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Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter shares early voting information, provides updates from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, highlights how to receive free COVID tests from the federal government, and shares select engagements from this past week. Thank you for reading this newsletter and for staying informed.
Early Voting
Early voting is underway across Virginia, now through November 2. For residents of the current Senate District 15 (Chesterfield County and City of Richmond), more details are available below:
Early Voting Locations: Chesterfield County
Early in-person voting is available at Central Library (7051 Lucy Corr Blvd, Chesterfield). Please note that early voting is currently not available at the Chesterfield Registrar’s Office; this is a change from previous years.
Additional satellite locations will be available beginning Monday, October 21. Verify voting hours for satellite locations through the Chesterfield Registrar’s Office [[link removed]] . Residents registered to vote in Chesterfield County may vote at any of the following locations during this next phase of the early voting period (October 21 through November 2):
*
Clover
Hill
Library
(6701
Deer
Run
Drive,
Midlothian)
*
Ettrick-Matoaca
Library
(4501
River
Road,
South
Chesterfield)
*
LaPrade
Library
(9000
Hull
Street
Road,
North
Chesterfield)
*
Meadowdale
Library
(4301
Meadowdale
Boulevard,
North
Chesterfield)
*
North
Courthouse
Road
Library
(325
Courthouse
Road,
North
Chesterfield)
Early Voting Locations: City of Richmond
Early in-person voting is available for City of Richmond residents at the Office of Elections (2134 West Laburnum Avenue, Richmond).
Additional satellite locations will be available beginning Monday, October 7. Verify voting hours for satellite locations through the Richmond Registrar’s Office [[link removed]] . Residents registered to vote in the City of Richmond may vote at any of the following locations during this next phase of the early voting period (October 7 through November 2):
*
City
Hall
(900
East
Broad
Street,
Richmond)
*
Hickory
Hill
Community
Center
(3000
East
Belt
Boulevard,
Richmond)
Early voting will also be available on Sunday, October 27, at all three City of Richmond early voting locations from 1:00 pm until 5:00pm.
Central Virginia Transportation Authority
On Friday morning, the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) met to discuss and approve various projects including continued work on the Fall Line Trail [[link removed]] and critically needed safety improvements to Hull Street, Route 60, and Route 5. During the meeting we also discussed liability protections [[link removed]] currently awarded to our other transportation authorities across the state but not to the CVTA. Delegate Rae Cousins and I are collaborating with the Authority to introduce legislation during the 2025 legislative session. The full meeting recording [[link removed]] is available.
Free COVID-19 Tests
The federal government is providing four free at-home COVID tests per household. Orders will be filled while supplies last. Orders for tests can be placed online here [[link removed]] or by calling 1-800-232-0233. Tests will be shipped to households beginning this week.
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Select Community Engagements
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This past Monday, after the conclusion of the retreat provided to members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources in Woodstock, VA, I traveled to Smith Mountain Lake to join Democrats in support of Karen Baker, our Democratic candidate in the 9th Congressional District (CD9). CD9 voters have a remarkable candidate in Karen Baker. An attorney who transitioned later in life to also earn her nursing degree, Karen is intensely committed to her constituents, most especially on issues of fundamental rights, healthcare access, education, and workforce development.
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On Tuesday evening, I was honored to join both the Fairfax County Democrats Arab American Caucus and the full Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) for their meetings. FCDC has mobilized and energized voters all across the county, and its impacts are visible in recent elections which have brought a remarkable range and diversity of candidates into state and local offices.
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On Wednesday, I joined our Democratic Coordinated Campaign for a conversation with members of the Central Virginia Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community to share the stakes of this election. As the fastest growing demographic in the Commonwealth, AANHPI Virginians have the ability to help shape this historic election and we are committed to doing the necessary work to elect Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, Tim Kaine, and our Democratic Congressional candidates.
