See below for a few highlights so far today (I’ll keep adding more as I see them), as Democratic candidates’ petition signatures are examined by their jurisdictions’ party committees to determine if they qualify for the June 20 primary ballot.
First, congrats to Sen. Scott Surovell, who VAPLAN recently called a “progressive champion” after he finished #1 in the State Senate on VAPLAN’s 2023 progressive scorecard. And yes, sometimes candidates – in this case Virginia NOW president Lisa Sales, who for whatever reasons wanted to run against him in the Democratic primary – fail to get enough signatures to qualify…
Next, congrats to Josh Thomas, the newly minted Democratic nominee in HD21 – one of the key “majority maker” districts I identified last month. This district is located in western Prince William County and is a 51%-49% Dem districts based on 2022 midterm results. So…let’s all make sure that Josh Thomas – an attorney who “has worked to improve communities, expand affordable housing, and help entrepreneurs and small businesses grow in Virginia” who previously “led Marines in tours in Afghanistan and the Middle East” – wins this November!
Also, see below for a press release for Democrat Marty Martinez – – who is “committed to building a Virginia where nobody is forgotten or left behind” – the nominee in solid-blue HD29 in eastern Loudoun County.
And great news, as the very impressive Phil Hernandez – who previously “served as a Senior Policy Analyst in President Obama’s White House Domestic Policy Council, where he partnered with leaders across the country to expand affordable clean energy, fight for clean air and water, and help coordinate the response to the BP Oil Spill, the worst spill in American history” – is going to make an *excellent* delegate from Norfolk (in the 94th House of Delegates district) once we all make sure he’s elected in November!
HD27 is a strongly “blue” district, so things are looking good for hopefully soon-to-be Delegate Atoosa Reaser – whose “family fled Iran during a revolution that took freedom away from many, especially women” and who “currently serves on the School Board representing the Algonkian District.” Let’s all make sure she wins OVERWHELMINGLY in November!
HD41 was narrowly won by Northam and Herring in 2017, then won by Kaine in 2018 and Youngkin in 2021, so it’s definitely winnable for Dems. The nominee is Lily Franklin, a former staffer to Del. Sam Rasoul, where she “learned how to be a savvy outsider that can wrestle legislative victories to get work done for our neighbors”; whose “SWVA roots go deep”; and who “spent the better part of the last seven years of my life fighting a pitched battle for the citizens of SWVA.” Go Lily Franklin!
In “red”-leaning HD30 (Loudoun, Fauquier), Rob Banse – who says “I have spent my life serving congregations in the Episcopal Church” – is the Democratic nominee against right wingnut Geary Higgins. Got Banse!
HD22 is purplish-to-red-leaning district in western Prince William County. Go Travis Nembhard!
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