The “Moderate” Brand Is Cracking. Surovell, the Far-Left Activists, and the Cannabis Lobby Are Driving the Bus Now — and Virginia Families Are Going to Pay the Bill.
Governor Abigail Spanberger ran as a moderate. Three months into the job, the activist wing of her own party is treating her like a speed bump.
The April 22 reconvene session was a public humiliation. Spanberger amended 180 of the more than 1,100 bills passed by the General Assembly, but Democrat lawmakers stripped her amendments from a long list of major bills and sent them back to her desk for a straight up-or-down decision. Among the rejections: cardinalnews
- Marijuana retail. The legislature wanted retail sales to begin January 1, 2027, with 350 licensed stores statewide. Spanberger wanted to delay until July with only 200 stores. She lost. Spanberger framed her amendments around enforcement and public safety — warning about “shady businesses” targeting Virginia kids — but the legislature rejected more than 40 of her changes and sent the bill back. 350 weed shops are coming, over the governor’s stated safety objections. cardinalnewswtop
- Assault weapons ban. Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Falls Church) and Del. Dan Helmer (D-Fairfax) ran the bill. Spanberger’s amendments were rejected — the bill heads back to her desk without them, forcing a clean sign-or-veto. cardinalnews
- Public-sector collective bargaining. Carried by Sen. Scott Surovell (SD-34, Mount Vernon), the Senate Majority Leader. Spanberger tried to extend the local government compliance deadline to 2030 and grab more gubernatorial authority over implementation. Lawmakers rejected the amendments outright. cardinalnews
- Prescription drug pricing board. Spanberger tried to convert the price-setting board into an advisory body. Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Karrie Delaney (D-Fairfax) shot it down. cardinalnews
- Police face coverings. Sen. Salim openly called Spanberger’s amendments “toothless.” The legislature stripped them. cardinalnews
This is what one-party rule looks like. With no Republican governor to push back against, the activists who power Surovell’s caucus don’t need to compromise — not even with their own governor. The “moderate Spanberger” the campaign sold Virginia voters is gone. What’s left is a governor losing fights on guns, drugs, unions, and pricing to her own left flank.
Remember the names: Spanberger. Surovell. Helmer. Salim. Tran. Krizek. Delaney. Every one a Democrat. Every one chose the activist base over common-sense Virginians. Senate and House are up in November 2027. The U.S. Senate seat held by Mark Warner is up in November 2026. Volunteer. Donate. Vote them out.
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