Progress Virginia

@progressva.bsky.social

We drive powerful, values-based narratives to uplift and amplify grassroots voices through innovative digital communications and earned media strategies.

In Trump’s America, you can: - gut the Voting Rights Act - wipe away majority-Black districts - send ICE to intimidate voters - maliciously prosecute political opponents - do everything to steal the midterm elections But you can’t: - have a majority of Virginians vote to even the playing field

A composite image of the Supreme Court of Virginia building wearing a red MAGA cap with the word "Great" blurred out. A transparent image of Donald Trump yelling looms in the background. The caption reads "SCOVA V. Virginia Voters"

We listened to the Republican Party of VA's Chair candidates face off this morning... and we have some thoughts. All the candidates seemed to agree: the GOP must become a 'big tent' party. It’s a compelling message. But the moment they move from rhetoric to policy, the tent poles start to wobble.

Today is National "Take a Hike" Day, so we are recognizing Jason Miyares and some of his fellow Republican incumbents who are taking a hike following this month's election! May they never run out of trail mix. 😌

A scenic forest hiking trail with large text that says "NATIONAL TAKE A HIKE DAY" with Jason Miyares and Republican incumbent Delegates who lost their seats in the 2025 election. Their heads are superimposed over the bodies of hiking teddy bears.

Virginia voters have elected progressive candidates for all three of the Commonwealth's statewide offices, including Abigail Spanberger as the first female Governor of Virginia, and Ghazala Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to ever win a statewide election in the United States!

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Trump is demanding that red state Republicans redraw congressional districts to RIG the midterm elections, but Virginia Democrats are fighting back. American democracy is under attack, and it's time for progressives and working Virginians to fight fire with fire. #redistricting

Collaboration with mass deportations betrays our values, fractures public safety, and drives undocumented Virginians into hiding. We call on Governor Youngkin and every Virginia lawmaker to withdraw from 287(g) partnerships with ICE and to protect all of our communities.

Black and white images of ICE agents arresting a Virginian with the Virginia State Capitol superimposed.

Virginia deportations are up 350% since 2024, with nearly 3,000 Virginians arrested in the first 5 months of Trump’s presidency. 25% had no criminal record. 70% were longtime community members. 50% are parents of U.S. citizens. These aren’t just stats. They’re our neighbors.

Images of ICE officers arresting Virginians with Glenn Youngkin superimposed over them. Text reads: "ICE invades Virginia. The New York Times. Virginia has become a hotbed for immigration arrests. Arrests in the state by Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents are up more than 350 percent since 2024, one of the steepest increases in the country. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican nearing the end of his term, has been full-throated in his support for President Trump's immigration crackdown."

Today, Rob Wittman, Jen Kiggans, John McGuire, Ben Cline, and Morgan Griffith chose fealty to Trump's MAGA agenda over Virginia's working families. We the people must hold them accountable and act to protect the vulnerable communities impacted by this terrible budget bill.

Images of Virginia's 5 Republican Representatives in Congress with orange skin and blonde hair like Donald Trump. Text reads: "Virginia Republicans sell out working families. Millions tossed off Medicaid. Massive cuts to SNAP benefits. Tax cuts for billionaires. Trillions of dollars added to the deficit."

The Democratic ticket of statewide candidates kicked off their campaign together this weekend, and the only thing higher than the temperature is our enthusiasm for the most progressive slate of leaders ever nominated to lead Virginia! Catch them on their bus tour this week.

The Spanberger for Governor campaign bus is flanked by Jay Jones, Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi, Jennifer McClellan, and Mark Warner. Text reads: Supporting A Progressive Commonwealth. All Aboard. AbigailSpanberger.com/bus

Our communities are stronger when every voice is heard. Thanks to the strides made with the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, voting is more accessible than ever in Virginia! Let’s continue to defend and expand these gains because you are shaping our future when you cast your vote.

Four diverse viewers show off their "I Voted" stickers.

