Announcing Joshua Cole (VA HD 65)!

Our first candidate of the year has been announced, and we are thrilled to be working with Joshua again! In 2021, Democrats lost the majority in the House of Delegates by a difference of 733 votes in the three closest districts. Now, we have a chance to flip it back to blue by picking up just three seats ― and Joshua’s district is critical to making that happen.

MEET JOSHUA COLE

In 2019, Delegate Cole became both the youngest person and the first Black person elected to represent the Fredericksburg region in Virginia’s historic General Assembly - Sister District was proud to support him! During his time in the House of Delegates, Joshua put his expertise as a college Academic Advisor and public school behavior aid to use, serving on the House Committee on Education.

Outside of politics, the Honorable Joshua Cole is a Pastor and serves as the Chairman of the House of Clergy for the Union of Charismatic Orthodox Churches. An avid Star Wars and Marvel fan, Joshua is a husband and father dedicated to making the Fredericksburg area better for working-class citizens, parents, and the next generation, as well as attracting more businesses to the community that pay their workers well.

For more, go to Joshua's candidate page.

Fundraising BLITZ!

Our first fundraising blitz of 2023 is coming up – May 22 to 24.

A "fundraising blitz" helps candidates build momentum by collecting donations during a short window of time - and sometimes we have supporters offer matching donations to make each 💵 worth more!

Start getting ready!

📱 Phonebanking 📲

Our phonebanking signups are LIVE! We start on Wednesday, May 24, at 6:30 PM and will continue through Election Day.

Phonebankers meet over Zoom to support and assist each other while making calls to potential voters. We are hoping to do some in person phonebanking events as well.

Why do we start in May? Early 📞 get results – and help recruit on-the-ground volunteers for our candidates! 🏃‍♀️🏃

Training is provided and you do not need any experience to join in.

Sign up today and bring your friends!

Historic Firsts Series

Sister District has partnered with Teen Vogue on the Historic Firsts series. Next up is Irene Shin, a delegate from right here in Virginia, who is the first female Korean-American elected to the House of Delegates.

Who is Sister District DC/VA/MD?

We are volunteers who agree that elections for state legislatures are where the real change is made, and understand the impact small efforts and donations can make in these critical elections.

Our Steering Committee coordinates our efforts across the DC/VA/MD area. The Steering Committee Vice-Chair is Karen Rodd.

About Karen

Born and raised in Chicago, Karen has lived in DC for over 20 years with her husband (of about the same vintage). Since leaving her paying jobs in communications and association and law firm management, she has spent her time fundraising for charitable organizations (Calvary Women’s Services, Arlington Free Clinic) and political candidates. She also has served on Calvary’s board, as well as that of her co-op.

In her free time, Karen enjoys tennis, golf, and playing the piano. She’s also an avid sports spectator, and is proud to support the teams of both Chicago and DC.

Karen joined our chapter at the end of 2022 as an outgrowth of her belief that helping candidates in down-ballot elections would be the best way to protect voting rights and ensure human rights – especially those of minorities – in an increasingly red landscape.

Before You Go...

Sister District’s mission is to imagine, build, and expand progressive power in state legislatures, and we know that organizing around elections is just one piece of the puzzle.

That’s why we’re amplifying the voices of local lawmakers, educating the public about the importance of state leaders and policies, and inspiring people to deepen their civic engagement — especially locally and down-ballot.

There is power in storytelling, and the more people we bring into this fight, the more powerful our movement will become. We hope you will join us in our efforts!

DONATE TO SISTER DISTRICT

We look forward to seeing you at the next event soon!

Sister District DC/VA/MD

Paid for by Sister District Project. Authorized by Joshua Cole, candidate for HD 65.