Virginia’s Economy Just Slammed On The Brakes — And It Didn’t Have To

A recent article's title reads: "Virginia’s GDP growth drops from 6.2% to 1.7%. Three new economic reports issue warnings about why and what comes next."

Let's break that down:

What the reports say

• According to three new economic reports (from the Brookings Institution, the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis & Policy at Old Dominion University, and the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at University of Virginia) Virginia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has plunged—from about 6.2 % in 2024 down to about 1.7 % so far this year. cardinalnews.org+1

  
  

• The reports warn that Virginia is now among the states with the slowest growth in the country and that the outlook is weak—job losses are mounting, especially in federal employment and trade-related sectors. Democratic Party of Virginia+2cardinalnews.org+2

  
  

• Specifically, the Dragas Center presentation described the shift heading toward “Fewer Jobs, Higher Prices, Slower Growth.” Democratic Party of Virginia

  
  

• The decline is attributed in large part to federal employment cuts and aggressive tariff/trade policies, both of which hit Virginia harder than many states because the Commonwealth has a large share of federal‐related employment and a trade‐dependent economy. Democratic Party of Virginia+

  
  

Why this matters for Virginia & the Shenandoah Valley

• When Virginia’s economy slows this dramatically, it affects job security, wages, and opportunities across the state—including rural regions like the Shenandoah Valley —so federal job cuts and weaker trade ripple outward.

  
  

• Slower growth means less tax revenue for education, infrastructure, and local services. In the Valley, that can mean delayed road improvements, fewer school resources, and less support for small businesses trying to grow or diversify.

  
  

• A weaker economy makes it harder to attract new employers or expand existing ones, which is critical for regions outside the major metro-areas (which already face a competitive disadvantage).

  
  

• For seniors and everyday working people, economic stagnation means less retirement security, fewer stable jobs, and more pressure to keep working longer or accept less favorable positions.

  
  

How this ties into Chris Runion’s party & Trump’s policies

• Chris Runion is part of the Republican party aligned with Donald Trump’s broader national agenda—one that emphasizes federal job cuts, tariffs, and rolling back certain regulatory supports.

  
  

• The reports explicitly cite Trump-era policies (or policies supported by politicians in that orbit) as key contributors to Virginia’s economic slowdown: fewer federal jobs, trade disruptions, tariffs, and diminished growth in sectors Virginia depends on. Democratic Party of Virginia+1

  
  

• By sticking with a party that supports those policies, Chris Runion has aligned himself with an agenda that is hurting our local economy—rather than fighting for policies that will promote stable job growth, diversify rural economies, and protect the employed and seniors in places like the Valley.

  
  

• I believe voters in House District 35 (and across Virginia) deserve leadership focused on creating jobs, growing opportunity, and protecting families—not the same old policies that leave our economy vulnerable and slow-moving.

  
  

Jena’s clear contrast and call to action

• My campaign is about building the future: investing in rural broadband, supporting small businesses, diversifying our economy, and making sure everyone in the Shenandoah Valley is on solid footing.

  
  

• We cannot afford to ride the coattails of a party whose economic policies leave Virginia slipping behind. The 1.7 % growth number is a red flag—we must act.

  
  

• I ask voters to hold Chris Runion and his colleagues accountable for aligning with a national agenda that is hurting Virginia’s economy. And to join me in choosing leadership that will move forward, not stagnate.