Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday called a special election to replace a state delegate who recently resigned. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"This is an extraordinary action and is only necessary because of the shamelessness of congressional Democrats – including every Democrat in our entire delegation – who refuse to pass a clean continuing resolution to open the federal government."
Youngkin said Virginia will use the state of emergency to continue providing food benefits to qualified Virginians "until congressional Democrats put the interests of Virginians in need ahead of their politics."
He credited President Donald Trump for supporting him in the endeavor.
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Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running to succeed Youngkin, said the administration is committed to ensuring no Virginian goes without food due to the shutdown.
"At Governor Youngkin’s direction, food benefits will be provided without interruption to support Virginia families," Earle-Sears said in a statement.
Pennsylvania, Colorado and Illinois all reportedly have issued warnings about the near-term future of SNAP in their states amid the shutdown, but none of their governors have yet declared a similar state of emergency.
The November date matches reports out of the Department of Agriculture as the timeframe when SNAP could run out.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/youngkin-declares-state-emergency-over-democrat-shutdown-depleting-snap-benefits-850k-virginians