Republicans are scheduled to meet Sunday at 2 p.m. to elect a new caucus leader.
The move follows an offer from Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, to relinquish his leadership role if fellow Republicans prefer new direction as he seeks the nomination for U.S. attorney in Virginia’s Western District.
“The team we’ve built can’t afford sudden disruptions—either in planning or leadership,” Gilbert said in a statement to Virginia Scope recently.
All 100 House seats are up for election this November. Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority.
“This election is absolutely critical for the future of our Commonwealth,” Gilbert continued. “While I remain fully engaged in the fight to restore our Republican majority, there’s a chance I may need to step away from politics on short notice. If that moment comes, I want to make sure the transition is smooth and responsible, with a clear runway in place.”
Related: Gilbert puts his name in the running for US attorney
Surovell and Lucas endorse Pekarsky for VA-11
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, and Senate Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, are endorsing Stella Pekarsky for the VA-11 Democratic nomination in VA-11.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger
LG Democratic primary candidate Ghazala Hashmi
Democratic AG primary candidate Shannon Taylor
Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Additional Board Appointments
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Sabrina Dorman-Andrew of Elkton, Co-Founder and Executive Director, New Creation VA
E 9-1-1 SERVICES BOARD
Jennifer Warshawsky of Chesterfield, CAD/Mobile CAD Administrator, Virginia State Police
TRANSPORTATION
MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Dr. James Constans of Chesterfield, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Glaucoma Specialist, Central Virginia Veterans Administration Health Care System