Before You Vote in November, Look at What Happened in Richmond

Support All Virginia News

Fund Independent Journalism

This November, Virginians will choose who represents them in the U.S. House. As always, the economy will be the decisive issue, and midterms traditionally punish the party in power.

What voters should not forget is what just happened in Richmond.

Led by Abigail Spanberger, Democrats ran on “affordability.” After winning control of state government, they immediately began proposing new taxes that would raise the cost of everyday life for working Virginians—despite inheriting a budget surplus.

Here is a partial list of the taxes Democrats are now proposing:

• New local sales tax in all Virginia counties and cities
• New personal property tax on electric leaf blowers and electric landscaping equipment
• Large employer tax
• Gun and ammunition tax
• New income tax brackets
• Delivery tax affecting Amazon, Uber Eats, FedEx, and UPS orders in Northern Virginia
• Investment income tax
• Event tax
• Storage facility tax
• Gym membership tax
• Dog walking tax
• Dog grooming tax
• Counseling tax
• Digital personal property tax
• New car taxes and highway use fees
• Increase in the hotel tax in Arlington
• Statewide speed cameras (not a tax, but more fines for drivers)
• Vehicle repair tax
• Home repair tax
• Dry cleaning tax
• Fantasy sports tax
• Rideshare taxes

These are not luxury taxes. They hit groceries, transportation, pets, home repairs, and daily services—costs families can’t avoid.

This is the pattern: promise affordability, win the election, then make everything more expensive.

Voters should remember that in November.

At this dangerous time for journalism in Virginia

We hope you appreciated this article. Before you close this tab, we want to ask if you could support All Virginia News at this challenging time for independent journalism in the Commonwealth.

Virginia is currently governed by a Democratic trifecta—Governor Abigail Spanberger in the Executive Mansion, Democrats holding majorities in both the House of Delegates and the Senate, along with key leadership positions held by figures such as Lt. Governor Ghazala Hashmi, Attorney General Jay Jones, House Speaker Don Scott, and others. In any period of one-party dominance, the risk of reduced transparency and accountability grows. A strong, independent press is essential to scrutinize those in power, regardless of party affiliation.

Across the nation and here in Virginia, press freedom faces real pressures: from political threats and regulatory actions to corporate influence and economic challenges that can compromise editorial independence. When government officials—whether in Richmond or Washington—attempt to shape coverage through pressure, investigations, funding decisions, or favoritism, it undermines public trust and democratic health.

All Virginia News exists to serve Virginia readers first. We are not owned by billionaires or large corporations with political agendas. Our commitment is straightforward: deliver factual, thorough reporting that holds every elected official accountable—Democrat, Republican, or independent—without fear or favor. We believe democracy functions best with a robust, independent press that provides Virginians the full picture, free from partisan spin.

What sustains us through these challenges is the direct support of our readers. A majority of our funding comes from individuals like you who value trustworthy, paywall-free journalism. Your contributions preserve our editorial independence and allow us to continue aggressive, non-partisan oversight of state government, policies, and their impact on Virginia families.

We know these requests are never as welcome as the reporting itself, but without reader support, this work simply could not continue. Of course, we understand that not everyone is in a position to contribute financially, and we remain grateful for your readership either way.

If you are able, please support All Virginia News today. All gifts matter, but recurring contributions are especially valuable as they help us plan and sustain our coverage long-term (and reduce the frequency of these appeals). It takes just a moment to give. Thank you for standing with independent journalism and helping protect a free press that serves all Virginians.

5 1 vote
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Check out our other content

Check out other tags:

Most Popular Articles