Tran announces reelection bid setting up primary against Filler-Corn
Tran was first elected to the House in 2017.
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The rundown
Tran announced her reelection campaign setting up a primary race against former Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn.
Vega released a new ad highlighting parents’ involvement
Tran announces run for reelection in HD-18
Del. Kathy Tran (D) announced her reelection bid Thursday in HD-18 setting up a primary run against former House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn for the Democratic nomination next year. Tran and Filler-Corn were drawn into the same district when the Virginia legislative boundary map was redrawn last year.
Tran was first elected in 2017 to the House of Delegates among a wave of Democratic victories in response to Donald Trump’s election the year before.
Tran released the following statement with her campaign announcement:
“I came to this country as a boat refugee from Vietnam with my parents when I was a toddler. My parents made the difficult decision to leave everything they knew in search of hope, opportunity, and freedom in the United States. When you have lived under an oppressive regime, you deeply appreciate your individual freedoms, like being able to read and learn, to make decisions about your family for your family, and to participate in your government and vote.
“We see these very freedoms under attack today in Virginia. There’s a push to ban books, to limit the stories that are taught in our history classes, to roll back reproductive choice, and to make it harder to vote and undermine our democracy.
“My husband, Matt, and I are proud to raise our five kids in this community and we cherish the bonds we have formed with our neighbors. After my parents risked our lives for our freedom, I can’t sit in the sidelines while my children’s fundamental rights are under threat.
“I am honored to already represent so many residents of the 18th district since 2017 and I look forward to meeting and earning the support of new voters.”
According to VPAP:
30,834 voters come from the former HD-39 which Del. Vivian Watts currently represents.
30,529 voters come from the former HD-42 which Tran currently represents.
3,237 voters come from district 41 which Filler-Corn currently represents.
2,513 voters come from district 43 which Del. Mark Sickles currently represents.
This is a reliably Democratic district in Fairfax County. VPAP analysis shows that Terry McAuliffe won this district by 28 points last year.
Vega released a new ad focused on parent involvement in schools
In a new ad released by VA-07 Republican nominee Yesli Vega on Wednesday, she focuses on the movement that helped propel Glenn Youngkin to victory last year. Vega is running against Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) this November.
Titled “Parents Matter,” the video focuses on parental involvement in schools.
“As we head into the final days of this election, I am continuing to fight for the rights of parents and their children,” Vega said in a statement Wednesday.
Local politics
Former Governor Terry McAuliffe formally backed Phillip Jones to be the next Mayor of Newport News on Wednesday.
“I am proud to endorse Phillip Jones to be the next Mayor of Newport News,” McAuliffe said. “Phillip has dedicated his life to service from the U.S Naval Academy to the Marine Corps. He has a clear vision to move Newport News forward - ensuring all children receive a world-class education, supporting small businesses, and keeping our communities safe. I know Phillip will bring great energy and determination to his work at City Hall, and I look forward to watching what he will accomplish for Newport News. I hope you will join me in supporting Phillip for Mayor.”
Virginia drivers can pay a new fee by mile. It’s already nation’s largest system. - Washington Post
By Ian Duncan
More than 7,000 Virginians have signed up to pay a fee for each mile they drive under a program launched this summer, putting the state at the forefront of a nationwide effort using new technology to prop up gas taxes that pay for roads.
The Virginia program, known as Mileage Choice, is aimed at drivers of electric vehicles and fuel-efficient cars who pay less in gas taxes while using the same roads as other drivers. Since 2020, Virginia has levied a fixed fee on those kinds of vehicles based on the difference between what they would have paid in gas taxes if driving an average number of miles.
Virginia paid Gov. Youngkin's political ad agency $268K to make a tourism ad — featuring Youngkin. - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Patrick Wilson
The political advertising agency behind Glenn Youngkin’s successful bid for Virginia governor, which created his branding and specializes in work for Republican candidates, received a $268,600 contract from a state agency to produce a tourism video that heavily features Youngkin himself.
The ad will appear in Virginia’s airports and welcome centers at a time when Youngkin is considering a run for president and is seeking to boost his national image.