Editorial
We are hopeful about the new era in Virginia’s state government that is underway. Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Attorney Gen. Jay Jones took office Saturday and the General Assembly convened this past week for the 2026 legislative session. It’s a new beginning for the commonwealth, and we’re optimistic about what is to transpire in the days ahead.
S panberger, t he s tate’s 7 5th governor and first woman to hold this office, delivered encouraging messages of hope in her inaugural address on Saturday and again on Monday when she spoke to a joint session of the state Senate and House of Delegates.
“This year,” Spanberger noted in her inaugural address at the state capitol in Richmond, “marks the 250th anniversary of two milestones in American democracy: the first is the signing of our Declaration of Independence – drafted by Thomas Jefferson – Virginia’s second governor and the man who designed the very building behind us today. And the second milestone we remember this year is the inauguration of Patrick Henry as Virginia’s first governor.”
Henry, she said, “is best known for his call against tyranny at St. John’s Church, just up the road – words that helped launch the American Revolution. But in his final public speech, delivered in Virginia years later in 1799, he made an appeal to his fellow citizens, warning against the divisions that were threatening our young country.”
She stated that Henry’s “appeal remains timeless. He said, ‘United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.’” That’s a message that is pertinent for the ages, but perhaps especially so today, when polarization of politics seems to be at one of its highest levels in our history, when people are finding it increasingly difficult to get along with each other, to be agreeable in disagreements, to be respectful of those with different points of view.
It is true that there is already much disagreement among legislators as the new session got underway. Four proposed state constitutional amendments that were advanced last week – to protect abortion rights, to restore voting rights for convicted felons, to remove a ban on samesex marriages and to allow mid-decennial redistricting – are being hotly debated by partisans on each side of the aisle. It is our hope that legislators can treat each other with civility as they debate these and other contentious issues.
Amidst this divisiveness, there are other issues to be dealt with in which those on each side of the political aisle might be able to find common ground. Spanberger’s calls for better access to health care, more affordable housing, lowering energy costs and improving education are more likely to be met with a bipartisan show of support.
As the legislative session moves forward, we encourage everyone to pay attention to what’s happening and to reach out to our representatives in Richmond to offer input. Here is the contact information for the senator and two delegates that represent the Rockbridge area: Sen. Christopher Head of the 3rd District – district phone, (540) 283-2839; capitol phone, (804) 698-7503; email, senatorhead@ senate.virginia.gov Del. Ellen McLaughlin of the 36th District – district phone, (540) 280-0778; capitol phone, (804) 698-1036; email, DelEMcLaughlin@ house.virginia.gov Del. Terry Austin of the 37th District – district phone, (540) 254-1500; capitol phone, (804) 698-1037; email, [email protected].
