In just 30 days, on January 10, 2023, a crucially important special election will be taking place in Virginia Beach, for the 7th State Senate district seat previously held by Republican Jen Kiggans, who unfortunately last month won her election to the U.S. House of Representatives, so vacated the State Senate seat. As I wrote recently, this special election matters a lot, for a bunch of reasons:
- It’s a competitive, “purple” district that’s most definitely winnable for Democrats.
- If Democrats DO win it, we’ll increase our slim majority in the State Senate from its current 21-18 (with the Kiggans vacancy) to 22-18. If we lose it, however, the margin will be just 21-19, with at least one of those 21 Democrats (Joe Morrissey) not completely reliable on women’s reproductive freedom.
- If State Senator Jennifer McClellan runs for, and wins, the special election for Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA04)’s U.S. House seat before the end of the 2023 General Assembly session, that would mean Democrats’ already narrow majority could dip as low as 20-19, which would mean that if Democrats lose a single Senator on pretty much any vote, they’ll lose that vote, especially given that LG Winsome Sears (R) would break any ties…shuddderrrr.
- The contrast between the two candidates couldn’t really be greater, with Democrat Aaron Rouse saying “he will fiercely defend a woman’s right to choose, voting rights and criminal justice reform,” while Republican Kevin Adams “says he supports Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s agenda” and also is an anti-abortion hardliner (e.g., he volunteered at a “crisis pregnancy center” “run by anti-abortion activists” and praised a poem by the notorious Roy Moore which said, “Too soft to place a killer in a well deserved tomb, But brave enough to kill a baby before he leaves the womb.”).
- Now, think about the issues you care about, as well as the literally HUNDREDS of pieces of progressive legislation signed into law by Gov. Ralph Northam in 2020-2021, and then think about the prospect of much if not all of that being rolled back by a right-wing-Republican “trifecta.” Horrifying, right? Yep. Which is why it’s so important that we all don’t treat the SD7 special election as some sort of afterthought, or something that doesn’t impact ALL OF US.
All of which is why it’s great to see a bunch of Democratic volunteers today making the trek from Northern Virginia, joining other volunteers from Virginia Beach, to help support Democrat Aaron Rouse’s campaign. As Rouse says, “We’re going to win this special election, and it’s because we’ve got an army of supporters behind us!” And as former Del. Jay Jones put it, “It was great to see @AlexAskew757, @ssurovell and @SenatorHashmi in the 757 working to expand our majority in the Senate. ‘23 will be a big year for @vademocrats! Let’s roll!” Finally, as Sen. Scott Surovell tweeted, “The NOVA bus has arrived, and we have a big mob going out to protect women’s right to make their own healthcare decisions by electing @AaronRouseVaBch!” Let’s do it!
Mount Vernon Dems, @AlexVADems, @Franconia_Dems, @HuntermillDems, @FairfaxDems, @LoudounDems, and @PWCDems are energized and ready to go to Virginia Beach today with @ssurovell to help elect @AaronRouseVaBch! pic.twitter.com/iffki8ZtWa
— Mount Vernon Democrats (@MtVernonDemsVA) December 11, 2022
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