Glenn Youngkin, the Governor of Richmond, recently vetoed bills that aimed to establish a state-regulated marketplace for marijuana and raise Virginia’s minimum wage. These vetoes have effectively weakened two key priorities of the Democratic Party. The decision to veto these bills comes just after opposition to Youngkin’s plans for a sports arena in Alexandria led to Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis keeping the project in the District, instead of Virginia.
The bills were initially seen as bargaining chips for Youngkin, as he sought Democratic support for the $2 billion arena project. While Youngkin had expressed opposition to both bills, he carefully avoided using the word “veto” while negotiations about the arena were still ongoing. However, he announced the vetoes as part of his actions on 107 bills, signing 100 and vetoing seven.
The minimum wage bills, passed on party-line votes, would have completed a stair-step increase to reach $15 per hour by January 1, 2026. They were considered the top priority of Democrats and were sponsored by Senator L. Louise Lucas, who was also a leading critic of the arena deal. Youngkin argued that these measures would contribute to inflation, harm rural businesses and reduce Virginia’s competitiveness with surrounding states. He emphasized the importance of creating an economic environment conducive to wage growth instead of setting labor prices through government intervention.
Youngkin also highlighted that the original legislation already mandated a gradual increase in the state’s minimum wage, with the rate set to approach $15 per hour by 2026 due to indexing with the federal consumer price index. Currently, the minimum wage in Virginia stands at $12 per hour.
The veto of the marijuana bills was justified by Youngkin as a measure to protect Virginians’ health and safety. These bills aimed to establish commercial standards and licensing requirements for retailers to sell cannabis products. While Virginia legalized the possession of small amounts of recreational marijuana three years ago, the state has yet to determine a mechanism for legal sales. Youngkin argued that states that have taken this path have experienced adverse effects, such as increased gang activity, violent crime, mental health issues, and road safety concerns. He added that the legislation did not effectively eliminate the illegal black-market sale of cannabis or guarantee product safety.
The decision to veto these bills was met with criticism from Democrats, who saw it as a setback for working-class individuals and struggling families. They argued that lifting the working class and providing support to low-wage workers should be a priority, rather than pushing for tax cuts for the wealthy.