Monday marked the first day that Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates could deliver their collection of petition signatures to the state’s Board of Elections, which officially puts them on the ballot.
With former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger as the Democratic nominee for governor, the Democratic Party of Virginia is reminding voters that Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, once the Republican heir apparent, now has to face challengers in a primary.
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. a truck with a billboard signaling that message will circle the block where Virginia’s Board of Elections sits. It’s a way DPVA will highlight what it sees as a “messy” primary between Earle-Sears and her challengers, former delegate Dave LaRock and former state senator Amanda Chase, according to a DPVA press release.
In recent media interviews, LaRock and Chase have accused Earle-Sears of being a divider, not a uniter, of Republicans. Conservative radio host John Fredericks, where much of the Chase and LaRock discourse has recently played out, has also previously critiqued Earle-Sears for her “issues with MAGA.”
Short for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan, MAGA has also described a political philosophy and those who subscribe to it. Both on a 2022 Fox News segment and in her 2023 memoir, Earle-Sears had noted loss of support for President Donald Trump.
Fealty to the former and current president has been a key factor in at least one Republican election in Virginia since Trump launched his third campaign for the White House. Former 5th District representative Bob Good’s brief endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president haunted him ahead of primaries last summer where Trump-backed John McGuire ousted him as the party’s nominee.
Fredericks and Earle-Sears reconciled in a conversation on his show last month, prior to LaRock and Chase jumping into the race.
In another appearance on his show in late February she noted how her opponents would levy “Trump, Trump, Trump” at her but that “he needs a partner who will work with him to get the job done.”
She also referenced her support of pressing Virginia to cooperate with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, a priority for Trump.
The matchup between Earle-Sears, Chase and LaRock can also be a litmus test on how Trumpian or right-leaning Republican voters might be in Virginia this year.
Earle-Sears and Gov. Glenn Youngkin first won their statewide offices in 2021 without cozying up to Trump, though both have since embraced him as the nation’s leader.
Countering this, Chase has referred to herself as “Trump in heels,” touted conspiracy theories that supported Trump’s false claims that he won the 2020 election, and attended the Jan. 6, 2021 rally in D.C. that ended with violence as a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol.
LaRock is campaigning on his support for Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk. While DOGE has drawn criticism and praise alike for the widespread slashing of federal jobs, offices and grants, LaRock would like to mirror those efforts at the state level.
While there had been speculation that U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News might jump into a Democratic primary for the governorship and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney switched his gubernatorial campaign to run for lieutenant governor instead, Spanberger will face whoever emerges from the Republican primary later this year.
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www.youtube.com – WTVR CBS 6 – 2025-06-14 11:47:32
SUMMARY: A flood watch remains in effect through tonight for much of the area, with potential for torrential downpours, especially north and west of Richmond. Storms today may produce rainfall rates up to 2–3 inches per hour and gusts near 40 mph. Scattered storms are likely mid-to-late afternoon and into the evening. Sunday, Father’s Day, will be muggy with highs near 80 in Richmond, cooler to the north and east. A marginal risk of strong storms exists south of I-64. Rain chances ease midweek as temps rise to the 90s. A front Thursday brings brief relief before heat returns next weekend.
We’re tracking more scattered storms for Saturday. Showers and storms will increase from mid-afternoon into the evening. Due to the muggy air, torrential downpours will occur, and localized flooding is possible. Some spots could pick up multiple inches of rainfall. A few storms could have some gusts in excess of 40 mph.
www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-06-13 19:23:36
SUMMARY: Several area high schools competed in state semifinals across baseball, softball, and soccer. In Class 5 baseball, Cox edged Independence 2-1 with MJ Lemke closing the game, advancing to face Ocean Lakes in an all Beach District final. In softball, Great Bridge fell 1-0 to Mills Godwin despite strong pitching by Bailey Blevin. Gloucester, York, and Western Branch advanced to the finals. In boys’ Class 5 soccer, Hickory lost 2-0 to Lightridge, while Kellam beat Riverside to reach the finals. Northampton Boys and Kellam Girls won, but West Point Boys and Lafayette Girls were eliminated from title contention.
Several area high schools punched their ticket to the championship game that included the Cox Falcons baseball team.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-13 18:44:00
Washington, D.C., is preparing for a military parade on Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday, costing $25-$45 million. In response, the ‘No Kings’ Day of Defiance movement, backed by over 100 organizations, is organizing protests in more than 2,000 U.S. cities, including dozens near D.C., opposing Trump’s “authoritarian overreach” and defending democracy. While no protests are planned in D.C. itself, heightened security has been enforced, with the parade designated a National Special Security Event. President Trump warned that protests in the capital would face strong force. No Kings emphasizes nonviolence, aiming to de-escalate conflicts. The main event will be held in Philadelphia.
(The Center Square) – As Washington, D.C., gears up for an historic military parade coinciding with Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s birthday, with projected costs between $25 million and $45 million, thecapitalregion is also mobilizing a protest response.
There are dozens of locations in Northern Virginia and Maryland within an hour’s drive of Washington where protesters can gather as part of the official nationwide ‘No Kings’ Day of Defiance.
No Kings is a movement supported by more than 100 partner organizations opposing Trump’s “authoritarian overreach” and gathering in “[defense] of democracy.”
There are over 2,000 cities and towns hosting No Kings events Saturday, where in some cases local or state leaders will speak, and “millions” that have RSVP’d, according to event communications.
Some events in thecapital regionwere at capacity as of Friday evening. One event in Kingstowne, Va., was expecting 250 people, according to an email from an organizer.
The group is not holding a protest in the district itself, however.
“Real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,” its website reads. “Instead of allowing this birthday parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day.”
However, the district is also in a state of heightened security, as the parade has been designated a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security. Extra security measures were installed throughout the week leading up to the event and some will be in place through the days immediately following the event, as well. The president also told reporters that any protests in D.C. during the parade would be met with “very big force.”
No Kings says it is committed to nonviolence.
“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events,” its website says.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
This article presents information on both the planned military parade and the associated protests without adopting an overt ideological stance. It accurately reports the logistical and security aspects of the parade and describes the protest movement’s messaging and scale. While the article references phrases like “authoritarian overreach” and “defense of democracy,” these are clearly attributed to the protest organizers rather than the article itself. The tone remains factual and avoids emotionally charged or opinionated language. The article provides balanced coverage of actions from both the Trump administration and its critics, maintaining journalistic neutrality throughout.
