Gov. Spanberger Attempts To Replace Virginia Tech Rector With Major Donor. Rector Rocovich Calls The Move ‘Legally Unsupported’
Yesterday, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger took the controversial step of “removing” the Rector of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, stating that there was a violation of the code of ethics, while citing no evidence of any malfeasance. The Rector is the elected chair of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Tech, and under state law, Governors can only remove them if there is “malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence, or gross neglect of duty.”
This move comes as the Board of Visitors is beginning the process to search for a new President of Virginia Tech. Rocovich has served on the board for 16 years, helping develop the institution.
Virginia Mercury reports that Spanberger wants to appoint Edward Baine, executive vice president of utility operations and president of Dominion Energy Virginia, to fill the vacancy that she created. The Virginia Public Access Projects reports that Dominion donated $100,000 to Spanberger's Inaugural Committee in 2026. Personally, Baine has donated over $14,000 to Democrats, including $5,000 to Spanberger for Governor.
In response to the letter from the Governor, Rocovich issued his own letter refuting Spanberger’s claims.
In short, he said, “I will be direct: I found that call and the subsequent letter deeply offensive, legally unsupported, and wholly inconsistent with the Governor’s own publicly-stated principles regarding the proper relationship between the executive branch and the governance of Virginia’s public universities.”
Spanberger faced immediate blowback:
House Republican Leader Terry Kilgore said, “John Rocovich has done more for Virginia Tech than anyone else in recent history. He led a massive generation commitment to Virginia Tech Athletics to position VT for the future. He lives and breathes Orange and Maroon. And now Governor Spanberger is alleging ethics violations and abruptly removing him from the Board of Visitors? I’ve known John for years, and I know he has done nothing but act in the best interest of Virginia Tech. To suggest otherwise is libelous. The bottom line is this: the Governor is using this law to remove someone for purely political reasons — in a way no Governor in recent history has done.”
Former Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares said, “Spanberger, who previously declared Governors shouldn’t interfere with the governance of universities, just fired the most beloved Rector in Va Tech history, John Rocovich. The man who was the force behind recruiting James Franklin to save the football program, who has served twice before as Rector, who has given decades of his life to his beloved alma matter was fired without explanation. This is a shameful act to appease her leftwing base & proves once again she is Governor Bait & Switch.”
The Virginia Republican Senate Caucus said, “Abigail Spanberger has time to exact political retribution on university board members, but can’t manage to get her own party to pass a budget. Priorities…”
Liberal-leaning Environmental Group, Clean Virginia issued a statement: “Governor Spanberger says she removed rector Rocovich over ethical concerns,” said Brennan Gilmore, Executive Director of Clean Virginia. “But the person she chose to replace him has spent years at the top of a utility that has overcharged Virginia customers by billions of dollars and corrupted our political system. Dominion is now trying to push through a $67 billion merger deal that could enrich Dominion executives on the backs of its customers, a deal that Gov. Spanberger’s administration should subject to the highest level of scrutiny.”
