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Today, the PCCC is proud to endorse Jennifer Carroll Foy in the Democratic primary for Virginia Governor. We're also endorsing over a dozen candidates running for election and re-election to the Virginia State Assembly, and highlighting our approved candidates for Lieutenant Governor.
In 3 short years of having a Democratic governor and majorities in both chambers of the state assembly, Virginia has become a case study in how Democrats can help everyday people after decades of Republican control.
But in this state where governors aren't allowed to run for consecutive terms, keeping this experiment in Democratic control going needs to be a top priority. And tons of powerful interests are spending millions to turn Virginia red again.
GOVERNOR
We first endorsed Jennifer Carroll Foy in 2017 when she flipped a Republican-held Virginia House seat by focusing on increases to funding for public education, criminal justice reform, and Medicaid expansion -- and did it while pregnant with twins!
Jennifer is the first African-American woman to graduate from the Virginia Military Institute. During her time in the Virginia House, she championed the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, helped expand Medicaid to nearly half a million Virginians, and advocated for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable communities. Now, she’s running to be the first woman elected Governor of Virginia and serve as the first Black woman to be governor nationwide.
This New York Times headline summed up the Republican candidates: "Virginia G.O.P.’s Choices for Governor: 'Trumpy, Trumpier, Trumpiest'"
Which one is Glenn Youngkin, the candidate Republicans chose? Here's a hint: The New York Times reports "Glenn Youngkin, a first-time candidate with a large fortune from a career in private equity, has said election integrity is his top issue." It's the Trump party line.
Donate to keep the blue wave rolling in Virginia. Help these progressives Get Out The Vote!
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
We asked each of our approved Lieutenant Governor candidates -- Sean Perryman, Mark Levine, and Sam Rasoul -- to send a short statement to help PCCC members get to know them:
Mark Levine
"Mark Levine was a progressive activist for more than two decades before he ran for office: writing laws to protect children from domestic violence, forming one of the nation’s earliest marriage-equality organizations, working for the Congressional Black Caucus to challenge Bush’s 2000 Florida electors, and serving as Legislative Counsel to progressive Congressman Barney Frank. Elected in 2015 to the Virginia House of Delegates, Mark has compiled the second most progressive voting record in the Virginia General Assembly. Mark has led the fight for common-sense gun reform, labor rights, police reform, paid family medical leave, election law reform, and LGBT rights, and was prodigious, having introduced 47 bills in 2020 and seen 23 pass into law. A former deputy whip, Mark also has the most experience in the race, currently serving on four important committees (Courts, Elections, Public Safety, Health) and chairing two critical subcommittees dealing with law-enforcement reform and constitutional amendments. If elected, Mark would be the first gay Lieutenant Governor in any of the 50 states."
Sean Perryman
"I was inspired to run because the crises and challenges we face require leaders who will fight to replace the status quo with bold solutions, and because I have experience holding our government accountable as a lawyer, racial justice organizer, and former congressional investigator. As the youngest President in the history of the largest NAACP chapter in Virginia, I led on issues of racial justice and achieved substantive changes in my community. Throughout this campaign I've led the field on progressive issues like repealing the so-called 'Right to Work' law that hurts the working class, guaranteeing the right to vote for all including incarcerated Virginians, and abolishing cash bail and mandatory minimums. Our campaign has rejected donations from corporations and fossil fuel interests like Dominion Energy and we have more small-dollar contributions than any other candidate in the race. We're building a movement of folks from every corner of this Commonwealth who are committed to creating a government and economy that works for all of us, not just the powerful few."
Sam Rasoul
"Since he was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2014, Delegate Sam Rasoul has fought for the people of Virginia by fighting for Medicaid expansion and passing legislation that expands medical provider access, standing with the movement against dangerous fracked gas pipelines, and creating the Democratic Promise initiative, which connects Virginians in need to government services that can help. Sam introduced Virginia's Green New Deal, has stood up to corporate monopolies including Dominion Energy and the big telecoms, and his campaign is funded 100% by individuals — not a single dollar is from corporations or super PACs. Sam is endorsed by national progressive leaders including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Sunrise Movement, and Democracy for America because he's showing up for communities across Virginia fighting for justice, and has bold plans to uplift working families including a Marshall Plan for Moms to guarantee universal childcare, paid family leave and paid sick leave."
Donate today to build on the progressive momentum in Virginia.
THE LEGISLATURE
We proudly endorse these candidates for election and re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates: Danica Roem (VA-HD-13), Elizabeth Guzman (VA-HD-31), Joshua Cole (VA-HD-28), Kathy Tran (VA-HD-42), Patrick Hope (VA-HD-47), Sally Hudson (VA-HD-57), Wendy Gooditis (VA-HD-10), Chris Hurst (VA-HD-12), Kelly Fowler (VA-HD-21), Schuyler Van Valkenburg (VA-HD-72), Shelly Simonds (VA-HD-94), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-HD-87), Annette Hyde (VA-HD-30), Mark Downey (VA-HD-96).
In 2017, PCCC members made over 45,000 donations totalling over $115,000 to help 15 progressives win in Virginia, including 13 who flipped Republican seats. With the 2019 victory of PCCC-endorsed Shelly Simonds, Dems won power in Virginia.
Since then the Democratic majority, made possible with a host of progressives, have enacted major laws on climate change and clean energy, expanded health care, expanded voter access, increased education funding, repealed invasive Republican abortion mandates, raised wages, made background checks mandatory for gun purchases, abolished the death penalty, legalized marijuana, and made significant criminal justice reforms.
Here are a few examples of why we have endorsed these candidates, what they can do, and why it is important to help progressives win in Virginia.
Danica Roem’s 2017 election to the VA House flipped a red seat blue and made her the 1st openly trans person elected to a US statehouse. In her 1st term, she helped expand healthcare to 400,000 uninsured Virginians and raise teacher salaries. She authored a bill to end “school lunch shaming,” sponsored legislation to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, and is continuing to fight for meaningful gun control laws. She is running for her 3rd term in the VA House of Delegates.
Elizabeth Guzman moved to the U.S. with just $300. Now, the Richmond Times Dispatch calls her “one of the most progressive voices in the Virginia House.” A prolific lawmaker, this social worker, public administrator, 2nd generation union-member, and mother of 4 passed 19 bills in her 1st 3 years, and has recently passed laws to increase wages for workers, improve working conditions, and provide paid sick leave to 25,000 home health workers. She is running for her 3rd term in the VA House of Delegates.
Wendy Gooditis’ 2017 election to the VA House flipped a red seat blue. As a legislator, she has fought successfully to expand healthcare to 400,000 uninsured Virginians, expand voting rights, and commit the state to 100% clean energy by 2050. She is running for her 3rd term in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Josh Cole is one of the youngest people ever elected to the VA House. In his 1st term, he voted to increase access to affordable healthcare, raise the minimum wage, and make community college tuition free for low- and middle-income students. He has taken on big issues including Climate Change, voting to protect our natural resources and hold big corporations accountable. Josh is running for his 2nd term in the VA House.
Kelly Convirs-Fowler was elected to the VA House of Delegates in 2017, where she helped pass Medicaid expansion and raise teacher pay. She continues to fight for gun safety, against climate change, and for climate justice. A mother of 3 girls, Kelly is running for her 3rd term in the House of Delegates.
Thanks for being a bold progressive.
-- The PCCC Team (@BoldProgressive)
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