Politics

Former Del. Tim Anderson said a 10-page Oct. 15 bulletin from the Virginia Department of Elections and Attorney General Jay Jones tells local election officials they may deny ordinary Department of Justice monitors access to polling places.

Anderson, a former member of the House of Delegates, posted the document and a page-by-page summary on X on Oct. 16. The bulletin, titled “2026 General Election Bulletin for Local Election Officials,” also directs officials to ask federal agents to leave polling locations and contact local police, document agents’ badge numbers, weapons, vehicles and movements, collect complaints from voters who say the agents frighten them, and consult attorneys about challenging federal subpoenas for election materials, Anderson wrote. It notes that Virginia has eliminated the ability to challenge a voter’s qualifications at the polling place.

“We’re certainly looking into that possibility and recognizing that there has been a focus on a number of cases where that appears to be the case. We are digging into it,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger told 8News Friday at an event in Henrico County.

Spanberger was asked about social media posts alleging her administration restored the rights of deceased people as part of restoring the rights of convicted felons upon their release.

Republican Doug Ollivant said Monday he was diagnosed last week with acute myeloid leukemia and will stay in the race against Rep. Eugene Vindman.

“I want to be exceptionally clear: I am fighting to beat this cancer, and I am fighting to beat Eugene Vindman in November,” Ollivant wrote on X. He said this type of AML is extremely treatable and that his doctors are positive.

Sabato’s Crystal Ball moved the 1st District from leaning Republican to a toss-up and the 2nd from a toss-up to leaning Democratic, Cardinal News reported.

Democrat Shannon Taylor is challenging Rob Wittman in the 1st, which includes the Richmond suburbs, Williamsburg, and Tidewater. Elaine Luria is challenging Jen Kiggans in the 2nd, in Hampton Roads. Tom Perriello is challenging John McGuire in the 5th, Charlottesville and Lynchburg, which Crystal Ball moved from likely Republican to leaning Republican.

Delegate Joshua Cole said on his Facebook page Saturday that Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was back in the 65th House district as volunteers launched for Rep. Eugene Vindman.

“Honored to welcome Governor Wes Moore BACK to the 65th district today as we launched volunteers for Eugene Vindman for Congress,” Cole wrote. “31 days to go.”

Reporter Nick Minock said the board released eight of ten people who had hearings, including people convicted of murder, rape, child abuse, and bank robbery. He said several had decades left and several victims had asked the board not to release them.

Republicans across the region head to the polls Tuesday for the delayed primary that will choose the party’s nominees for U.S. Senate and Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.

The winner of the 7th District primary will advance to face Democratic freshman Rep. Eugene Vindman in November. Three Republicans are on the ballot: Rick Smithers, Philip Harding, and Doug Ollivant.