Virginia Democrats vote themselves 278% pay raise amid affordability push

The Virginia state Senate and its Democratic majority might have voted themselves a nearly 300 percent pay raise 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 focused his campaign on “affordability,” with Richmond Democrats saying they are working to improve their constituents’ personal finances.

The Virginia Legislature itself was founded as a part-time gentleman’s chamber, where legislators returned to their day jobs when Richmond was not holding session.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signs executive orders. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Supporters of raising the current salary established in 1988, at $18,000 for senators and $17,640 for delegates, say the structure restricts who can afford to become a legislator today. Lawmakers are also entitled to a $237 per diem, mileage reimbursements and coverage for office, meeting and other expenses.

The new salary for senators would be $50,000.

Republicans were quick to criticize the final budget, with the Virginia Senate minority group saying in a statement that “teachers got a 3% raise, but Democrats are giving 300%.”

“The affordability hoax is only getting worse,” the caucus said, adding that the House majority rejected repealing the car tax — a proposal that Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Sears ran on — while increasing the state budget by a total of $1 billion.

Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, told WVTF it’s not a “bad time” to address legislator pay.

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“It’s supposed to be affordable to working families across Virginia, not members of the General Assembly,” he said.

The Virginia Legislature – the oldest standing legislative body in the New World – has been making laws since its founding as the House of Commons in Colonial Williamsburg, where Spanberger delivered the Democratic Party’s response to the State of the Union.

In her speech, she claimed that President Donald Trump was the one who was “enriching himself, his family and his friends” and that it was Republicans who were “making life more expensive.”

“I’ve traveled to every corner of Virginia and heard everywhere the same pressing concern: Costs are too high. In housing, health care, energy and child care,” she said.

“Americans deserve to know that their leaders are working to solve the problems that keep them up at night.”

“Democrats across the country are focused on affordability — in our nation’s capital, in state capitols, and in communities across America,” Spanberger said Tuesday.

The wage increase could become moot if the Democratic-controlled House of Delegates does not amend its own budget proposal to include the provision.

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The House budget includes $137 million for expanded access to child care, an increase in the minimum wage to $13.75 in 2027 and $15 in 2029, and a $20 million appropriation for collective bargaining for state employees and home health care workers, according to Washington’s ABC affiliate.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the governor, as well as House and Senate minority leaders, for further comment.

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