By Guest Columnist
August 13, 2025
This year, I have tailored my newsletters to focus on the upcoming election, specifically, where each candidate stands on the issues and what challenges are at stake. This is an election Virginians cannot afford to sit out, as its outcome will have a major impact on how our Commonwealth is governed. With that in mind, I want to focus on the powers of the Governor. Virginia’s system has several unique features that differ not only from our federal government but also from other state governments. It’s important for voters to understand exactly what the Governor’s powers are, how much control they have over state agencies, and how influential they are in the legislative process. Today, I am highlighting two powers that are especially unique to Virginia’s Governor. One of the most significant powers is the appointment of cabinet secretaries (formally, “Secretaries of the Commonwealth” refers to a specific constitutional office, but in practice, this term is often used to mean the Governor’s Cabinet members). These positions are crucial to the operation of Virginia’s agencies. In other states, some equivalent officials are directly elected by the people; however, in Virginia, they are appointed by the Governor and report directly to him, working closely with agencies to implement his policies. While their roles and titles often mirror those of federal cabinet secretaries, there are notable differences in how they are appointed and operate at the state level. In Virginia, both chambers of the General Assembly must agree to confirm a cabinet appointment. If one party controls the House of Delegates and the other controls the Senate, the process often results in concessions or the appointment of more bipartisan candidates. If the chambers cannot agree before the end of the legislative session, the Governor may make an interim appointment that lasts until the next session. These interim appointments are especially impactful because, unlike Congress, the General Assembly typically meets in regular session only once a year. This means a Governor could simply wait until the end of session to appoint someone without legislative approval, allowing that appointee to exercise full authority in the meantime.