Virginia Senate Democrats Block Youngkin's Board Nominees, Including Antisemitism Advocate

Democrats cite nominee misalignment with board values, while Republicans decry the decision as politically motivated.

Virginia Senate Democrats voted to block several of Governor Glenn Youngkin's appointees to state boards, including Kenneth Marcus, an antisemitism expert nominated for George Mason University's Board of Visitors.
Republicans criticized the decision, calling it a 'political hit job,' while Democrats argued the nominees were inconsistent with the boards' goals and values.
Kenneth Marcus, a prominent advocate against antisemitism, expressed disappointment, noting his recent efforts to address antisemitism at George Mason University, including implementing a definition of antisemitism in the school's anti-discrimination policy.
The rejection comes as George Mason University faces heightened scrutiny over antisemitic incidents, including the arrest of a student accused of plotting a terror attack on the Israeli Consulate in New York.
Republicans are exploring options to reinstate Marcus's nomination, but the path forward appears uncertain without Democratic support in the closely divided Senate.