From Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Arington/McLean):
As Campaign Chair for the House Democrats my mission is to get as many Democrats as possible elected this November. Unfortunately, Democrats currently hold only 34 out of 100 Delegate districts, despite 51 of those districts going blue during the presidential election last fall.
It’s time to harness the energy we’ve seen across the Commonwealth since November to make sure that this fall Democrats pick up key seats in the House of Delegates. It’s why I started Project Blue Dominion — to raise funds to boost our campaign efforts across Virginia.
Contribute here if you want to chip in and help turn the House blue.
To keep you updated on our work, every Friday, Project Blue Dominion will highlight races that need our help.
You’ll get to learn more about the candidates, their districts, and why it’s so important that we help them defeat their Republican opponents.
| Please forward these emails to anyone you know, regardless of where they live, who might be interested in supporting the Democratic cause. Every single dollar, every single call, every single door knocked counts. November’s election in Virginia is what Democrats around the country must focus on so that we can take back this critical state legislature and build our Democratic bench moving forward. |
Flip-A-District Friday Volume I
Meet the candidate: Hala Ayala
Hala Ayala is running to represent the 51st House District of Virginia. She is a former cybersecurity specialist with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and an outspoken advocate for women and families. She has fought for raising the minimum wage, Medicaid expansion and equal pay for equal work as the founder and President of the Prince William County chapter of the National Organization for Women.
House District 51:
Secretary Clinton won this district by 7 percent of the vote. The 51st encompasses Prince William County, and is currently represented by Rich Anderson (R). Click here for more district details.
Just one example of why Rich has to go:
He is staunchly anti-refugee at a time when our legislators need to show leadership in compassion. Del. Anderson introduced a bill last session that would require charities and those working with refugees to report to local and state politicians exactly when and where refugees choose to resettle. This would target an already at-risk population for intimidation and harassment by their former oppressors.
Contact the campaign: shuyen.wei@gmail.com
Meet the candidate: Karrie Delaney
Karrie started working at a group home for foster children – an experience where she learned how policy decisions can either serve or fail our most vulnerable. Later, as a crisis counselor, Karrie stood by women who were assaulted and raised awareness about the abuse of women around the world. When Karrie became a mother, she turned her focus towards local issues as Gov. McAuliffe’s appointee to the Virginia Commission on Youth, as well as former Chair of Fairfax County Citizens Corps Council and the current Chair of Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees. She lives in Chantilly with her husband, Patrick, and their two children.
House District 67:
Secretary Clinton won this district with 58 percent of the vote. The 67th encompasses parts of Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, and is currently represented by Jim LeMunyon (R). Click here for more district details.
Just one example of why Jim has to go:
He is attempting to suppress the vote in Virginia. Last session, Del. LeMunyon introduced a constitutional amendment that would require citizens to provide their social security numbers on their voter registration applications — we need lesshurdles to voting, not more to make democracy more representative.
Contact the campaign: will@karriedelaney.com
Meet the candidate: Chris Hurst
“I’ve dedicated my life to public service and giving a voice to the people of southwest Virginia. When I came here almost a decade ago as a reporter, I quickly identified with our shared values of strong families, a strong faith and personal integrity. I fell in love with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the people living in small towns with big hearts.
As a journalist, I’ve been a fierce advocate for families struggling for access to mental health care and equality in education for students with special needs. I’ve investigated reasons why our workforce must adapt for the careers of the future. I’ve documented the dramatic rise of child abuse and opioid addiction. And I’ve held government leaders accountable while showing how our first responders are left without vital resources.
I decided to leave journalism and run for office after recovering from profound tragedy. In 2015, I was just beginning a new life with my late girlfriend, Alison Parker. Alison and Adam Ward’s murder on television shocked the country and set me on a different path. My career in news was fulfilling but instead of asking questions, I became focused on finding solutions. Your continued prayers and support now give me the strength to move forward and be a courageous fighter for all Virginians.” – Chris
House District 12:
Secretary Clinton won this district with 47 percent of the vote. The 12th encompasses parts of Montgomery, Giles, Radford and Pulaski Counties, and is currently represented by Joseph Yost (R). Click here for more district details.
