VGEA’s Forward-Thinking Post-Election Strategy

November 20, 2023 – Virginia Governmental Employee Association (2023)

Post-Election Strategy: VGEA Sets Course for Proactive Advocacy in New Legislative Landscape

The dust has settled after Virginia’s November 7 elections, and we’re looking at a Democratic majority now in both the Senate and House, with Governor Youngkin at the executive branch’s helm. This presents a unique advocacy landscape for VGEA, and we’re already working to take an active role in shaping policies that affect state employees and retirees.

While Virginia’s newly elected delegates and senators will be officially installed on January 10, 2024, for the start of the legislative session, we’re not waiting until January. We’re starting our dialogue now, and we’ll be introducing them to the VGEA’s mission and our vision for state employees and retirees. VGEA Lobbyist, Dylan Bishop, emphasized the importance of this moment. “Early engagement with the new legislators is crucial.”

Executive Director, Marshall Terry, agrees. “As we gather and analyze the results from our recent Legislative Priorities Survey where we invited Virginia state employees and retirees to tell us what’s most important to them, we’re simultaneously reaching out to the campaigns of newly elected officials to acquire contact information. This is the first step in enabling us to equip our members with the resources they need to start meaningful conversations.”

The VGEA is developing talking points and email templates to facilitate member-initiated dialogues with new and existing legislators. Even though our 2024 legislative priorities are still being shaped, these interactions will give legislators preliminary insights from our survey, fostering early awareness of the issues that matter most to all state employees and retirees.

As we await Governor Youngkin’s December 20 budget announcement, we’re prepared to advocate for policies that align with the fiscal health of the state and the well-being of our members. In this new legislative era, state employee and retiree engagement is more important than ever. The VGEA’s advocacy is on behalf of every state employee and retiree, and every voice counts in strengthening our advocacy and ensuring that we truly represent the interests of the entire workforce.

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