Northam endorsed Spanberger for governor
A man who has voted in Virginia for decades is now running for Senate in Florida
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The rundown
Two more NOVA delegates announce a run for Congress
Northam endorsed Spanberger’s gubernatorial campaign
A man who has voted in Virginia for decades is now running for Senate in Florida
VLBC endorses Locke for Leader
Northam endorses Spanberger for governor
Rep. Abigail Spanberger has been gaining momentum since launching her gubernatorial campaign Monday. On Tuesday, she announced that her friend and congressional colleague Rep. Jennifer Wexton was endorsing her campaign. Today, she announced that former Gov. Ralph Northam is supporting her bid for governor.
“I’m proud to endorse Abigail Spanberger to serve as the next Governor of Virginia,” Northam said. “As Governor, I saw Abigail’s incredible commitment to the Seventh District of Virginia and Virginia as a whole. I saw an effective leader, and I saw someone who never stopped working to deliver results.”
“Abigail is also a very impressive listener,” he continued. “And because she truly listens to our neighbors, Abigail will remain focused on the issues that matter most — creating jobs, investing in our schools, lowering drug prices, protecting our natural resources, defending the rights of all Virginians, and returning Virginia to being the number-one state for business. I have no doubt that our Commonwealth will prosper under the steady leadership of Abigail Spanberger.”
Spanberger is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025. The only other challenger for the nomination at this time is Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.
VLBC endorses Locke for Leader
The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus is endorsing Mamie Locke for Senate Majority Leader. Locke is running against Sen. Scott Surovell for the top spot in the Democratic Caucus.
“We encourage our colleagues to make history by electing the first Black majority leader in the Virginia Senate,” they said in their statement. “Under Senator Locke’s leadership, Senate Democrats secured the majority for two consecutive cycles for the first time in recent memory. She has repeatedly proven her fundraising prowess and this cycle raised $2 million to support Senate races. When the Democratic Party was in crisis in 2019, it was a Black woman who led through the storm to take the majority. She is a powerful advocate for Black Virginians, especially in the areas of voting rights and labor.”
It could be a tight election when Senate Democrats meet to vote on leadership. Currently, insiders give Surovell a slight edge over Locke — but the situation is fluid and extremely political.
Stay tuned for updates on this process.
A man who has voted in Virginia for decades is now running for Senate in Florida
Stanley Campbell (D) is announcing his run for U.S. Senate in Florida today — but his records show he has been voting in Virginia for decades. While he says he was born and raised in Florida, the records show that he has been registered to vote in Vienna, Virginia for more than two decades. He voted in Virginia’s presidential primary in 2020. He also participated in Democratic primaries here in 2019, 2018, 2013, 2009, 2008, and 2000.
Additionally, he is facing abuse allegations, which were reported here by Florida Politics.
His wife serves in President Biden’s administration as an assistant secretary in HHS.
Dan Helmer announces run for Congress
Del. Dan Helmer (D) announced he is running for Congress in Virginia’s tenth congressional district. He appears to have the support of House Speaker-designee Don Scott in what will be a crowded field of Democrats seeking the nomination.
“My grandparents came to America to escape the Nazis,” Helmer said in his announcement. “It’s why I volunteered to serve our country and protect the democracy that took us in. While I was proud to serve, I lost friends in Iraq and Afghanistan because politicians lacked the courage to stand up to President Bush’s misguided wars. Our democracy failed us. Today, we face even greater threats to our democracy. MAGA extremists are seeking to undermine free and fair elections and strip away the right to an abortion, all while coddling a gun lobby that floods our streets with weapons of war.”
He used a statement from Scott in his announcement where he called Helmer “one of the most effective legislators in Richmond.” It is not clear if Scott is outright endorsing Helmer, however.
Other declared Democratic candidates in VA-10 include former House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, state Sen. Jennifer Boysko, and Del. David Reid.
Del. David Reid (D) announced Wednesday that he is running for Congress - Washington Post
Virginia Del. David A. Reid (D-Loudoun) announced his bid Tuesday for the state’s 10th Congressional District seat, adding to what is becoming a crowded field of Democratic candidates vying to succeed Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.), who is not seeking reelection for health reasons.
Reid, 61, was reelected last week to a fourth term representing the Loudoun County area in the House of Delegates, success he said stems from his ability to work across the aisle and find solutions to the region’s most pressing problems.
Democratic challenger opens door for recount in 82nd House race while incumbent claims victory again - Progress Index
by Bill Atkinson
The 82nd House District race just went from a whisker to a scalp hair in difference, opening the door for a recount.
Monday afternoon, registrars in Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Prince George and Surry counted their provisional and mail-in ballots. With every single precinct in the district now counted, Republican incumbent Kim Taylor leads Democratic challenger Kimberly Pope Adams by just 74 votes, 14,280 to 14,206.
Virginia: Budget reality returns, as spending demands exceed revenue - RTD
by Michael Martz and Dave Ress
Virginia is facing a fiscal reckoning, as the spending needs of state government — especially for public education and Medicaid health care — begin to exceed the revenues available to pay for them in the next two-year budget, according to a sobering outlook presented to the House Appropriations Committee at its annual budget retreat Tuesday in Richmond.
The state must find an additional $1.3 billion to pay the updated costs of public education in grades K-12 alone in the two-year budget that will take effect on July 1. That is significantly more than the $160.6 million that the Department of Planning and Budget, working with the Department of Education, estimated earlier this month. The eightfold difference in estimates stemmed from the treatment of a large amount one-time money for education included in the revised budget adopted in early September.
It continues to amaze me at the amount of money raised to run for office and that we can’t seem to afford public education? My god where are our brains?
Bottom line: well educated citizens make well educated decisions about how to best establish a government that works for the people ,by the people.
Are we simply so overwhelmed with hate, anger, and lies that anything goes?
Too much blather! Not enough education!