He took shots at Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner, saying “MAGA” Republicans don’t comprehend the voting power of women. He also urged Democrats to organize in their communities to get out the vote for down-ballot congressional races.
“Give me a Democratic House of Representatives and a bigger Democratic Senate, and we will pass a bill to restore Roe v. Wade, and I will sign in immediately,” said Biden.
Hecklers in the crowd interrupted Biden about 10 times during his roughly 10-minute speech. While it was difficult to hear what they were shouting, protesters we spoke to outside the performing arts center said they aimed to seize the moment to spotlight their concerns not only on reproductive rights but also to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“They feel deeply…this is going to go on for a while,” said Biden of the hecklers, referring to one of them as a “MAGA” Republican.
As he took the stage, Biden greeted the crowd by saying, “Hello, Virginia, and the real governor, Terry McAuliffe.” McAuliffe lost the governor’s race to Glenn Youngkin by two points in 2021.
Biden was also joined on stage by First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. Manassas Mayor Michele Davis Younger stood on the stage behind the president and cheered.
Outside the Hylton, local activists seized the moment to spotlight their concerns on reproductive rights, intertwining their cause with the broader call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Advocates, primarily of Palestinian descent, utilized the occasion to bring attention to the intersection of reproductive rights and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The activists expressed their discontent with President Biden’s stance on the Gaza conflict, accusing him of complicity in supporting a genocide.
The conversation also touched upon personal experiences, with one speaker expressing a sense of shame regarding their American citizenship and a desire to return to their homeland once the occupation ends.
“The reason we came out here is to let Biden know that he can’t go with business as usual while he is supporting a genocide,” stated one of the speakers, who declined to provide her full name.
The advocates reiterated their commitment to women’s rights in the U.S. and Palestine. They emphasized the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by women in Gaza, including a significant rise in miscarriages and limited access to necessary medical care during the conflict.
Before approaching the vote, the Board sat in a closed session to discuss probable or actual litigation involving specific staff, specific officer matters and safety matters. The Board received no comments from the public.
The vote on Wednesday came after the county’s chief operating officer, Vernon Bock, spoke to the board on January 3 about the logistics of a closing. Per Bock’s presentation, 78 out of the 97 schools in the county serve as polling locations on Super Tuesday.
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As the Virginia Presidential Primary on March 5 approaches, residents in the state can cast their votes early today, Friday, January 19, 2024. Virginia will hold a dual presidential primary this year, with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party hosting primaries on the same day.
In a dual primary system, voters can choose between voting in the Democratic Party Primary or the Republican Party Primary. While all qualified voters are eligible to participate in either primary, they cannot vote in both.
It’s important to note that choosing a party’s primary does not equate to party registration, as Virginia does not have party registration requirements.
The Republican primary ballot will feature six candidates, including Chris Christie. However, he dropped out, Ryan L. Binkley, Vivek Ramaswamy (he dropped out, too), Donald J. Trump, Ron D. DeSantis, and Nikki R. Haley. On the Democratic side, three candidates will appear: Marianne Williamson, Incumbent Joseph R. Biden Jr, and Dean Benson Phillips.
Early voting, the in-person option, is available until March 2. Registered voters can visit the general registrar’s office in their respective jurisdictions, present their ID, and cast their ballot.
Stafford County Registrar Anna Hash said that while in-person voting rules remain unchanged mainly, she noted a change in the law regarding absentee ballot returns. Witness signatures are no longer required, but voters must now provide their birth year and the last four digits of their Social Security Number on the envelope.
The objective is to ensure a smooth and accessible election, with preparations aligning with standard practices, adds Hash.
In Manassas, Voter Registrar Susan Reed highlighted extensive training for Election Officials, testing on voting machines and electronic poll books, and readiness. She also encouraged registered Virginia to become Election Officials.
In Prince William County, they’ve been training those poll workers for early voting and election day. Elections office spokeswoman Thalia Simpson said rigorous testing and training are standard for every election in Prince William County. She added that voting equipment undergoes thorough functionality and accuracy tests, and every election officer completes a two-hour training class to stay updated on laws, policies, and processes.
The location of the general registrar’s office for all jurisdictions can be found on the Virginia Department of Elections website here. Additionally, a list of acceptable forms of identification can be accessed here.
The Center Square: “Former President Donald Trump is far and away the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, but new polling digs into why the former president dominates when it comes to the working class.”
“The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll of 2,573 likely voters, conducted in conjunction with Noble Predictive Insights, shows Trump’s support is highest among Republican voters making less than $50,000 and those without a college degree.”
"The Prince William County School Board is expected to amend the school calendar at its Jan. 17 meeting to close schools for the presidential primary in March," reports Emily Seymour at Insidneova.com.
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“The candidacy of former President Donald Trump is under scrutiny in more than a handful of states; the question of whether Trump will be on the primary ballot for Virginia, at least, appears to have been resolved,” reports Morgan Sweeney at The Center Square.
Stafford County Government: “Congresswoman Spanberger is holding office hours at the Gov. Center next week on Tues., Dec. 12, from 10 am to noon. Come get help with things like veterans affairs, Social Security, Medicare, tax refunds, and more.”
The Democrat announced she will run in 2025 to become Virginia’s next governor, aiming to replace Glenn Youngkin, who cannot run for reelection, per state law. Virginia is the only state in the U.S. that prevents its governor from running for a second term.
Spanberger will not seek reelection to Congress, where she’s served since 2018. Spanberger represents the 7th Congressional District, which includes Stafford County and eastern Prince William County.
Travis Nembhard: “I’m running for the U.S. Congress in my home district of VA-10. I look forward to continuing to serve the community that has given me so much, and where I’ve been raising my two children with my wife Stephanie.”
“I have spent my career standing up for people who are too often forgotten. My lifetime of public service is focused on combating injustices and fighting for those who need someone to fight for them the most. While working in the Obama White House, I witnessed the power of government to be a force for good. As an assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Bureau, I went after slumlords, corrupt employers that violated wage laws, and companies that discriminated against individuals. And, as a financial regulator, I investigated instances of complex white-collar crime. I have a consistent record of working to protect the public against bad actors, and I intend to do the same in Congress, on behalf of the 10th Congressional District.”
Nembhard, a Democrat, lost his bid for the Virginia House of Delegates seat in the 22nd District in Prince William County, which includes Bristow and Nokesville. Republican Ian Lovejoy won the seat by four points.
Nembhard is on a growing list of candidates who seek to replace Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D), who announced her retirement at the end of her term on December 31, 2024, due to health reasons.
The 10th congressional district includes western Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
Two elected officials in our region - Senator Jeremy McPike (D-Prince William, Stafford) and Stafford County Board of Supervisors Garrisonville District Supervisor Dr. Pamela Yueng (also serving as board chair this year) won't seek higher office.
Both elected officials told Potomac Local News they would not seek the 7th Congressional seat, encompassing eastern Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Culpeper, Greene counties, and Fredericksburg.
