Virginia’s new governor, Abigail Spanberger, ran on a campaign focused on affordability, so did other Virginia Democrats.
It is now becoming increasingly apparent that this was a lie.
These people have been in office for just a matter of weeks and they are already trying to triple their own pay. Things will certainly be more affordable for them if they get away with this.
FOX News reports:
Virginia Democrats talk affordability — and vote to nearly triple their own pay
The Virginia State Senate and its Democratic majority may have voted to nearly triple their pay if a provision inserted into their final budget survives the House reconciliation process and reaches Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk.
The development comes as Spanberger has centered her campaign on “affordability,” with Richmond Democrats echoing that they are working to improve their constituents’ personal finances.
Virginia’s legislature itself was founded as a part-time, gentleman’s chamber, where lawmakers would return to their day jobs when Richmond wasn’t holding session.
Proponents of raising the current 1988-established salary of $18,000 for senators and $17,640 for delegates say the structure restricts who can afford to serve as a lawmaker today. Lawmakers also qualify for a $237 per diem, mileage reimbursements, and coverage of office, meeting and other expenses.
Senators’ new salary would be $50,000.
Republicans were quick to criticize the final budget, with the Virginia Senate Minority Caucus saying in a statement that “teachers got a 3% raise, but Democrats give themselves 300%.” The actual increase would be closer to 178%, though one could say the new salary would be 300% of the original.
Law professor Jonathan Turley points out that these Democrats are going to need a salary increase in order to afford all of the new taxes they are proposing.
Democratic legislators just voted themselves almost a 300% increase in salaries. https://t.co/7lI3DUxX5h They will need it. They are moving to increase taxes on ride shares, concerts, counseling, leaf blowers, Amazon deliveries, Door Dash, Uber Eats, ammunition, and other areas.
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 2, 2026
Virginia Democrats just voted to give themselves a 300% pay increase.
Teachers got a 3% raise. But Democrats give themselves 300%. pic.twitter.com/K65cnZB0K3
— VA Senate GOP (@VASenateGOP) February 26, 2026
It didn’t have to be this way. The people of Virginia voted for this and now they are going to get it.
Mike LaChance has been covering higher education and politics for Legal Insurrection since 2012. Since 2008 he has contributed work to the Gateway Pundit, Daily Caller, Breitbart, the Center for Security Policy, the Washington Free Beacon, and Ricochet. He has also written for American Lookout, Townhall, and Twitchy.
You can email Mike LaChance here, and read more of Mike LaChance’s articles here.
