Election '21 Analysis

Here’s a quick election analysis, which helps set the stage for White Coats on Call 2022 and gives us an understanding of the new environment at the Virginia General Assembly.

Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin.

• With Republicans gaining control of the Governor’s office and House of Delegates, expect a major shift in policy priorities from these arms of state government.

• Before Governor-Elect Youngkin takes office, outgoing Democratic Governor Ralph Northam will submit his administration’s final full budget to the General Assembly for the next legislative session in January. As you know, VACEP has been battling a problematic budget item that is shortchanging emergency physicians and we hope to have it removed from that budget.

• The Senate of Virginia remains under narrow 21-19 seat Democratic control, with newly elected Republican Lt. Governor Sears wielding the tie-breaking vote next year.

• The newly created Virginia Redistricting Commission so far has not been able to reach consensus on new legislative maps. As a result, the Supreme Court of Virginia will appoint two special masters (one from each party) to draw the maps for court approval. Depending on the approval timeline and potential litigation, Virginia may schedule another round of House elections next year based on the new maps.

• With the new House of Delegates, we will be carefully watching the committee chairmanships, particularly House Appropriations and House Commerce and Labor, where our budget items and out of network billing will be heard. The health plans want us to conform to the Biden Plan, not the Virginia plan we have in place.

• On the Administration side, key roles for us to watch will be the Secretary of Finance and Secretary of Health and Human Resources, as well as the Governor’s Policy Director and Legislative Director.

Thanks to our partners at Commonwealth Strategy Group for this analysis.