I am more convinced than ever that we have something special building for this election. Beth and I hosted an event on Wednesday for Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Senator Tammy Duckworth, DPVA Chairman Lamont Bagby, and over 125 guests crammed into our house to help support Virginia’s next Governor. The energy was through the roof, and we all left determined to work hard to make sure we deliver a historic election for Democrats.

And Abigail made clear that part of her historic win has to include protecting and expanding our Democratic majority in the House of Delegates.

We have four more great candidates to highlight for you in this week’s Flip and Defend-a-District. I hope that you can take a moment to learn more about them and support them however you can.

At Project Blue Dominion, we are committed to uplifting every Virginia Democratic candidate with our Flip and Defend-a-District newsletter. This week, we are highlighting:

With Virginia in the national spotlight, the stakes are higher than ever—and you have the power to help elect Democrats. Every candidate highlighted in this newsletter deserves your support. As we race to election day, we need to stay energized, stay united, and seize this historic opportunity.

With dozens of endorsements both local and national, May Nivar is running one of the most anticipated races this election cycle.

Born in Philadelphia to immigrant parents from China, May grew up in low-income housing and worked at a small takeout restaurant. After putting herself through college, she went on to a 30 year corporate career and raised her family in Central Virginia.

Over the past decade, May has held leadership roles and served on a variety of boards working to improve Virginia. This includes work to amplify the voices of women, Asian Americans, and other underrepresented communities. Her advocacy led Governor Terry McAuliffe to appoint her to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board, where she served as Vice Chair and Chair. In acknowledgement of her work, Governor Ralph Northam recognized her as a “Noteworthy Asian Pacific American of Virginia.”

With experience spanning small and large business, nonprofits, and government, May has proven she can step up to drive policy change. As the Delegate for the 57th District, she aims to build a Virginia where hard work is rewarded, opportunity is accessible, and the American Dream is within reach.

Located in Western Henrico and Goochland Counties, House District 57 is one of the fastest growing in Central Virginia.

As the population has grown, so too has Democratic performance. Dems carried the seat in 2024 Presidential race, and we are ready to bring the House of Delegates seat back into the fold this year.

May is set to take on incumbent Republican David Owen in November. Though Owen claims to be a moderate, his voting record in the General Assembly tells a different story. He has towed the GOP line on most issues. Since taking office, Owen has voted in lockstep with his party on 92% of all recorded votes.

A former journalist who covered corruption, crime, and justice, Cat Porterfield is aiming to bring her investigative eye to the General Assembly.

With a focus on improving quality of life and affordability in the region, her message is resonating with neighbors  struggling to maintain the quality of life that hard work and determination used to guarantee

Cat knows that affordable housing is one of the most urgent challenges in Virginia, especially in Virginia Beach. With a focus on driving down rent, property, and utility bills, she is aiming to make Virginia beach an attainable place for families to stay and grow. Beyond housing, her focus on healthcare access and quality education are helping her make waves on the campaign trail.

Wrapped around First Landing State Park, House District 99 is located entirely within Virginia Beach.

Once considered solid red, the district has been slipping away from Republicans, and fast. In 2024, Senator Kaine came within three points of his GOP challenger.

Considering the district voted to elect Governor Youngkin by double digits, this is one of the most dramatic shifts we have seen in the Commonwealth. With a strong candidate like Cat and a fired up electorate, Democrats are looking to make a breakthrough this November.

Cat is aiming to unseat GOP incumbent Anne Ferrell Tata in the general election. A social conservative with a fixation on transgender women, Ferrell Tata has proven herself to be out of touch with the changing concerns of her constituents.

After a 22 year military career, Mario Haggerty is running to bring meaningful change and better representation to his neighbors in House District 67.

Mario spent over two decades in the Navy, enlisting in 1996, earning his commission in 2005, and serving as a naval officer until his retirement in 2019. Following his military career, he continued his commitment to national security, working with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division and the Missile Defense Agency.

On the campaign trail, Mario is advocating for the pocketbook issues he believes most resonate with Virginians in the Northern Neck. That includes detailed policy plans to bring greater economic development, defend rural healthcare providers, and protect the environment and coastline upon which the region depends.

A beautiful stretch of coastline and farming communities, House District 67 essentially contains the entirety of Virginia’s Northern Neck.

While it has been considered GOP territory for years, Democratic performance has risen steadily every year since 2021.

Mario is set to take on incumbent GOP freshman Hillary Pugh Kent. Pugh Kent has been an almost unwavering vote for the GOP establishment in Richmond, voting with her party on 94% of all recorded votes.

Closing out this week’s Flip and Defend-a-District newsletter is my fellow Fairfax Delegate, a living example of the power of the American Dream, the one and only Kathy Tran.

After fleeing Vietnam with her parents at just seven months old, Kathy has gone on to study at prestigious universities, work as a civil servant with the U.S. Department of Labor, advocate for her fellow immigrants with the National Immigration Forum, and raise a family with her husband and five kids in West Springfield.

Since Kathy was first elected in 2017, she has introduced and supported legislation to expand healthcare and reproductive rights, strengthen our public schools, reduce gun violence, increase affordable housing, improve voting access, protect our environment, and make Virginia a more welcoming and inclusive place for all.

Located mostly (but not entirely) outside the beltway on the 95 corridor, House District 18 is a diverse cluster of neighborhoods in every sense of the word.

A reliable Democratic voter bank, turning out the district will be key to retaking the Governorship in November.

In November, Kathy will take on Republican nominee Ed McGovern. A retiree who has spent his recent years serving on his HOA board and coaching youth basketball, McGovern has not made a splash on the campaign trail or at fundraisers, likely due to his out-of-touch positions on reproductive care and the Trump administration’s attack on the federal workforce.

That’s it for Volume 5 of our Flip and Defend-a-District Friday series. We’ll be back next week and every week until Election Day to share more about our great candidates. In the meantime, I encourage you to review this email and future editions to find a candidate or candidates whom you would like to support with your time or financial resources.

Project Blue Dominion is committed to supporting Democratic candidates in every corner of the Commonwealth. Join us. The fight to protect and expand our House majority is on.

Best,

Rip Sullivan