Dear Sister District DC/MD/VA volunteers,

Recently, Sister District Founders Lala Wu and Gaby Goldstein chatted on the Getting Curious with JVN podcast to remind us that “there are no off-year elections, only odd-year elections—and we’re in the midst of a major campaign season.” And now with a fragile majority to protect and voting rights and abortion rights being attacked in Republican state legislatures around the US in the backlash to the 2020 Presidential election – there’s a lot at stake in Virginia. So today we're asking for your support as we approach the start to early voting on September 17th.

If you’ve been with our chapter for awhile, you know we have history in Virginia. In 2017 we won 13 out of 14 seats in Virginia (with our chapter winning 2 out of 2 for our candidates, Elizabeth Guzman and Lee Carter) and then sealing the deal in 2019 by flipping the VA House and Senate blue. They’ve improved people’s lives and strengthened the Commonwealth in real ways:

Expanded healthcare coverage to 400,000 people
Became the first Southern state to commit to 100% clean energy by 2050
Passed a slate of common-sense gun control laws
Ratified the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Outlawed the death penalty
Passed a historic law to protect voting rights

Now, we’re kicking into gear for Virginia’s state legislative elections and re-convening virtually and in-person to plan out our voter engagement and fundraising strategies for the year. Our chapter is supporting Joshua Cole’s fragile incumbency in the 28^th district and Briana Sewell’s run for the new open seat in the 51^st.

Some of you may remember Josh Cole who also ran in 2017 and lost by 82 votes. Sister District supported him when he ran in 2019 knowing it was going to be a difficult race in a Trump district. Sister District volunteers raised $82,500, which was 7% of his total raise, made over half of his phone calls, and sent over a third of his postcards. On Election Night, in another close race, he became the first Black person, and the youngest ever person, elected to this seat. These are narrow wins! We are organizing to keep his seat and to ensure that Briana Sewell takes over in Hala Ayala's district when Ayala (another 2019 Sister District alum!) becomes the FIRST women Lieutenant Governor of VA 🤞🤞🤞.

Our chapter is committing to raise $2,500 this month to support the early organizing and early voting for Josh and Briana – can you support our efforts by donating $25 – 1% of our July target! – today? These donations make a real difference in state campaigns and will be critical in supporting early-voting outreach.

With appreciation and in solidarity,

Sister District DC/VA/MD

P.S. Can't donate today? You can still Phonebank or join us at our first General Meeting of the year next Thursday July 29th!

Donate $20.21 to Our Candidates!

Paid for by Sister District Project, Authorized by Briana Sewell, candidate for VA House District 51 & Joshua Cole, candidate for VA House District 28. © Copyright 2021 Sister District Project.