Dear John,
Like you, I am disappointed over the presidential election and the fact that Republicans will be in control of the Senate and House of Representatives. But as Vice President Harris said: “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” I believe that this adage is true.
Democratic Senate candidates won in all of the swing states and only lost in Pennsylvania (in a very close race). Additionally, the Democratic candidate for governor was elected in North Carolina. These victories show us that Democratic candidates can speak effectively to issues that matter to their constituents.
History is replete with examples of America choosing the path of light and hope after tragedies have shaken us to the core. From the Civil Rights Movement to the fight for LGBTQ Equality and so many other battles, when we lean in and fight for the values of freedom and equality, we make progress.
Virginia Constitutional Amendments:
Democrats in the Virginia House and Senate have been working together on three constitutional amendments for the upcoming session: protecting reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and voting rights. With Republicans in control at the federal level, passing these protections at the state level is more urgent than ever before.
Democratic lawmakers are committed to passing these amendments in the 2025 General Assembly session. We must then pass the same language for a second time in 2026, which means Democrats will need to retain control of the House of Delegates in the November 2025 elections. Then, the language will go before the voters in November 2026.
Protecting Progress:
I am completely committed (and so are my fellow Democrats) to protecting the progress Virginia has made in creating a more fair and just commonwealth. But I fully expect Governor Youngkin and the Republican members of the General Assembly to attempt to erode that progress.
Fortunately, Suhas Subramanyam won the 10th district congressional race. However, we now have an open seat in the state Senate and the Democrats must retain that seat. The Loudoun County Democrats will be holding a Firehouse Primary on Saturday, November 16th to select their nominee and the election will be on January 7th. I will keep you posted on the status of that race.
In Summary:
Many of you have asked what you can do to ensure that progress is not overturned here in Virginia. I will take a moment to remind you that statewide elections are on the ballot in Virginia next year, along with the House of Delegates. Moreover, the congressional midterm elections are on the ballot in 2026.
To succeed in future elections, we will have to have some tough conversations with folks who did not vote our way in the presidential election. But these conversations are absolutely necessary. We are much more similar to each other than different. So we must find a way to talk about our commonalities and the values that bind us as Virginians and as Americans.
Our journey to create a more perfect union will always be full of cliffs and valleys, but the fight is worth it.
I hope you’ll visit my website at barbarafavola.org and subscribe to my regular newsletters and updates to learn about the important work we are doing on your behalf. We also have a dynamic social media presence through Facebook and X. I hope you’ll follow our work using one or both of those platforms. You may also track legislation through Virginia’s Legislative Information System. Additionally, the Commonwealth’s General Assembly website is a useful tool to navigate the state legislature. You can follow events, find pertinent information, observe sessions, and monitor committee meetings through the site.
It is a privilege and honor to represent you in Richmond.
