The Costs of Being in the Majority

Democrats won on issues of affordability and working-class concerns. Now it’s time to deliver.

A couple weeks ago I wrote an article that appeared in the Virginia Capital newsletter for Dogwood News but the message bears repeating.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger and Virginia Democrats were deliberate and strategic in their 2025 campaigns, centering affordability and economic security at every level. House Democrats even called a special session in the final days of the cycle to revisit redistricting. This bold, eleventh-hour move will pay dividends for Democrats nationwide. Now it’s time to bring that same boldness to governing on the economy.

Throughout the 2025 cycle, Democrats across Virginia recognized a simple truth: the economy remains the number one issue on voters’ minds. The cost of living has never been higher, and housing affordability feels increasingly out of reach for Millennials and Gen Z.

Virginians have been hit hard under this presidency. Hundreds of thousands lost their jobs after Elon Musk and DOGE gutted the federal government, hurting not only federal workers but also the contractors who keep our economy running. During the last Democratic governorship, Virginia ranked as the nation’s top state for business. Under Glenn Youngkin’s final year, unemployment reached its highest level in years. Yet the current governor and the Republican nominee continued to cheer on Trump’s every move. Winsome Sears’ campaign slogan was “Let’s keep a good thing going.” But Virginians knew we couldn’t afford four more years of complicity.

At the top of the ticket, Spanberger’s “Affordable Virginia” plan contrasted sharply with Sears’ record of supporting Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill — legislation that raised costs for everyday Americans. Sears’ response? More culture-war ads about trans kids and athletes, completely divorced from the issues voters cared about most.

Spanberger, by contrast, stayed laser-focused on housing, healthcare, and energy costs — issues that resonate with every Virginian. And voters responded. Affordability was the defining factor of Election Day victories, which is precisely why Trump and the national GOP are already trying to co-opt the term ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Down-ballot, the pattern held.

• Delegate Joshua Cole built his campaign around “affordable housing, good-paying jobs, excellent schools, & affordable prescriptions.”

• Delegate Michael Feggans leveraged his veteran background to expose how Trump’s cuts hurt Virginia’s workforce, veterans’ healthcare, and military families.

• Lily Franklin, running in one of the Commonwealth’s most competitive districts, leaned into her working-class roots rather than shying away — proving that authenticity still wins.

This strategy worked. Democrats expanded their majority from 51 to 64 seats by running on a platform of tangible economic improvement for working Virginians.

At the same time, we showed the nation that Trump’s actions — from ICE agents abducting residents to withholding federal services during the GOP-induced shutdown — are deeply unpopular. Voters rejected the chaos. The polls made that clear.

We were riding high — for about five days.

Then, just as the reality of governing set in, eight Democratic US senators broke ranks, including Virginia’s own Tim Kaine, to broker a deal reopening the government in exchange for almost nothing. Democrats had forced the shutdown over Republicans’ refusal to extend ACA subsidies, with millions of Americans facing skyrocketing premiums.

While Senator Kaine’s desire to protect federal workers is understandable, it’s frustrating that Senate Democrats walked away with nothing but a promise to vote on subsidies in the Senate in December — a promise House Speaker Mike Johnson has already dismissed for his chamber.

That cave-in underscores why Virginia Democrats must now lead with urgency and conviction in the state capital. They proved their mettle just weeks ago; now they must bring that same bulldog spirit to governing. As the General Assembly prepares to gavel in, here are four key opportunities to deliver for working Virginians:

1. Right to Work Repeal

The first issue on everyone’s mind should be repealing Virginia’s so-called Right to Work law. ““Right-to-Work” laws trace back to the backlash of the 1940s, when employers and segregationists sold it as a means of protecting “worker freedom.” It was really about weakening unions and maintaining racial and economic hierarchies.

Today, Virginia’s adherence to that legacy still harms working families by leaving unions at a disadvantage. Workers have no real leverage or legal recourse, leaving collective bargaining as the only tool that ensures fair pay, safety, and dignity on the job.“Right-to-Work” laws trace back to the backlash of the 1940s, when employers and segregationists, threatened by the growing power of organized labor and multiracial unions, pushed through the Taft-Hartley Act over President Truman’s veto. Sold as protecting “worker freedom,” it was really about weakening unions and maintaining racial and economic hierarchies.

