Louise Lucas Endorses Pekarsky for Congress; Youngkin Vetoes Black History Bill; Remembering Cathy Hudgins

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Senator L. Louise Lucas Endorses Senator Stella Pekarsky for Congress

In a statement today, State Senator L. Louise Lucas announced her support to succeed Rep. Gerry Connolly in Congress in the 11th congressional district.

Above: Senator Pekarsky and Congressman Scott yesterday in Fairfax after Gerry Connolly’s funeral.

NEW PODCAST - EP52 🎙️ Reps. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX): Democrats Talk Media Strategy in the Fight to Save Health Care

Gov. Youngkin Vetoes Bill to Make Black History Classes Mandatory. What’s next?

By Nathaniel Cline. A Northern Virginia faith leader and parent said she will continue asking state lawmakers to make two African-American history courses count towards the state’s graduation requirements for history, after the governor — who vetoed the measure and whose four-year term is sunsetting — leaves office.

Pastor Michelle Thomas, president of the NAACP Loudoun Branch, and Robin Reaves Burke of the Loudoun Freedom Center proposed the concept to state Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, shortly after the commonwealth added African American History and AP African American Studies to the list of courses permitted to be taught in public high schools.

Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, and Reid successfully passed the proposal through the General Assembly with some amendments. On March 24, Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed an amendment requiring the General Assembly to pass the proposal again in 2026, but lawmakers did not accept it. Youngkin then vetoed the bill, stating that it would cause students to miss “key concepts essential to understanding how historical world events have shaped our modern economy, government, and international relations.”

Thomas was surprised and disappointed by the decision, she said.

“You can’t divorce African American history from the founding of America. It is the absolute foundation of American history, and so to try to marginalize this and say students shouldn’t be learning it, or it’s not as important as mainstream history, or the history that he’s trying to tell is absolutely ridiculous,” Thomas said in a statement last week.

Thomas said she first considered proposing the legislation after her daughter was interested in taking an African American studies course and seeking flexibility with her class schedule towards meeting her graduation requirements.

Under Virginia’s standard diploma requirements, students are required to take U.S. History, Virginia and U.S. Government, and either World History or Geography. The bill would have given the students the option to substitute African American History or AP African American Studies with World History or Geography. Read entire

Cathy Hudgins, Longtime Leader in Fairfax, Dies at 81

Below: Former Delegate Ken Plum and Cathy Hudgins.

Cathy Hudgins died on May 24 at age 81.

“Rest in peace former Supervisor and dear friend Cathy Hudgins. Conscience of our community. Always showing us the importance of community. We are a better world for your having been in it. We miss you,” wrote former Delegate Ken Plum.

Hudgins was the first African American to serve on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and served as the Hunter Mill District supervisor from 2000 until her retirement in 2019. As chair of the board’s Health and Human Services and Housing committees, Hudgins championed initiatives that improved the county.

Most knew her from her two decades of public service as Hunter Mill District Supervisor. Cathy was instrumental in co-creating the groundbreaking One Fairfax policy and establishing the Successful Children and Youth Policy Team—two initiatives that continue to shape equity and opportunity across the county. In 2006, she led the charge to build the Southgate Community Center in Reston, a vital hub for community services and engagement. In recognition of her lasting impact, the center was renamed the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate in 2021. Through her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to inclusion, Cathy worked to ensure that the community’s needs were addressed.

Below is a video created after Hudgins retired.

Podcast 47 🎙️ Rep. Scott Forum on Civil Rights vs. Trump

Podcast 49 🎙️ Jennifer McClellan’s Town Hall in Richmond

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