Lawsuit Challenges Youngkin's University Board Appointees

Virginia Senate Democrats have sued the rectors of George Mason University, the University of Virginia, and the Virginia Military Institute, seeking to remove eight of Governor Glenn Youngkin's appointees from their Boards of Visitors. The lawsuit follows the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee's vote to reject the nominations, with Democrats arguing that the appointees' terms ended immediately after the vote under the Virginia Constitution. Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares counter that the appointees may remain until the full General Assembly acts or until 30 days into the next legislative session, citing established practice. Democrats assert that allowing the appointees to stay violates the legislative branch's oversight role and disrupts the constitutional balance of power. The legal dispute has intensified partisan tensions, with Republicans dismissing the lawsuit as meritless and a waste of resources. The case highlights ongoing conflicts over control and political influence on Virginia's public university boards.