Friends, 

In July, a judge in Fairfax County dismissed a ridiculous recall effort against my friend and School Board member Elaine Tholen. Fortunately, that ruling ended the saga for Elaine - but it left a window open for other recall efforts still in motion.

School Board member Laura Jane Cohen is their next target. 

In 2019, Laura Jane unseated a right-wing Trump loyalist. Her win was the narrowest in the county, and Republicans believe that their path to taking back the School Board - and instilling their right wing, anti-truth, anti-science, anti-history agenda - is in Laura Jane's district. 

Since they couldn't win at the ballot box, they are trying to overturn the will of the voters. The local GOP sounds a lot like the Republicans in Washington pushing the Big Lie and refusing to accept Biden as president. 

So far, the recall effort has raised almost $100,000, much of it untraceable dark money from a Republican political action committee.

We can't leave Laura Jane without the resources needed to defeat this assault on our democracy and schools. Will you chip in $5, $10, $25, even $50 or more to help her fight back?

Under Democrats, the School Board has made tremendous progress: removing Confederate names from schools, expanding access to advanced academics and other opportunities for socioeconomically disadvantaged students, English language learners, and students with disabilities. They have ensured that our LGBTQIA+ students and staff have the same rights and opportunities as their peers. They have raised teacher and staff salaries and committed to collective bargaining. We cannot let Republicans pull back on that progress. 

Make no mistake, if this effort succeeds, Republicans will use these recalls to subvert the will of parents and voters around the commonwealth and country. 

Laura Jane has represented her constituents honorably on the school board. Don't let the right-wing political operative pushing these recalls succeed. Give what you can to show Laura Jane you have her back. 

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Thanks!

Congressman Gerry Connolly
Virginia's 11th District