Newly sworn-in Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger wasted no time implementing her party’s priorities and getting rid of Republicans’ now that she is the head honcho in Virginia.

A long list of moves by Spanberger and Virginia Democrats, who now have a trifecta in the state with control of the governor’s office and both branches of the state legislature, were criticized by Republicans, several of whom chastised Spanberger for campaigning as a moderate but then ushering in radical policies.

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1. ENDING COOPERATION WITH ICE

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“State and local law enforcement should not be required to divert their limited resources to enforce federal, civil immigration laws – it is the responsibility of federal law enforcement,” Spanberger said as she signed her Day 1 directive. “Virginia state and local law enforcement officers must be able to focus on their core responsibilities : investigating crime and community policing.”

2. REDUCING MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCING

In addition to Spanberger’s Day 1 executive orders, Democrats in the legislature also took advantage of their new power by introducing amendments to end mandatory minimum sentences for various crimes in the state. According to Jason Miyares, the outgoing Republican attorney general, those bills included a proposal to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing for rape, manslaughter, assaulting a law enforcement officer, possession and distribution of child pornography, and other repeat violent felonies. Democrats also removed the mandatory minimum five-day sentence for first time DUI offenders in the state.

3. RAISING TAXES

Despite Virginia Democrats running on an affordability message in 2025, they were quick to raise taxes, according to critics. Among the bills they introduced was one that would raise the state’s tax rate on residents’ investments; another that would extend the retail sales tax to include several service industries previously not taxed, such as dry cleaning, landscaping, animal care, cosmetic services and gym memberships; one that would impose a tax on every delivery in Northern Virginia, ranging from Amazon to UPS; and an 11% tax on Virginia firearms.

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4. PRIORITIZING DEI IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

Another controversial measure pushed by Democrats amid their new power is a bill aimed at requiring government contracts under $100,000 go to minority and women-owned businesses, leading some critics to argue the move is discriminatory against White men. The bill in question directs the executive branch in Virginia to set a target goal of picking business based on DEI criteria for at least 42% of its contracts, while also allocating a certain portion of its contracts under $100,000 “be set aside for award to certified” DEI businesses.

5. ABORTION RIGHTS

The last step in a series of actions needed to take place to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s state Constitution was also just passed by the Democratic Party-led state Senate. If approved by voters in November, the constitutional amendment would permit abortion in the first and second trimesters, while letting Virginia regulate abortion in the third trimester for various reasons. The latest push has led pro-life critics to fear the new law would permit abortion up to birth and interfere with parental rights when it comes to minors.

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