Spanberger: Too Left for Republicans, Not Left Enough for DSA

Governor Abigail Spanberger is asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit from the Virginia Tech rector she removed — and arguing she alone decides whether her reasons are good enough. At the same time, seven hemp businesses are suing her over a new THC limit that takes effect August 15, Chesapeake just hit pause on data centers, and progressive activists are openly frustrated that she is not far enough left.

In this Virginia Insider deep dive, Uriah Kiser walks through the Richmond Times-Dispatch reporting on Spanberger’s motion to dismiss former Virginia Tech Board of Visitors Rector John Rocovich’s lawsuit. She removed him in May citing ethics and conduct violations without specifics. Her attorneys now say state code makes the governor the sole judge of whether those reasons are sufficient. We also cover the Cardinal News story on the hemp lawsuit, the Center Square reporting on Chesapeake’s 9-0 vote to delay data-center applications requiring rezonings or conditional-use permits for up to eight months, Spanberger’s decision to formally intervene in the $67 billion Dominion-NextEra merger review, and The Daily Signal’s account of congressional candidate Tom Perriello’s staff moving him away from DSA imagery during TV interviews in Charlottesville.

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Sources:

Richmond Times-Dispatch – Spanberger seeks dismissal of Rocovich lawsuit: https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/education/article_74f8a033-76ba-52c7-b6de-a361163174d7.html

The Center Square – Chesapeake delays data center applications: https://www.thecentersquare.com/virginia/article_3afa1dae-49a0-4717-a919-747f6f6eba0d.html

The Center Square – Governor seeks role in Dominion-NextEra merger review: https://www.thecentersquare.com/virginia/article_12828b6e-739b-4154-8ba4-4099f76a8c7a.html

The Daily Signal – Va. Candidate Dodges Photos With DSA Members: https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/08/05/va-candidate-dodges-dsa-members/

Cardinal News – Virginia hemp businesses sue over THC rule change: https://cardinalnews.org/2026/08/05/virginia-hemp-businesses-sue-over-thc-rule-change/