See below for a press release from Leslie Mehta about her campaign announcement for the Democratic nomination in VA01, which currently is MISrepresented (badly) by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA01), who among other things voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election. Mehta joins fellow Democrat Herb Jones in the race to replace Wittman in this “red” district that comprises parts of Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, James City County, York, etc. (In 2022, Jones got 42.28% of the vote against Wittman).
Leslie Mehta, Attorney and Advocate, Announces Candidacy for Democratic Nomination for Virginia – 01
Chesterfield, VA – Leslie Mehta, an advocate and former lead attorney with the ACLU of Virginia, today announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s 1st congressional district. Mehta jumped into this race because she has a deep passion for uplifting overlooked and underserved families and has a long history of delivering results. “I’m ready to run towards the fight because working people deserve someone who stands in their corner no matter what,” said Mehta. “All my life, I’ve never backed down from adversity–only strived to make things better for everyone who needs it.”
As the Legal Director of the ACLU of Virginia, and throughout her 20-year legal career, Mehta has championed justice and equity for people in the face of discrimination and fought to strengthen constitutional rights of all Virginians, whatever their political beliefs. “I strongly believe that even people with whom I disagree deserve their constitutional rights, protections and opportunities,” said Mehta. “I’ve spent my career working to uphold that core American principle.”
In 2021, after her daughter Brooke tragically passed away from Rett syndrome, a rare and sometimes fatal genetic disease, Mehta was determined to find ways of fighting back against our broken healthcare system and being a source of support for other parents and families. From standing up for disability and special education programs to battling government bureaucracy, Mehta believes everyone, no matter their background or income, should be able to access the compassionate assistance they deserve.
Mehta has a history of advancing smart policy and working with both parties to advocate and achieve needed reform. She is proud to have been appointed to leadership positions by both Democratic and Republican governors, serving from 2019-2021 on Governor Northam’s Commission to Examine Racial and Economic Inequity, then being asked in 2023 to sit on Governor Youngkin’s Rare Disease Council. Additionally, she has successfully petitioned Democrats and Republicans in Congress for funding towards healthcare research, providing her with a wealth of first-hand knowledge on how to get things done at the federal level of governing.
As a mom and an advocate for families managing rare diseases, Mehta worked with elected leaders from both sides of the aisle, but was shocked when Rep. Wittman refused to meet with her and other constituents on such a non-partisan issue. “Congressman Wittman ignores our needs and only prioritizes his extremist agenda,” said Mehta. “We need common sense to win out over chaos. It’s a major reason as to why I’m running.” Unlike Wittman, Mehta is a strong champion for womens’ abortion rights and reproductive freedoms, common sense gun safety laws, protecting our Democracy, quality affordable healthcare and strong public schools.
The daughter of a correctional officer and a social worker supervisor, Mehta grew up in a rural, no-stop-light southern town. She watched her parents work multiple jobs to pay the bills and take care of their three children. Through scholarships and her own hard work, Mehta paid her way through University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then Howard University School of Law. Leslie, her husband Tarun, and their daughter Blair, live in Chesterfield, Virginia.
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