The following press release is from the Levar Stoney for Governor campaign. Stoney joins Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07) in the race for the 2025 Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia.
RICHMOND MAYOR LEVAR STONEY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA
Launch video highlights Mayor Stoney’s uplifting life story, record of success turning around Richmond, and his commitment to work tirelessly to make sure every Virginian has a fair shot at success.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – Today, Democratic Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced his candidacy for Governor of Virginia. In his announcement video, Levar promises to make sure every Virginian has a fair shot at success, the same shot he got despite growing up in a working poor family. Raised by his father and grandmother, Marvin and Mary, Levar’s life has been defined by firsts – first in his family to graduate high school and then college, first Black Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the youngest Mayor in Richmond’s history.
As Mayor, he has turned around a capital city that was chronically broken, with neglected schools, troubling finances, and crumbling roads. Levar allocated historic funding levels to improving Richmond’s roads, reduced the poverty rate by 22%, got the budget under control and created a surplus, and built new schools. Now, Richmond is rated the best place to live in Virginia. As the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Levar helped restore voting rights to almost two-hundred thousand people.
If elected, Levar will be the first Black Governor in Virginia in over three decades. As the former Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Virginia, Levar knows the Commonwealth like the back of his hand – from conversations at coffee shops in Portsmouth, to rallies in Prince William County, to town halls in Arlington – Levar has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities Virginians face. Levar has won two tough races by putting together the same diverse coalition it will take to win back the Governorship – exciting young people, motivating voters of color, and connecting with suburban voters.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO
In the video, Levar connects his life story with those of Virginians all across the Commonwealth: “It’s time we put the hopes and dreams of Virginians first. That’s why I’m running for governor. For families like mine that just need an opportunity. For kids like me who will thrive in school if they get the right chance. And for parents like my dad who work multiple jobs and still struggle to live a secure, middle-class life.”
Levar is going to dig right in, roll up his sleeves, and build a thriving Virginia where everyone has a fair shot at success. As Mayor of Richmond, Levar has taken a get-things-done approach – and that’s the same thing he’ll do as Governor. Now is the time for bold leadership where we tackle the problems that have plagued us for generations and get big things done for Virginia.
To learn more about Levar’s campaign for Governor, visit: www.levarstoney.com
About Levar Stoney
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney was raised in York County by his father and grandmother, Marvin and Mary, and was the first one in his family to graduate high school, and then first to graduate college. As the first Black Secretary of the Commonwealth, Levar helped restore voting rights for almost two-hundred thousand people.
As the youngest Mayor in Richmond, Levar transformed a city that had neglected schools, a broken budget, and crumbling infrastructure and turned it around, from building up schools, to reducing the poverty rate by 22%, to making headway on infrastructure projects, and creating a budget surplus. Richmond is now rated the best place to live in Virginia.
Levar lives in Richmond with his wife, Brandy. They’re excited about the upcoming birth of their first child – a daughter, whose expected arrival is March 2024.
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