Carroll Foy plans to drastically ramp up digital spending and the Sunrise Movement endorsed VA candidates
The latest in Virginia politics
Carroll Foy plans to drastically ramp up digital spending to reach primary voters
Jennifer Carroll Foy’s gubernatorial campaign says they are going to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in digital advertising campaigns targeting Democratic voters ahead of the June 8 primary.
Facebook just lifted its ban on political ads in early-March and Democratic gubernatorial candidates have been spending small amounts to advertise on the social media site. Carroll Foy reported having $1.2 million cash on hand at the end of 2020 and she is now looking to quickly ramp up the spending.
“Our campaign is excited to be the first in this race to make a several hundred thousand dollar investment in digital persuasion ads to meet voters where they are and introduce them to Jenn’s historic candidacy and her fight for working families,” said Sharon Yang, communications director for Carroll Foy. “This comes on the heels of the strong start to the campaign’s robust organizing program which is building the diverse, grassroots coalition necessary to power this campaign to victory in June.”
Facebook reports that Carroll Foy has spent $2,059 in the last seven days.
After reporting over $5 million cash on hand at the end of 2020, Terry McAuliffe launched a digital ad back in early-January and has been advertising on Facebook with more than 30 currently-active small-dollar ads. McAuliffe’s largest investment on the site is an ad campaign totaling more than $3,500 that began March 15 and is still active. His second-largest active advertising campaign totals less than $700. In total, McAuliffe has spent $13,216 on Facebook ads in the last seven days.
Jennifer McClellan has two Facebook ad campaigns with overall Facebook ad spending totaling less than $1,000.
“While there is no official incumbent, McAuliffe is the closest we have to one,” said Richard Meagher, associate professor of political science at Randolph Macon College. “Carroll Foy is running a classic challenger campaign, trying to take on the ‘incumbent’ while fending off other challengers. Her biggest problem is name recognition, it’s not a bad strategy to try something new.”
The final two Democratic candidates for governor, Lee Carter and Justin Fairfax, currently have no active advertising campaigns on Facebook.
“Digital is a terrific tool to target voters, but only when it works in conjunction with other necessary campaign components like TV, radio, field, mail etc,” said a digital campaign consultant. “That being said, name ID is about brute force of message and volume. There are no cheat codes for quick name ID.”
Sunrise Movement endorses Jennifer Carroll Foy for Virginia governor - CNN
by Rachel Janfaza
But with less than three months until the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Carroll Foy is one of many in a crowded field -- one that most notably includes former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the clear frontrunner. While McAuliffe faced no primary challenge eight years ago, he is now being pushed by younger, more liberal challengers to explain how a leader synonymous with the political establishment reflects the future of the commonwealth and not the politics of a bygone era.
As the mother of twin boys and a former foster parent, Carroll Foy said she believes that protecting the environment is one of the most important things for future generations. During her time in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2018 to 2020, she was the chief co-patron of the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which was signed into law last year. She also co-sponsored legislation to reward businesses and homeowners for investing in renewable energy.
Gubernatorial candidate Pete Snyder launches a new ad
Jennifer Carroll Foy Releases Plan to Fight for the Rights of Virginians with Disabilities
“The disability community represents a diverse, powerful, and vocal community throughout the Commonwealth. I am excited to work together with advocates to forge thoughtful and long-term solutions to the most pressing problems Virginians with disabilities face in healthcare, education, and our economy,” said Carroll Foy, “My plan sets out to expand broadband access to make telehealth more widely available, eliminate subminimum wages so workers can earn livable incomes, drastically reform and reduce the use of restraint and seclusion tactics in schools, and other key priorities.”
Specifically, Carroll Foy’s plan would:
Work to eliminate the inclusion penalty to maximize participation in community-based services, including supported living and in-home care.
Require education and training for school personnel on relationship-based, trauma-informed, collaborative approaches to providing a culture where children feel safe not only physically, but also emotionally, socially and culturally.
Address the disparate use of discipline including restraints and seclusion on students with disabilities, specifically students with disabilities.
Codify legislation to prohibit the removal of accommodations, including mobility devices, technology, and interpreters, for people with disabilities at any stage in custody. The confiscation of such items makes it difficult for people with disabilities to communicate and advocate for themselves, leading some to become unnecessarily incarcerated.
