This is the Virginia Scope daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider becoming the ultimate political insider by supporting non-partisan, independent news and becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter today.
Have a tip? You can reply to this email or reach out to me directly at Brandon@virginiascope.com.
You're keeping up with legislation. Is your bill tracking software keeping up with you? FastDemocracy is the most cutting-edge bill tracking software in Virginia, used by leading lobby firms, nonprofits, and businesses across the state.
Spend less time tracking bills and more time effectively advocating for your cause.
Instant Alerts: Get lightning-fast bill alerts on your issues, giving you the competitive edge.
NEW! Auto-Reporting: fully automate your bill and hearing reports and save hours of work each week
Seamless team collaboration, regulatory tracking, campaign tools, mobile app, bill sharing and more
Ready to learn why so many of your colleagues have switched to FastDemocracy? Email nicole@fastdemocracy.com to get a demo and save $100 when you use the promo code VASCOPE.
Rep Bobby Scott, D-VA03.
Scott continues the tease
Rep. Bobby Scott, D-VA03, continues his tease of a potential gubernatorial run weeks after news broke that he was being encouraged to seek the Democratic nomination next year.
He posted a picture on social media Monday alongside powerful Black leaders and said he was discussing “important issues of concern.”
The post was vague enough to be about anything, including his work in Congress or a potential run for governor.
When it comes down to it, most people involved in Democratic politics do not believe that Scott will enter the race for what would be a tough primary against Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-VA07.
He is the ranking Democrat on a power-five committee in Congress and would be the chair again in two years if Democrats regain the majority in the House of Representatives. A run for governor in a nomination battle that he would be starting more than a year after Spanberger could derail all of that for him.
He is also 77 years old, which is starting to seem younger compared to our country’s chief executives in recent years, but running a statewide campaign is a lot more demanding than running in Virginia’s safe third congressional district.
Almost all of my sources strongly believe that Scott will not be running against Spanberger for the nomination. They believe he wants to make sure that Spanberger takes Black voters seriously.
He would be going up against Spanberger’s already formidable organization with endorsements and money coming in from across the commonwealth.
Only time will tell if Scott wants to jump in or not — but all signs point to him not running.
Del. Jones makes unannounced visit to Red Onion following reports of inmate mistreatment and self-immolation - Cardinal News
by Jeff Lester
A member of the General Assembly’s Legislative Black Caucus says he has ideas for immediate actions and for longer-term initiatives following an unannounced visit to Red Onion State Prison on Monday. Del. Michael Jones, D-Richmond, and caucus aide Ceci Cain spent roughly two and a half hours touring the facility and speaking with several inmates.
The visit came in the wake of allegations by some inmates of mistreatment at the maximum-security prison near the Wise County town of Pound, along with claims that some inmates have recently set themselves on fire in protest. Department of Corrections Director Chadwick Dotson has said the claims are overblown.
He faced charges for tearing down their Pride flag. The couple forgave him. - Washington Post
by Ellie Silverman
All they knew was that the facilitators of the restorative justice program said the man charged with repeatedly tearing down the Pride flag outside their home was “ready.” A meeting was set. Now the couple were walking into a community center to talk to him.
Michelle Logan and Jenna Burnett said they sat in chairs set up in a circle inside the Arlington Mill Community Center in late September and began explaining to Matthew Henshaw how hurtful it was for them to see their Pride flag forcibly removed after they finally came out and moved in together. They said they told him that his actions made them feel unsafe in their own home — and that they wanted him to understand why.
This is the Virginia Scope daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider becoming the ultimate political insider by supporting non-partisan, independent news and becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter today.
