By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
Several Virginia lawmakers voted alone against the rest of their chamber multiple times during the 2026 General Assembly session, opposing bills tied to energy policy, artificial intelligence, government transparency and state regulation.
Data from the Virginia Public Access Project identified a group of lawmakers who cast at least two solo votes on floor legislation this session, a category VPAP refers to as its “Contrarian Caucus.” The designation excludes procedural votes and focuses on final floor decisions where one lawmaker voted differently from all other members present.
Among them was Del. Eric Zehr, a Republican who voted against multiple measures that ultimately passed.
Zehr opposed House Bill 323, which directs the Department of Energy to study the reuse of waste heat from data centers. He also voted against House Bill 346, which deals with Freedom of Information Act provisions related to public utility account numbers, and House Bill 218, a measure tied to casino permitting.
Additional votes included House Bill 395, related to solar and local regulation.
Other lawmakers from both parties also cast solo votes on a range of policy issues.
Sen. Danica Roem, a Democrat, voted against House Bill 1186, which addresses the use of artificial intelligence in student instruction.
Roem told The Center Square her vote was tied to broader concerns about how artificial intelligence is being used and how it connects to increased data center development in parts of Virginia.
“In western Prince William County, the proliferation of data center sprawl can be linked back to the force-feeding of artificial intelligence on the public,” Roem said, adding that the technology is often used to support industry demand rather than public need.
She said she opposed expanding the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms, arguing it reinforces a cycle that drives further data center growth tied to those technologies.
Roem also pointed to her broader voting record, noting she frequently votes against legislation that expands exemptions to the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
“FOIA now has more than 150 exemptions to it, which works to the detriment of the public and their ability to hold their government accountable,” Roem said. “As a news reporter-turned-legislator, I know FOIA is the single most important public integrity tool of the citizenry beyond the ballot box, and legislators need to stop treating it like a giant block of Swiss cheese.”
Sen. Dave Suetterlein, a Republican, opposed House Bill 1491, a bill related to electric utility transmission line construction.
Sen. Bryce Reeves, a Republican, voted against Senate Bill 332, which allows the administration of medical marijuana for terminally ill patients.
The votes involved policies that affect residents and taxpayers, including energy infrastructure, public records access and how artificial intelligence is introduced in schools.
While solo votes are relatively uncommon, the data shows they occurred across both parties during the session, reflecting individual lawmakers’ decisions on specific pieces of legislation rather than broader caucus-level divisions.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from other lawmakers.
