Democrats can and must win this seat (which is being vacated by VA State Senator Jen Kiggans, who unfortunately was elected to the US House) – Go Aaron Rouse! (The special election will likely take place in early January 2023; the district was narrowly won by Glenn Youngkin in 2021, but was won by Dems – Ralph Northam, Mark Herring and Justin Fairfax – in 2017; by Tim Kaine in 2018 and presumably by Mark Warner in 2020).
VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCILMAN AARON ROUSE ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 7 SPECIAL ELECTION WITH DOZENS OF ENDORSEMENTS AND A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE
“I am running for the State Senate because not only do I understand the problems that Virginia Beach families are facing, but I have a proven track record and the coalition to deliver real results to our community,” says Councilman Aaron Rouse
VIRGINIA BEACH (November 14th) — Today, Virginia Beach City Councilman Aaron Rouse announced his candidacy for the 22nd State Senate District Special election alongside Congresswoman Elaine Luria, Senator Mamie Locke, Virginia Beach Councilman Guy Tower, Virginia Beach Councilwoman-elect Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, Virginia Beach Councilwoman-elect Jennifer Rouse and other local leaders.
Councilman Rouse released the following statement regarding his candidacy:
“I am running for the State Senate because not only do I understand the problems that Virginia Beach families are facing, but I have a proven track record and the broad coalition to deliver real results for our community.
“Virginians face unprecedented challenges, and it is critical that we elect leaders prepared and energized to tackle those issues. We don’t have any time to wait, and it’s imperative that we win this election to send a leader to Richmond that will fight to deliver real results for families here in Virginia Beach.
“So much is at stake this year–women’s reproductive rights, our Democratic majority in the Virginia State Senate, and the direction of our region. I’m in this race to fight day and night to deliver for Virginia Beach and Norfolk families and to ensure we move our Commonwealth forward–I hope you’ll join me.”
Congresswoman Elaine Luria released the following statement regarding Rouse’s candidacy:
“Aaron Rouse is precisely the leader we need in the Virginia Senate. While on City Council, Aaron ushered in a new generation of leadership and delivered results for the people of Virginia Beach. So much is on the ballot— from women’s reproductive rights to voting rights— and Aaron Rouse is the person I trust to lead Virginia into the future, not take us backwards.”
Here are the dozens of leaders across the community that have endorsed Rouse’s candidacy:
- Congresswoman Elaine Luria
- Congressman Donald McEachin
- Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw
- Senator Mamie Locke
- Senator Lionell Spruill
- Senator Lynwood Lewis
- Senator Monty Mason
- Senator Scott Surovell
- Senator John Bell
- Delegate Cliff Hayes
- Delegate Marcia Price
- Delegate Angelia Williams Graves
- Former Delegate Nancy Guy
- Virginia Beach Councilman Guy Tower
- Virginia Beach Councilwoman-elect Jennifer Rouse
- Virginia Beach Councilwoman-elect Dr. Amelia Ross Hammond
- Hampton Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray
- Hampton Councilman Steven Brown
- Former Virginia Beach Councilwoman Louisa Strayhorn
- Virginia Beach Commissioner of Revenue Phil Kellam
- Virginia Beach School Board Member and former Board Chair Beverly Anderson
- Virginia Beach School Vice Chair Kim Melnyk
- Virginia Beach School Board Member Sharon Felton
- Virginia Beach School Board Member Jessica Owens
- Norfolk Treasurer & Former Delegate Daun Hester
- Bishop Kim Brown, Presiding Prelate of The Mount Global Fellowship of Churches
- Bishop Courtney McBath, Senior Pastor of Calvary Revival Church (CRC)
- Rev. Dr. James Allen, President of the Virginia Beach Interdenominational Ministers Conference
- Dr. Veronica Coleman, Pastor of New Jerusalem Ministries
- Rev. R. Perez Gatling, Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church
- Dr. Michael G. Daniels, Senior Pastor of Enoch Baptist Church
- Pastor Terron Rodgers, Pastor of The Mount at Virginia Beach
- Rev. Dr. Eugene K. Austin II, Pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church
- Pastor Jason Knight, Pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church Virginia Beach
- Pastor Waddee Thoroughgood, Jr., New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ
- Dr. Sandi Hutchinson, Pastor of Gabriel Chapel AME Zion Church
- Gary McCollum, Virginia Beach Interdenominational Ministers Conference Member and Community Leader
Rouse heads into the special election with a significant advantage through both the enumerable amount of endorsements he has received and the staggering financial advantage his campaign has garnered. To date, Rouse has received the endorsement of over two dozen federal, state, and local leaders. He has also run an aggressive fundraising operation, raising over $130,000 since announcing his candidacy.
It’s clear Aaron Rouse has hit the ground running in this special election, and he’s got no plans to take it easy in the coming months to flip this seat and secure the Democratic majority in the Virginia State Senate.
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Aaron was born in Norfolk and raised in Virginia Beach. He attended First Colonial High School and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Rouse was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 2007 NFL Draft and also played for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. After retiring from the National Football League, Rouse returned home to Virginia Beach to begin his career in public service. He served as a coach and a mentor before founding Rouse’s House, a nonprofit organization that serves to establish education as the foundation for today’s youth, with a primary goal of exposing youth and families in the community to a broader world of learning. On November 6, 2018, Rouse was elected to the Virginia Council as an at-large member. He enjoys outdoor activities and currently resides in the heart of Virginia Beach with his wife, Councilman-Elect Jennifer. He’s the proud father of a son and daughter.
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