HD41 is a tough-but-potentially-winnable district for Democrats in a strong “blue” year (which this one could very well end up being), assuming we’ve got a strong Democratic candidate – which Lily Franklin definitely is. So…let’s see if we can win this one!
LILY FRANKLIN LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING WORKING CLASS ROOTS, PLAN TO REBUILD SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA’S ECONOMY
Blacksburg, VA – Lily Franklin has officially launched her campaign for Virginia’s 41st House District with a powerful new video spotlighting her roots in Southwest Virginia and personal understanding of the challenges too many families face to make ends meet. In the video, Franklin explains how she worked 2-3 jobs to support herself through college, eventually becoming a teacher in Appalachia and now a community leader who has helped tackle some of our most pressing issues. Franklin knows the deck is stacked against too many and is running to reward hard work, create jobs and make life easier on working families.
After coming within just 183 votes of flipping the district in 2023, Franklin is back for a rematch—and this time, she’s entering the race with stronger momentum and broader support. This comes on the heels of Franklin raising the highest first-quarter fundraising haul of any battleground candidate.
Transcript of the ad: I was in my new empty apartment, home from my first full-time job holding something that felt like a future. I paycheck, benefits, hope, stability. I wasn’t just about the money, it was about the life I’d worked so hard to build. But nothing about getting here was easy.
I grew up in Roanoke, back when union jobs like my grandfathers gave hard working families a fair shot. Those jobs may have faded, but the values haven’t. My parents worked hard every single day, to give our family a chance at a better life. They taught me what it means to show up, do your part and keep going, even when it’s hard. So through college I did what I had to do, working multiple jobs. School during the day, the YMCA in the evenings, McDonalds overnight, three hours of sleep then I’d start again. But we made it though, I earned my degree, became a teacher, and worked to improve this community: expanding broadband, helping local farmers, and working to bring good jobs back home. Which brings us all back to this living room. And that’s why I’m running for delegate. Every child no matter their zip code deserves access to a world class education system. Working parents should be able to go to theory kids t-ball games on the weekends without having to worry about juggling two and three jobs to make ends meet. Our seniors, they shouldn’t have to choose between paying for their gas or groceries or paying for their electric bill. We don’t just need good new policies, we need new leaders. Leaders who show up, who see you, and who fight for you.
I’m Lily Franklin, and it’s past time that every hard working Southwest Virginia gets the paycheck and the future they deserve.
Lily Franklin is a lifelong resident of SWVA. She’s a former teacher, who transitioned to Chief of Staff for Delegate Sam Rasoul to serve her community. She championed legislation to support working families, protect our drinking water, and the development of a grant program to support local farming and food infrastructure. She resides in Blacksburg with her beagle, Poppy.
More information about Lily’s background can be found at lilyfordelegate.com
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