Wittman’s defense industry ties draw scrutiny as he seeks Armed Services gavel

Good morning from The Mercury.

By Markus Schmidt

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman has received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from defense contractors and reported stock holdings in companies with military ties, as he seeks another term representing Virginia in Congress and to become chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee. 

The Westmoreland Republican, who has supported U.S. military operations in Iran, says his national security decisions are not influenced by campaign donations or personal investments. 

By Charlotte Rene Woods

If Virginians approve a ballot referendum on Nov. 3 to permanently protect reproductive rights in the state’s constitution, the amendment will be challenged in court on Nov. 13.

The case seeks a preliminary injunction to block the certification of the amendment referendum results by alleging that the process was not properly filed and that ballot language was misleading. 

Founding Freedoms Law Center launched the legal challenge in April, but it has been stalled since June, when advocacy group Virginians For Reproductive Freedom successfully petitioned to join as a co-defendant.

By Nathaniel Cline

IAs Virginia stares down a $1.7 billion highway-maintenance gap, the Commonwealth Transportation Board is considering a plan to close it by shifting funds away from construction and transportation projects.

The plan introduced at the board’s Oct. 13 meeting proposes adding $239 million annually for pavement repairs starting in fiscal year 2028, while redirecting funds and using $300 million in GARVEE bonds to soften construction cuts. 

By Shannon Heckt

Once a new renewable natural gas facility is completed in Virginia Beach, the flush of a toilet could help power homes across the Hampton Roads region, developers say. 

Hampton Roads Sanitation District has partnered with Virginia Natural Gas, who provides power for about 315,000 homes in the area, to build technology that captures the gas that emanates off of wastewater when it is treated.

Currently, biogas is created during normal wastewater treatment operations called anaerobic digestion, when organisms break biosolids down without oxygen. Once the gas is produced, a flare is used to burn off the methane, CO2 and other gases. 

By Denver Riggleman and Barbara Comstock

As Republicans, we believe in personal freedom, individual responsibility and a government that treats all people – and all families – fairly under the law. And now, as Virginians head to the polls, we all have an opportunity, regardless of our political party, to put those values into practice and affirm the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.

One of the constitutional amendments on our ballot in 2026 is an amendment to repeal our state’s long-outdated but still-on-the-books ban on marriage between same-sex couples. A “Yes” vote on Question 2 would remove that 20-year-old restriction and replace it with a guarantee of the freedom to marry between two people, regardless of sex, gender, or race.

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