State and National Government
Jason Miyares
The path to securing the Republican nomination for Governor in 2025 appears to be wide open for Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears. Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares announced on Facebook today he won’t challenge her for the nomination. Miyares says programs he has helped launch like Operation Ceasefire has made the Commonwealth a safer place to live. He did not endorse Earle-Sears on the video post.
Members of the House of Delegates Privileges and Elections Committee voted along party lines this afternoon to advance a constitutional amendment that states every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom and that the right to make one’s own decisions about all matters related to one’s pregnancy cannot be denied. Sponsor Charniele Herring says the amendment will save lives.
The amendment prohibits the Commonwealth from penalizing, prosecuting, or otherwise taking adverse action against an individual for exercising the individual’s right to reproductive freedom or for aiding another individual in the exercise of such right. Republicans on the Committee believe this amendment is being rushed and too extreme when it comes to abortion access. Constitutional amendments must be passed by the General Assembly twice, before it goes to voters for final approval.
Former Roanoke City Mayor David Bowers
His lead before more than a reported thousand provisional ballots are reviewed is only 19 votes over current Vice-Mayor Joe Cobb, but former longtime Roanoke Mayor David Bowers said this morning he is ready to roll up his sleeves. However based on what he says was legal advice Bowers, an attorney by trade, was not ready to formally declare himself the next Mayor of Roanoke. Cobb said early this morning he’ll hold off on any concession message until the provisionals are counted.
After the Bowers news conference Joe Cobb issued a statement: “with Roanoke’s mayoral election remaining too close to call, and hundreds of ballots yet to be counted, I want to underscore the significance of every vote being counted accurately. I want to encourage patience and trust in the process.”
The Roanoke area’s two Republican Congressmen are heading back to Washington in January, and they will be joined by a new GOP colleague from the region who ousted his own party’s incumbent last June. Morgan Griffith will begin his 8th term representing the 9th District after getting close to three quarters of the vote over Democratic challenger Karen Baker. In the 6th District, Ben Cline will begin his fourth term two months from now. He downed Democrat Ken Mitchell by a roughly 63 to 35 margin. 5th District newcomer John McGuire ousted Republican incumbent Bob Good in a Republican primary and had no trouble downing Democrat Gloria Tinsley Witt by about 13 percentage points. WFIR’s Evan jones has more:
Roanoke area Republican US Congressman Ben Cline has secured another term in office by defeating Democrat Ken Mitchell and Independent candidate Robby Wells. Cline won the race with more than 63 percent of the vote.
Acquired Through MGN Online on 11/04/2024
Kamala Harris has won Virginia, securing the state’s 13 electoral votes in the 2024 presidential race. The Associated Press called the race at 11:42 p.m., with Harris leading Donald Trump by 4 points, capturing 51.2% of the vote to Trump’s 47.2%. This win reinforces Virginia’s recent trend of voting Democratic in presidential elections.
In Roanoke’s tight mayoral race, provisional ballots could be a deciding factor. With all precincts reporting, David Bowers holds a narrow lead over Joe Cobb—just 19 votes separate them. Roanoke’s registrar has yet to count provisional ballots, which could tip the final outcome. Independent Stephanie Moon is solidly in third place.