Michael is an award-winning journalist who started covering Virginia news in 2013 with reporting stints at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Business, and Richmond BizSense. A graduate of William & Mary and Northern Virginia Community College, he also covered financial news for S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Michael O’Connor
Latest from Michael O’Connor
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State Sen. Hashmi of Chesterfield enters 2025 lieutenant governor’s race
Hashmi, a champion for reproductive rights, joins a crowded field seeking the Democratic nomination.
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VIDEO: Youngkin, Democrats to start over on budget talks
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Democratic leaders in Virginia’s General Assembly are re-starting state budget negotiations on friendlier footing after weeks of public sparring. Our political reporter, Michael O’Connor, hit the scene last month; here’s the latest updates: @vadogwoodnews Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Democratic leaders in Virginia's General Assembly are re-starting state budget negotiations…
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Birth control protections await action by Youngkin
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has until May 17 to block or sign into law stronger legal protections for people to access contraception.
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Virginia Democrats fight to address underfunded, understaffed education system
Underfunded and understaffed schools across Virginia are watching and waiting for a new state budget that will determine the fate of their finances.
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Three ways Virginia’s working families were let down this session
The state budget is still being finalized, but in some areas it’s already clear where Gov. Glenn Youngkin and state lawmakers came up short for working families this legislative session. With a new Democratic majority in the Virginia General Assembly this year, many key policies for working Virginians finally saw serious movement in the legislative…
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Kaine, Warner urge federal agency cover IVF treatment for public workers
Virginia’s two Senators were among a group of lawmakers defending access to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, which has entered the national spotlight after an Alabama ruling made it a new battle in the right’s war on reproductive freedom.
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Democratic shakeup in Virginia primaries for governor, lieutenant governor
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney quit his bid for governor and jumped into the race to be the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.
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Youngkin, Democrats to start over on budget talks
The Republican governor stood with Democratic leaders in the General Assembly on Wednesday in a bid to ease tensions over their budget debate.
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Virginia NAACP to sue Youngkin over handling of DEI records requests
The civil rights group said it would take Youngkin to court for not releasing communications between his office and state universities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The NAACP Virginia State Conference announced Monday it plans to take the office of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to court for allegedly violating Virginia’s Freedom of Information…
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Virginia becomes first Southern state to ban child marriage
Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed legislation earlier this month that will make the marriage age 18 without exceptions. Virginia became the first state in the South to ban child marriage. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed this month House Bill 994 to make the legal marriage age 18. There are just 11 other states in the US…
