Politics

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin was inaugurated on Saturday, and immediately banned Critical Race Theory (which isn’t taught in most K-12 schools) and ended the commonwealth’s mask mandate in public schools.

• The Republican governor also ended the vaccine requirement for state workers.

Another pandemic election is bringing more uncertainty to campaigning.

Between the lines: Door knocking and back-slapping events are likely to remain less popular through the primaries — no candidate wants to be known for spawning a super spreader.

Conditions at the D.C. jail have been facing scrutiny for months.

Why it matters: The jail has long been the target of local criticism, but it has become a lightning rod in conservative circles as hundreds of defendants in cases linked to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection are detained in the D.C. facility.

On Tuesday, the D.C. Council postponed an attempt to halt the clearing of existing homeless encampments and advanced a redistricting map.

Driving the news: The actions came during hours of debate and voting on a long agenda of legislation.

The District's months-long redistricting process will wrap up this month after some last-minute fireworks.

Why it matters: Along with local governments nationwide, the District is redrawing its political boundaries in line with new numbers from the 2020 census.

D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine endorsed in the Ward 5 D.C. Council race on Monday, backing the president of the State Board of Education, Zachary Parker.

Why it matters: Racine's endorsement is highly coveted, as several of his picks have gone on to win seats on the D.C. Council.

The first debate of D.C.'s 2022 campaign season featured two former council members seeking a return to public office in Ward 5.

Why it matters: Rapidly growing Ward 5 is home to many of the city's debates over inequality and violence — and there's now an uber competitive contest for council member after the incumbent decided to run for attorney general.

Former D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. tells Axios he will run for his old seat in Ward 5, nine years after resigning and serving a prison sentence for stealing public funds.

Driving the news: Thomas says he plans to file campaign papers this week in order to participate in the first Ward 5 candidates forum, hosted tomorrow by D.C. for Democracy.