This disturbing trend of governments persecuting people for their lawful political beliefs is dangerous and probably not going to change without a major shakeup of some sort. Lawsuits won't make a dent in it, even if they are successful. But they have to happen.
Garcetti applies to government employee speech. Virginia employees have virtually no rights against an employer if they aren’t in a protected class.
I’m afraid Lawsuits won’t help much here.