Virginia Worker’s Freedom Act (2026)

On July 1, 2026, the state minimum wage will rise to $20 an hour—because no Virginian who works full-time should be living in poverty. Sixty percent of Republicans support this common-sense idea. It’s not radical—it’s just right. If you put in an honest day’s work, you should be able to afford a two-bedroom apartment and live with dignity.

We’ll also restore the First Amendment rights of Virginia’s workers. On that same day, the so-called “Right to Work” law—better known as the “Right to Be Exploited” law—will be repealed. And with it, the era of union-busting and wage suppression will end. The people who build, teach, and serve this Commonwealth will once again have the power to organize, to bargain, and to demand their fair share.

Virginia’s state and municipal workers will finally be granted collective bargaining rights—the same rights federal workers have had since 1978. No more two-tiered systems that punish our public servants. Our teachers, firefighters, sanitation workers, and nurses deserve more than pats on the back—they deserve a seat at the table and a voice in their future.

Every Virginian will have full physical and mental healthcare coverage. That means no more choosing between medicine and rent, or staying in a bad job just to keep your insurance. That fear ends on July 1, 2026—replaced by a system that values health, dignity, and freedom.

We’re going to fund student debt relief by making the military-industrial complex finally pay its fair share. Inspired by the biblical Jubilee in Deuteronomy 15:1-3, we’ll wipe the slate clean for thousands of Virginians—unlocking dreams of homeownership, small business creation, and family-building that debt has stolen for far too long.

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, let’s give working people the same freedoms we’ve handed corporations for decades. Let’s make July 1, 2026, the day we declare economic liberty for all—and put the people of Virginia first.

Here’s how we’ll fund the Virginia Worker's Freedom Act:

Use the Surplus, Responsibly.
Virginia ran another surplus this year. That’s money we’ve already paid. Instead of mailing it back in dribs and drabs, we’ll reinvest it in the things that matter, healthcare, education, and fair wages.
Recreational Cannabis Revenue.
We’ve legalized marijuana, now it’s time to tax and regulate its sale. Legal cannabis could generate hundreds of millions in revenue, and that money should go straight into public services. It’s time we stop gifting billions to cartels and start funding the people.
Casino Revenue.
Virginia has approved casinos across the Commonwealth. We’ll ensure this new revenue stream goes beyond private profit and into public investment, directly funding healthcare access, tuition-free education, and infrastructure in the communities that need it most.
A Convenience Fee for the Defense Industry.
The defense industry has built billion-dollar empires in our backyard while working people pay the price. Just like beachfront renters pay a premium for their location, so should defense contractors. We’ll propose a special “convenience fee” added to their property taxes—reparations for the lives lost and communities destabilized by decades of war profiteering.
Double Virginia’s Corporate Tax Rate to Offset Trump’s Giveaway
Donald Trump slashed the federal corporate tax rate to a record-low 21%, handing billion-dollar corporations a massive tax break while working families struggled. It’s time to balance the scales. We’ll raise Virginia’s corporate tax from 6% to 12% so the biggest companies pay their fair share. If Washington won’t stand up to corporate greed, Virginia will.