Just one example of why Joseph has to go:
He opposes Medicaid expansion. Despite the fact that around 3,700 of his constituents would benefit from more affordable access to much needed medical care, Del. Yost has chosen his party over Virginia’s most vulnerable populations.
Contact the campaign: info@hurst4delegate.
Meet the candidate: Kathy Tran
Kathy Tran and her parents fled Vietnam as boat refugees when she was just seven months old. Although many other countries offered them asylum, they waited 13 months for the United States to accept their application. For Kathy’s family, this country has always represented hope, opportunity and freedom. Now, she’s running for the House of Delegates because she couldn’t just stand by while Donald Trump and Virginia Republicans dismantle the ideals that brought her family here.
House District 42:
Secretary Clinton won this district with 57 percent of the vote. The 42nd encompasses parts of Fairfax County, and is currently represented by David Albo (R). However, Del. Albo is retiring, so the Republican opponent this fall will be Lolita Mancheno-Smoak (R). Click here for more district details.
Just one example of why Lolita must not win:
She is a Republican hard-liner and Fairfax County Republican Party Vice Chairman who backs the Trump agenda. Not only did Lolita publicly fan the flames of debunked conspiracy theories surrounding Secretary Clinton last year, but she literally tweeted that Donald Trump was her “ideal Presidential candidate” the day he announced that he was running.
| Flip-A-District Friday: Volume II
This week, Project Blue Dominion is featuring another four great candidates: Kelly Fowler, Elizabeth Guzman, David Reid, and Zack Wittkamp. Check out their info below to learn more about the candidates, their districts, and their opponents. CONTRIBUTE TO PROJECT BLUE DOMINION HERE
Meet the candidate: Kelly Fowler Kelly Fowler is running for Delegate in the 21st district. She used to teach 3rd grade at Lynnhaven Elementary in Virginia Beach. Kelly now leads a team of women in real estate, specializing in military relocation. Kelly and her husband Dave were raised in the 21st District in military families and are now raising their two daughters there, as well. Kelly is on the Board of Directors of her Home Owners Association and is an active volunteer in the Hampton Roads region. She is passionate about fairness and ensuring that government is inclusive for all people. Kelly is an energetic, progressive leader who will make a difference in the community when she is the Delegate for District 21! House District 21: Secretary Clinton won this district by 4 percent of the vote. The 21st encompasses Virginia Beach City and Chesapeake City. It is currently represented by Ron Villanueva (R). Click here for more district details. Just one example of why Ron has to go: Ron supported an extremist Republican bill that would require Virginia residents to prove citizenship before registering to vote. Voters who could not provide a birth certificate or U.S. passport would not be allowed to vote in state elections, though they could vote in federal elections. The bill would have disenfranchised thousands of Virginia voters who are U.S. citizens but who do not have a passport or a copy of their birth certificate. Lots of folks don’t have either of those documents: young people, older people, people who don’t (or can’t afford to) travel. This bill would have rendered them second-class citizens. Contact the campaign: KellyFowler@VoteforFowler.com
Meet the candidate: Elizabeth Guzman Elizabeth Guzman is the Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates in District 31. Elizabeth immigrated to America from Peru as a single mother looking for a better future for her daughter Pamela. At first, she juggled three jobs just to afford a one-bedroom apartment. But through hard work, perseverance, and dedication, she put herself through college and graduate school. She is now a social worker and public administrator for the City of Alexandria, where she works everyday helping hardworking families to help achieve their American Dream. She currently lives with her husband Carlos and 3 children in Dale City of Prince William County. Elizabeth is running for office so she can represent the community of Prince William and Fauquier County and help others achieve the American Dream. As an immigrant, her values are the values of all Democrats, and she has volunteered in the Democratic Party for several years as an advocate for every Virginian in her community. If elected, she would be the first Latina elected to the Virginia legislature. House District 31: Secretary Clinton won this district by 7 percent of the vote. The 31st encompasses parts of Prince William and Fauquier Counties, and is currently represented by Scott Lingamfelter (R). Click here for more district details. Just one example of why Scott has to go: Scott is in the pocket of the NRA. There have been far too many deaths by gun violence in Virginia — more guns on the streets is not the answer, but instead is a recipe for more senseless tragedy. Despite this fact, Scott repeatedly introduced legislation to repeal Virginia’s one-gun-a-month purchase limitation until it became law in 2012. The 31st District deserves someone who isn’t the poster child for an extremist pro-gun group. Contact the campaign: elizabeth@elizabethguzmanforvi
