Greetings from Richmond,
Super Bowl weekend always reminds us that the toughest wins come from preparation, persistence, and heart. As a member of the minority party in Richmond, this week at the General Assembly demanded all three, and then some. Advancing good policy when you don’t have the numbers requires grit, strategy, and a willingness to keep showing up, even when the odds are stacked against you.
This week, the majority moved forward with new congressional redistricting maps, sending the matter to the Virginia Supreme Court for review. The maps released dramatically expand the influence of Northern Virginia, stretching it across multiple districts and diluting the voices of the rest of the Commonwealth. Under these proposed lines, as many as five congressional districts could be anchored in or dominated by Fairfax County alone. The 7th District, highlighted below, is a clear example, contorted into a shape that defies common sense and raises serious questions about fairness. A district that looks more like a lobster than a community is not what Virginians expect from a transparent redistricting process.
Friends, I truly wish I had better news, and fewer lobster jokes, but this is among the most troubling moments I’ve seen in my time in office. My office continues to hear daily from families struggling with the rising cost of living, especially the soaring price of electricity and basic necessities. Yet instead of focusing on affordability and practical solutions, the legislature remains consumed by power, control, and ideological priorities. Virginians deserve leaders who put their real-world challenges first, and I will continue fighting to make sure those voices are not ignored.