Text:
Virginia Voting Rights Act
- Passed in 2021
- Sponsored by Del. Cia Price & Sen. Jennifer McClellan
- Voter Outreach and Education Fund
- Prohibition of discriminatory voting laws
- Public or AG review of changes to local voting laws
- Multilingual accessibility for local elections
- Assistance for disabled and senior voters

We're exactly one week out from the 2025 Primary Election on June 17 and early voting is available now through Saturday June 14. Do you have a plan to vote in the primary for Lt. Governor, Attorney General, House of Delegates, and local offices in your community?

Two voters with "I voted" stickers. Stylized people, yellow, and white outlines of Virginia with the text: "2025 Primary Voting For:
House of Delegates
Local Offices
Lt. Governor
Attorney General

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 17. Early in-person voting is open through 5pm, Saturday, June 14. For in-person early voting locations, contact your local registrar's office or visit www.elections.virginia.gov"

Virginia Republicans are busy killing policies that would bring relief to struggling families. Minimum wage, tenant protections, affordable housing, Paid Family and Medical Leave, and expanded health insurance coverage have all been vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Images of Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and Governor Glenn Youngkin with red "VETO" stamps over their faces, and a broken piggy bank next to them.

Text: VA Republicans: The Guardians Of Poverty. Vetoed minimum wage increase twice. Vetoed tenant protections and affordable housing. Vetoed affordable energy initiatives. Vetoed Paid Family and Medical Leave twice. Vetoed expansion of health insurance coverage.

Childhood poverty isn’t limited to any one corner of the Commonwealth. Children are facing shockingly high poverty rates in communities on the Eastern shore, in independent cities, and in rural communities. Hundreds of thousands of VA children are at risk from federal aid cuts.

A graphic showing child poverty rates in Virginia by county. Childhood poverty rates are as high as 34% in  counties in the South and West of the state, the Eastern Shore, and in independent cities.

Text: Child poverty by the numbers. Childhood poverty affects families in every corner of the Commonwealth. Children in independent cities, the Eastern Shore, and rural communities in the South and West face poverty rates that are shockingly high.

The elimination of the federal Child Tax Credit in 2022 caused the national child poverty rate to more than double. In Virginia, about 13%, or nearly a quarter of a million children, are currently living in poverty.

Did you know?

The expiration of the federal Child Tax Credit in 2022 caused the national child poverty rate to more than double. In Virginia, 13% of children currently live in poverty.

That's nearly a quarter of a million children whose families are struggling with basic necessities - negatively impacting academic success, housing stability, nutrition, and mental health.

Being transgender is a fundamental and deeply rooted part of who someone is and no amount of social pressure can "convert" a transgender person. That's why medical associations and doctors are standing up to defend evidence-based medical care for transgender youth.

Against a backdrop of trans pride colors, the portrait of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. surrounded by gummy worms is placed alongside the logos for the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Physicians. 

Text: Who do you trust? Secretary brain worm? Or all these doctors?

According to a new National Education Association study, Virginia teachers earn $5,703 below the national average. We're in the bottom half of states for teacher pay. Students and teachers can't afford four more years of a Republican in the Governor's mansion.

Portrait of Winsome Earle-Sears.

Text: Under Glenn Youngkin & Winsome Earle-Sears Virginia teachers are falling behind

A clip of a Virginia Mercury article with the headline: National ranking shows despite home, Virginia teachers' pay is stagnant compared to other states, by Nathaniel Cline on May 1, 2025.

The sub-headline reads: VEA says inflation adjustments show less of an increase for teachers

With more layoffs coming, it is clear that both President Trump’s and Governor Youngkin’s administrations are failing the people of Virginia by creating an environment of instability and fear. Read the whole blog from our own Kierra Johnson. progressva.org/virginia-wor...

BLOG: Virginia Workers Pay a High Price for DOGE Layoffs

With more layoffs coming, both President Trump’s and Governor Youngkin’s administrations are failing Virginia by creating an environment of instability.

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