For Immediate Release:
Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026
Contact:
Lee Francis | Chief Program & Communications Officer
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(434) 989-3197 | lfrancis@valcv.org
Report Points to Youngkin’s Actions in 2025, Recommends Ways the Spanberger Administration Can Get Virginia Back on Track
RICHMOND – Today, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters released its 2025 Gubernatorial Scorecard ranking Governor Glenn Youngkin based on his Administration’s actions on environmental and democracy issues over the past year, and recommending ways the Spanberger Administration can reverse course.
Download the Full Scorecard Here
The Scorecard’s overall grade of “F” is based on Youngkin’s environmental agenda (D+), executive orders (C-), appointments (D-), legislative actions (F) and overall governance (F).
“At every turn as Governor, Glenn Youngkin stood in the way of progress. Because of his actions, our air is dirtier, our energy bills are higher, and we have fewer tools at our disposal to hold polluters accountable and protect communities from harm’s way. This is Youngkin’s legacy,” said Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. “Virginians are ready to turn the page on the past four years, which is why they elected a Governor who will stand up to polluters, work to advance clean, affordable energy, and put Virginians first. We look forward to working with the new Administration to get Virginia back on track.”
Highlights from the Scorecard include:
- Youngkin vetoing more than half of the pro-environmental bills that made it to his desk, as he continued standing in the way of clean, affordable energy.
- Youngkin’s outgoing budget which gives a blank check to Big Tech and comes woefully short of needed funding to protect clean water and safeguard communities from flooding.
- Failing to stand up for Virginia in the face of federal attacks on clean energy, including the cancellation of billions of dollars in grants and tax credits, that will kill jobs and raise energy costs.
- Appointing pro-polluter individuals and political donors to key regulatory and administration posts.
- An Executive Order ahead of the 2025 elections to undermine early voting, reinstate his controversial voter purge, and hand Virginia’s data over to federal agencies that are terrorizing Black and Brown communities.
Virginia LCV published its first Gubernatorial Scorecard in 2022 alongside its General Assembly Scorecard, which has been published every year since the organization’s founding in 2000. Both Virginia LCV’s legislative and gubernatorial scorecards are the only comprehensive tools available for Virginians to gauge whether their elected officials are prioritizing a healthy environment and a strong democracy.
About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.
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