Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger speaks as Gov. Glenn Youngkin listens outside of the Executive Mansion in Richmond on Nov. 6, 2025. (Photo via Virginia Mercury)Virginia’s unique term limit for governor traces back to the Founding Fathers’ anxieties
WHRO asked voters what they wanted to know about the Commonwealth’s elections, and Casey Slaughter of Chesapeake wondered why the state doesn’t allow governors to serve back-to-back terms.
John Dinan, chair of the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Wake Forest University, said the limit was designed to curb executive power and preserve a strong legislature.
Attempts to allow consecutive terms have come up over the years but have never passed.
While governors since the 1990s have expressed interest in serving a second consecutive term, Virginia’s lawmakers continue to prevent it.READ MORE
FROM THE VIRGINIA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISMThe Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore needs more space than it has to store and distribute food at its longtime Norfolk home. The Virginia Beach City Council approved the nonprofit’s ask to build a warehouse in the city. (Photo by John-Henry Doucette)Cancellations of federal food contracts challenge Virginia food banks
Between May and August, the Trump administration canceled contracts for 1.7 million pounds of food going to Virginia’s network of regional food banks, according to data obtained by ProPublica and analyzed by the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture food purchasing program is structured to support both farmers who supply the goods and needy families.
See where the cuts have hit and how the Commonwealth’s seven major food banks are trying to meet increasing demands.READ MORE
More headlinesJames City County data center policy limits water and energy consumption, proximity to homes Read more-AUDIO: Virginia Beach School Board votes to consolidate middle school dual language immersion Listen here-Historic Francis Land House opens after years of repairs and restoration Read more-‘Thrilled to be open’: Smithsonian and other museums welcome visitors back Read More
Musicians of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Arts Festival will be holding a benefit concert Sat., Nov. 15 to raise money for the environmental nonprofit, Lynnhaven River Now. (Photo courtesy of the Virginia Arts Festival)Arts groups hold a fundraiser on Saturday — for the environmentTom Reel, a former member of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, worked with fellow musicians to form TORCH, Thanking Our Resident Community Heroes. The Virginia Arts Festival and VSO musicians are holding a benefit concert for the environmental nonprofit Lynnhaven River Now.
The concert is Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk. It will feature water-inspired music, including James Hosay’s Rivers of the Chesapeake: The Elizabeth, historic barge music from England’s River Thames and spirituals about the Jordan River.READ MORE Local journalism is made possible only because of generous WHRO donorsDONATE NOW Thank you for being a part of the WHRO journalism community! If you benefited from this email, forward it to a friend. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to be one of the first people to get the most important local news every weekday. Copyright 2025 WHRO Public Media | 5200 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk VA 23508
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