Despite claiming to champion “affordability” and reframing President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs as an expensive “tax” during her rebuttal to Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday, Democrat Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger refused to mention the slew of new taxes she’s seeking to inflict on residents of her state.
Spanberger, who took office last month, admitted that she knew affordability was a concern for Virginians and other Americans while she was running for governor:
“As I campaigned for governor last year, I traveled to every corner of Virginia, and I heard the same pressing concern everywhere: costs are too high in housing, healthcare, energy, and childcare. And I know these same conversations are being had all across this country.”
“Since this president took office last year, his reckless trade policies have forced American families to pay more than $1,700 each in tariff costs,” Spanberger said, without citing evidence supporting her claim.
“Meanwhile, the president is planning for new tariffs, another massive tax hike on you and your family,” Spanberger said.
“But, here in Virginia, I am working with our state legislature to lower costs and make the Commonwealth more affordable,” Gov. Spanberger claimed.
However, while tariffs are not actual taxes, the Democrat governor is looking to make life less affordable for Virginians by instituting a host of genuine taxes and tax hikes.
“Democrats Pounce On Virginia Taxpayers,” Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) reported in an analysis of the tax consequences of Spanberger's party having gained complete control of the state’s government:
“Under unified Democrat control, Virginia is poised to become a tax-hiking outlier in a region full of states that are phasing out their income taxes.”
“Immediately upon seizing control of government,” Virginia Democrats introduced bills “that seek to impose an array of new and higher taxes,” ATR noted, citing HB 378, HB 188, HB 979, HB 900, HB 919 / SB 763, HB 978, HB 334 / SB 66, SB 129 / HB 145 and HB 935.
And, while not technically a tax, Gov. Spanberger’s planned reinstatement of Virginia as a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regime would “act as a backdoor carbon tax,” ATR warned.
“Despite campaigning on making life more affordable for Virginians during last year’s election, Democratic lawmakers have proposed several tax increases and new taxes,” ABC affiliate WJLA7 warned, providing an even more extensive list of new taxes and tax increases proposed by Virginia Democrats under Gov. Spanberger:
- Additional local sales tax in all Virginia counties and cities
- New personal property tax on electric leaf blowers and electric landscaping equipment
- Large employer tax
- Gun and ammunition tax
- New income tax brackets
- Delivery tax, which would hit Amazon, Uber Eats, FedEx, and UPS orders in Northern Virginia
- Investment income tax
- Event tax
- Storage facility tax
- Gym membership tax
- Dog walking tax
- Dog grooming tax
- Counseling tax
- Digital personal property tax
- New car taxes and highway use fees
- Increase in the hotel tax in Arlington
- Statewide speed cameras (not a tax, but more fines for drivers)
- Vehicle repair tax
- Home repair tax
- Dry cleaning tax
Some new taxes proposed - such as those on dog walking, dog grooming and gym memberships – have drawn national media attention and criticism.
In all, “Virginia Democrats have introduced more than 50 new tax proposals this legislative session,” WJLA7 reported.
— Craig Bannister (@CraigBBannister) February 25, 2026
