Public Policy

1. Preventing Subsidized Corporate Welfare for Big Tech
Conservative voters strongly oppose picking winners and losers through the tax code. Virginia’s data center industry previously received the largest tax breaks in the state—accounting for an estimated $1.6 billion in waived revenue in 2025 alone—benefiting some of the world's richest corporations. Frame the state’s first-of-its-kind data center electricity consumption tax, enacted in July 2026, as a necessary conservative measure to ensure large corporations pay their fair share rather than relying on everyday taxpayers to subsidize their massive footprints.

2. Protecting Small Businesses and Families from Rate Hikes
A core conservative tenant is shielding household budgets from unnecessary cost burdens. Massive data center growth has driven Dominion Energy's fuel expenses up 88% since 2021 (projected to reach $4.35 billion through June 2027), increasing residential monthly bills. Emphasize that unconstrained grid expansion forces regular homeowners and small businesses to cross-subsidize multi-billion-dollar tech infrastructures, violating free-market fairness where the consumer driving the demand should bear the cost.

3. Championing Free-Market Accountability with the "But-For" Test
In a true free-market system, businesses must internalize their own operational expenses rather than socializing the losses. Highlight the Virginia State Corporation Commission's (SCC) landmark August 2026 ruling, which mandates that utilities directly assign transmission line and substation costs to the specific large-load data centers that made them necessary. Championing this "but-for" cost allocation method ensures that tech companies—not Virginia ratepayers—shoulder 100% of the financial risk for industry-specific infrastructure.

4. Defending Private Property Rights Against Transmission Lines
Conservative voters value local control and the protection of private property from government and utility intrusion. The rapid expansion of the data center grid requires massive high-voltage transmission lines, such as the Golden-to-Mars 500-kV loop in Loudoun County. These projects cut across rural lands, impact property values, and disrupt local communities. Presenting a stance that demands data centers utilize on-site generation or pay upfront collateral prevents utility giants from abusing eminent domain for commercial profit.

5. Demanding Energy Independence and Reliability
A stable, reliable electric grid is essential for national security and economic preservation. Data centers process an estimated 70% of global internet traffic right in Northern Virginia, causing energy demand to surge drastically. This immense load leaves Virginia increasingly exposed to volatile wholesale energy markets where spot prices skyrocket during heatwaves and cold snaps. Frame the push for data center energy regulations as a defense of Virginia's energy security, ensuring that rapid AI expansion does not trigger blackouts or undermine grid reliability for essential public services.

From a conservative perspective, robust border security and rigorous voter integrity measures are not distinct concerns, but rather two sides of the same coin of national sovereignty and constitutional governance. Proponents of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act argue that ensuring only United States citizens cast ballots in federal elections is a fundamental prerequisite for maintaining a republic where the consent of the governed remains tied to actual membership in the political community.
          A conservative viewpoint holds that requiring documentary proof of citizenship—such as a passport or birth certificate—for voter registration is a common-sense safeguard, much like requirements for obtaining a driver's license, boarding an airplane, or securing employment. Advocates contend that without such verification, the integrity of the voting process is vulnerable to erosion, which diminishes public trust in electoral outcomes.
          Furthermore, this perspective links election integrity directly to federal border enforcement. From this viewpoint, policies that fail to secure national borders allow for unchecked illegal immigration, which proponents argue eventually strains public resources and complicates the enforcement of domestic laws, including those governing voting eligibility. By combining strong border security with measures like the SAVE Act, conservative policy advocates argue that the nation can restore the rule of law, protect the integrity of the ballot box, and reaffirm the principle that citizenship matters.

• Enforcing Citizenship Verification: Proponents argue that the SAVE Act addresses voter registration by emphasizing documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. Conservative lawmakers argue this is a vital safeguard to ensure elections are decided exclusively by eligible citizens.

• Maintaining Voter Rolls: Proponents point to state-level efforts as evidence of the need for standardized verification, noting past administrative actions to identify and remove non-citizens from Virginia's voter rolls. The SAVE Act proposes nationalizing data-sharing practices to assist states in systematically maintaining registration lists.

• Public Consensus: Supporters emphasize that implementing identification requirements and proof-of-citizenship measures aligns with the policy goals of conservative organizations and various public opinion polls regarding voter security.

• Washington leaders have failed consecutive financial audit, highlighting a chronic lack of basic accountability. 

• Virginia ranks first in net benefits received from the federal government, creating a unique tension for local fiscal conservatives. A massive footprint of defense contractors and military bases means federal spending cuts directly threaten local jobs and the state economy. 

• Conservative defense policy favors reinvesting waste into the military mission rather than shrinking the overall budget. Organizations like the House Armed Services Committee advocate for cutting bloated headquarters bureaucracy and unnecessary reports, then redirecting those savings into advanced munitions, shipbuilding, and hypersonic weapons. 

Strong conservative leadership in Virginia is essential for the future of the Commonwealth and the nation, providing a steady framework to guide policy, protect taxpayer interests, and maintain public trust.

Governance

• Community Focus: Local leaders must prioritize the specific needs of their towns and counties over broad state or national mandates.

• Fiscal Prudence: Sound financial management at the local level keeps property taxes low and supports essential community services.

• Responsive Policy: Effective local governance ensures citizens have a direct voice in zoning, education, and public safety decisions.

Party Accountability

• Platform Integrity: Conservative leaders must hold themselves and their peers strictly accountable to the promises made during campaigns.

• Transparent Action: Regular communication and clear voting records build long-term trust between elected officials and party voters.

• Principled Growth: True accountability keeps the political party focused on core constitutional principles rather than short-term political gains.