The last time Democrats had a trifecta, they refused even to take it up — a decision that frustrated labor organizers across the Commonwealth. It took a novel procedural strategy by former Delegate Lee Carter just to force a vote on the floor. That hesitation didn’t go unnoticed, and it cost Democrats some labor support heading into 2021.

Now, the landscape has changed. Labor unions are enjoying their highest approval ratings in decades — around 70% nationwide — and Virginians themselves rejected efforts to enshrine Right to Work in the state constitution back in 2016. The message has been clear for years: working people want stronger protections, fair wages, and the right to organize without fear or interference.

We’ve already seen that it’s possible to be bold when reclaiming a trifecta. Michigan repealed its own Right-to-Work law in 2023 under Governor Gretchen Whitmer — and her approval rating reached a commanding 63% earlier this year. It didn’t hurt her politically; it strengthened her coalition. Virginia Democrats should take note.

Yes, Governor-elect Spanberger has signaled she may be hesitant to sign a total repeal, but politically, there’s value in drawing that line early. Sending a pro-worker bill to her desk and signing it would set the tone for this administration: we fight for working families first. As Spanberger said in her victory speech, she’ll “do everything possible to protect our workers and ensure that teachers receive a fair wage.” This is how you fulfill that promise.

2. Get Minimum Wage Hike Back on Track

In response to the stagnant federal minimum wage, Democrats passed a step plan to reach $15 by 2027. Youngkin vetoed the 2025 increase to $12.41 — a crucial step that would’ve kept Virginia on schedule.

Democrats should not just restore the hike — they should modernize it. The Fight for $15 began in 2012; a decade later, inflation and cost-of-living pressures make that target outdated. Adjusted for 2025 dollars, the equivalent is $21.49. Alternatively, Democrats could adopt a prevailing wage model that ties pay to industry benchmarks. Either path would honor the campaign’s promise to make life more affordable.

3. Healthcare and Prescription Drug Costs

With ACA subsidies in limbo and rural clinics shuttering after Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, too many Virginians are losing coverage or access to affordable care.

In 2018, Democrats and Republicans worked together to expand Medicaid in Virginia under the ACA. In 2020, they capped insulin costs at $50 a month — a move later matched by Congress at $35 for Medicare recipients. Virginia can once again lead by expanding Medicaid eligibility and further capping prescription costs for seniors and low-income families.

When people don’t have to choose between their health and their job, the economy benefits. Healthier workers are more productive, families are more stable, and communities thrive.

4. Data Centers and the Cost of Energy

The explosion of data centers across Virginia — especially in Northern Virginia — has created a political and environmental flashpoint. Suburban communities push them out; rural ones are left with pollution, noise, and massive energy demands.

We’ve already seen the consequences across the country and here at home. Musk’s “Grok” facility in Arkansas contaminated air and water across state lines. Loudoun County’s unchecked expansion sparked local resistance and led to a decline in the county’s population growth.

Virginia Democrats can lead nationally by enacting smart regulation:

1. Protect water tables and local ecosystems.

2. Invest in renewable power sources.

3. Stabilize consumer energy costs.

4. Ensure host communities share in the economic gains.

These steps show voters that Democrats can balance growth with accountability.

Be Bold in Richmond

Virginians voted overwhelmingly for Democrats to act, not to triangulate. For two years, it was easy to blame a Republican governor for inaction. Now, with complete control, Democrats must follow through.

Virginians expect their newly elected leaders to deliver on their promises, not retreat to the timid incrementalism that has too often plagued our party.

This isn’t about being “too progressive.” It’s about keeping your word. Prove to the voters who showed up that they were right — and give those who stayed home a reason to join them in 2027.

We finally have the momentum. We cannot afford to take our foot off the gas now as we head into 2026. The voters have put their faith in you to do the hard work of tackling the big battles, including the cost of living, protecting the health of the commonwealth, and preserving a future for all Virginians. Now it’s time to prove them right.

By the Ballot is an opinion series published on Substack. All views expressed are solely those of the author and should not be interpreted as reporting or objective journalism or attributed to any other individual or organization. I am not a journalist or reporter, nor do I claim to be one. This publication represents personal commentary, analysis, and opinion only.