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Later on Wednesday, I was joined by supporters from across the central region at a fundraiser in support of my campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Our focus of discussion was Virginia’s public education, and Democrats’ work in recent years to protect education from efforts to privatize this core and essential public good. As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Education, protecting and improving our public education has been one of my top priorities.
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I participated in a community conversation with local, state, and federal representatives on Thursday evening to share what is at stake in this election. We had an energized discussion as so many committed community members showed up to share their passions for this upcoming November election.
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Last Friday, I joined two phenomenal private citizens, as well as Senator Mamie Locke and Jamie Lockhart, the Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, to highlight the need to protect contraception access. We especially focused on Republican US Senate candidate Hung Cao and Congresswoman Jennifer Kiggans (CD2) who have refused to answer whether or not they support the Right to Contraception – legislation that has been introduced at both the federal level and in Virginia. By contrast, both Tim Kaine and Missy Cotter Smasal will be champions for reproductive healthcare, as I have been in the Virginia General Assembly.
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After our press conference, I joined Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, Richmond City Councilmember Katherine Jordan, CD1 Democratic nominee Leslie Mehta, and members of SEIU Virginia for a “Care Can’t Wait” rally, highlighting how consequential this November’s elections are for union members and their families.
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Saturday was a packed day as I traveled to Colonial Beach, VA, to enjoy the beautiful morning with the Westmoreland County Democrats 6th Annual Northern Neck BLUE Crab Fest. I joined Senator Tim Kaine and Democratic Candidate for CD1 Leslie Mehta. Several members of the Chesterfield County Democratic Committee also joined us that morning!
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Senator Mark Warner’s “Almost Annual Pig Roast” is an attraction that draws hundreds of Democrats on a regular basis. I had a great time chatting with old and new friends, including Congressional candidate Ken Mitchell and former Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj. Everyone is excited about this November and about charting a strong, new course for the country.
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Following the campaign events of the day, I traveled to Falls Church, VA, to attend the SOS Children’s Villages-USA Gala. This charitable organization has been performing remarkable work supporting education, housing, nutrition, and mental health support for abandoned and orphaned children throughout the world. Their efforts have led to successful growth and opportunities for young people in a variety of fields, including computer science, transforming lives for generations.
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Early Saturday morning, I was honored to join Donarte – an international conference focused on the medical, governmental, and ethical responsibilities surrounding organ donation, transplantation, and developing healthcare treatment options. While the conference was held in Italy, I was able to join by Zoom. I spoke about US and Virginia policies that support organ donations and donors. In my presentation I highlighted the legislation I have carried and supported for the Living Donor Protection Act in Virginia.
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Yesterday morning, I joined several other elected officials, including Senator Mark Warner who serves as Chair of the India Caucus in the US Senate, and community members at the annual Festival of India in Richmond. A Richmond tradition since 1981, the Festival of India welcomes thousands of visitors to Richmond to enjoy Indian food, music, art, and cultural experiences.
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Last evening, environmentalists from across the Metro Richmond Area gathered together in support of my campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Addressing the climate crisis, expanding clean energy opportunities in the Commonwealth, and addressing environmental injustices in our most vulnerable communities necessitate strong leadership at the state-level. Since I was first elected to the Virginia Senate in 2019, environmental concerns have been top legislative priorities.
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Later in the evening last night, I joined several elected Muslim leaders and prominent leaders in the Muslim community from across the county for the official community launch of Muslims for Harris-Walz. We heard a variety of perspectives on several issues of immediate concern: US foreign policy, the tremendous and unbearable loss of innocent life in areas of global conflicts, Islamophobia and the rise of bigotry, the targeting of immigrant communities, and more. The unifying message focused on the essential need for Muslim voters to participate in this November’s election and to make decisions that will impact all of our communities and our children’s future.
Connecting With My Office
My office can be reached at the following:
Email: [email protected] [gmail.com]
Phone: 804.698.7515
If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here [[link removed]] .
— Ghazala
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