Spanberger: “Virginians’ Wages Are Not Stretching Anywhere Close to Where They Did in the Past”
A Recent Poll Found the Economy & Cost of Living Are Together Top Concern for Nearly Six in 10 Virginians
RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after a majority of the Virginia Senate voted to incrementally increase the state minimum wage to $15 per hour by January 1, 2027 — sending the legislation to Governor Youngkin’s desk.
“In communities across the Commonwealth, I’ve heard from families who’ve had to choose between paying rent, keeping the lights on, or putting food on the table. I’ve heard from Virginians who are rationing their lifesaving prescription drugs because they can’t afford their refills. And no matter if they’re a Democrat or Republican, I’ve heard from parents who are struggling to pay for the childcare they need to go to work and earn a living. Virginians’ wages are not stretching anywhere close to where they did in the past.
“Every Virginian who works full time deserves the opportunity to save for their futures and their children’s futures. As bills increase and Virginians are forced to spend more of their pay to keep up, working families need stronger wages to make ends meet. I’m grateful to Chair Ward and every legislator who voted to pass this bill for their enduring commitment to building a stronger Virginia for our neighbors.”
The legislation passed today in the Virginia Senate, HB1928, would codify the adjusted state hourly minimum wage of $12.41 per hour that went into effect on January 1, 2025. The legislation would then increase the minimum wage to $13.50 per hour by January 1, 2026 and subsequently increase the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by January 1, 2027.
According to a January 2025 Commonwealth Poll conducted by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, nearly 6 in 10 Virginians identified the economy and cost of living together as their number one issue facing the Commonwealth, an increase of 20 percentage points from the Wilder School’s Fall 2024 Commonwealth Poll.