Support legislation to promote and protect the civil rights of parents with disabilities throughout the family services systems.
Ensure Virginians of all backgrounds have access to economic opportunities by:
Increasing financial support for Virginia’s Community Services Boards, which provide education, training, and services to youth and families with developmental disabilities.
Working to research and implement additional employer incentives to recruit, train, and hire people with disabilities. My administration will also promote the inclusion of students with disabilities in state government internship programs.
The full plan can be found here.
Sunrise Movement endorses Sam Rasoul (D) for Lieutenant Governor
House Republican Whip Jay Leftwich and Chesterfield Sheriff Karl Leonard Endorse Tim Hugo for Lt. Governor
“Tim Hugo is the conservative choice for Lieutenant Governor,” said Leftwich. “He is pro-life, pro-liberty, and pro-Second Amendment and I hope all conservative voters will join me in supporting his candidacy. Tim has what it takes to unite our party and defeat the Democrats in November. His campaign has my full support.”
“As a member of the House of Delegates, Tim Hugo consistently voted to support our men and women in law enforcement,” said Sheriff Leonard. “Unfortunately, politicians in Richmond are working to undo much of what Tim accomplished and instead make it harder for those of us in law enforcement to do our job. That’s why we need leaders like Tim Hugo who will fight back by standing up for our law enforcement officers. Tim is the law and order candidate and I am proud to endorse his campaign.”
Attorney General candidate Jay Jones visits southwest Virginia - WCYB
by Olivia Bailey
Virginia Democratic Candidate Jay Jones spent the weekend in southwest Virginia as part of a state-wide campaign effort.
Jones currently represents Norfolk in the House of Delegates. He joined local legislators, including Senator Todd Pillion (R - Abingdon) and Del. Israel O'Quinn ( R - Washington County), and Bristol, Virginia City School officials to tour deteriorating conditions at school buildings in the region as part of one of his visits.
Bennett-Parker says Grandmother, not campaign for Delegate, behind move to 45th District in December - ALX Now
Alexandria Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker says she’s been serving residents of the 45th District for the last three years, and that she didn’t consider politics when moving into the district in December.
Bennett-Parker said that she moved with her 99-year-old grandmother, her husband and cat to the 45th District in December after her grandmother fell two times. The following month, she announced she was running for the seat, which is currently held held by Del. Mark Levine as he runs for Virginia Lieutenant Governor.
Inspector general fires investigator who found misconduct at the Virginia Parole Board - Richmond Times-Dispatch
By Patrick Wilson and Mark Bowes
The Office of the State Inspector General fired the investigator who found misconduct at the Virginia Parole Board and was still investigating this year.
Jennifer A. Moschetti, who was terminated Monday, was the lead investigator on at least nine reports last year that found violations of law and policy, including the parole board freeing convicted killers without first reaching out to victim’s families as required by law. Moschetti was investigating more allegations of wrongdoing at the parole board; the status of those investigations is unclear.
Politifact: Va. teachers pay ranks last in U.S. compared to full-time, year-round workers
"If you look at the average teacher pay compared to the average pay of your citizens, Virginia ranks last," he said during a March 10 virtual meeting with the Smith Mountain Lake Democrats. "We’re 50th out of 50 states. That is a disgrace."
We fact checked McAuliffe’s statement and found it on the mark.
‘Superheroes’ keep hungry Virginia students fed during pandemic
By Noah Fleischman
Capital News Service
Many Virginia public school students are returning to the classroom after a year away, but their access to school meals never stopped. No Kid Hungry Virginia recently hosted a discussion with three administrators to highlight how their districts made school meals available despite the pandemic. No Kid Hungry is an organization that works to make sure children have access to proper nutrition.
“When schools closed last March … we knew right away that we still had to feed our students,” said Chip Jones, superintendent of Cumberland County Public Schools. “That was the priority.”
Cumberland schools gave children a week’s worth of food at a time to take home. The pandemic made Jones appreciate the resources at Cumberland’s disposal, he said. It also made him think outside the box for getting meals to students. “We’ve seen how much a school means to a community, and what a school can do for a community,” Jones said. Jones said school nutrition workers—who prepare and serve school meals—kept students fed.