Meet the candidate: David Reid David Reid is a decorated Navy veteran and business professional who brings over 30 years of experience in strategic management, global telecommunications, and the defense industry to his campaign to represent Virginia’s 32 House of Delegates District in Eastern Loudoun County. In 1972, David and his siblings moved from Rockbridge County, Virginia—where they lived in a four-room house without an indoor bathroom—to the United Methodist Children’s Home in Richmond. David was later adopted by foster parents and moved to Oklahoma. He became the first member of his family to graduate from college. Grateful for the opportunities his country had provided him, David heeded the call to give back by joining the Navy Reserve. David served 23 years in the US Navy Reserve, as a Naval Intelligence Officer, where he retired as a Commander. David and his wife of 23 years have lived in Ashburn since 2000. Their two daughters received an outstanding education at Loudoun County Public Schools and now attend the University of Virginia and Lynchburg College. House District 32: Secretary Clinton won this district by 19 percent of the vote. The 32nd encompasses Loudoun County, and is currently represented by Tag Greason (R). Click here for more district details. Just one example of why Tag has to go: Tag is staunchly anti-choice, despite the fact that 67 percent of Virginians support protecting a woman’s right to access safe and legal abortion care. Tag voted this session for a resolution that would annually designate January 22nd as a “Day of Tears” in Virginia. January 22nd might ring a bell: it’s the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision 40 years ago. The resolution encourages Virginians to fly their flags at half-mast on January 22nd. It’s demeaning and is essentially code for a “Day of Shaming.” Contact the campaign: reidfordelegate@gmail.com
Meet the candidate: Zack Wittkamp Zack Wittkamp is a father, husband, business owner, and community leader. His primary focus in running for office is to improve quality education, foster a strong economic base, and to preserve our environment and precious natural resources like the Chesapeake Bay. His expertise is in creating the organizational framework for businesses—the building blocks that ultimately allow a business to succeed and become a partner in the community. Zack believes we have to take a good hard look at the programs that make up our government and be willing to start over if they aren’t working. “The world changed on November 8, 2016,” he says. “People want a voice, and they want a government that works for them. I think that’s what we all deserve, for ourselves and our children.” Zack grew up in Newport News and is grateful for the opportunities the City and community has offered to him. He serves on the Newport News Planning Commission, where he helps guide and shape what the city will become in the future. He is a 1999 graduate of Randolph Macon College. Zack and his wife, Allie, a Vice President at Towne Bank, live in Newport News with their five-year- old daughter, Larkin. House District 94: Secretary Clinton won this district by 5 percent of the vote. The 94th encompasses parts of Newport News City and is currently represented by David Yancey (R).Click here for more district details. Just one example of why David needs to go: David voted against workers rights and fair pay when he voted for HB 1753, a partisan Republican bill that would have stopped local governments from requiring contractors to establish a minimum wage while carrying out contracts with their localities. Local governments should have the power to set their own terms when entering into contracts for local public works — the result is better performance, lower turnover, and better service to the area and to the public. Fortunately, Governor McAuliffe vetoed this anti-worker bill. Contact the campaign: brian@votewittkamp.com That’s all for this week’s edition of Flip-A-District Friday. I hope you’ll forward this to friends outside of your area and even the state. If we spread the word, we can make adifference and flip the House this November. Best,
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