It’s Labor Day weekend, the traditional start to every November election. But our candidates have been running at full speed for months. And we are poised to not only protect, but to expand our majority in the House of Delegates.

With your help.

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.

When Del. Nick Freitas, the sitting District  62 representative, announced he would not seek re-election, a lane opened for Democrats to compete in this traditionally red seat. Now Sara Ratcliffe has stepped forward and is running to win it.

Raised by a single mother who struggled with financial hardship and mental health challenges, Sara witnessed firsthand the consequences of inadequate government support. These early experiences gave her a lifelong determination to advocate for individuals and families often overlooked by the system. A natural caretaker, Sara has spent her life caring for loved ones facing serious health issues, including her mother, father, and mother-in-law, while navigating complex and often inadequate healthcare systems.

Professionally, Sara brings 30 years of political and advocacy experience, working at local, state, and national levels to create real change. After earning a Political Science degree from George Washington University, she worked for a U.S. senator and on public health initiatives like women’s health and tobacco control policy. Sara and her husband have made Greene County their home, raising their family and enjoying the area’s natural beauty. She remains actively engaged through local organizations and the Blue Ridge Chorale.

Spanning four rural counties west of Fredericksburg, House District 62 is not an area where Democrats would typically look to compete.

But with strong statewide conditions, a retiring incumbent, and the lowest GOP approval rating in recent memory, 2025 is the best opportunity to make inroads

Facing Sara in the general is local homeschool mom Karen Hamilton, Del. Freitas’ handpicked successor and the wife of former VA-07 GOP candidate Cameron Hamilton. Ms. Hamilton is running hard on GOP culture war issues, but lagging in fundraising.

Running for another open seat is Dr. Gary Miller, a Danville cardiologist who has served on the Danville City Council since 2008.

Dr. Miller has spent his life serving the people of Southside Virginia, first as a doctor, then as a public servant, and now as a Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates.

As a cardiologist, small business owner, and City Council member, Dr. Miller has seen firsthand the struggles of working families, from affording healthcare to finding good-paying jobs. That’s why he’s running for Delegate: to fight for Southside, expand economic opportunity, protect healthcare access, and ensure every community gets its fair share.

House District 49 sits on the North Carolina border between Danville and South Boston.

While Republicans carried the seat in 2024, Tim Kaine came within 1.1% in 2018, a cycle with political conditions very similar to what we face today.

Gary is set to take on GOP nominee Madison Whittle, a local landlord, property developer, and a fellow member of the Danville City Council. Whittle is campaigning on promises to expand gun rights, deregulate, and eliminate Virginia’s protections for reproductive rights.

Cheryl Smith is an election official and retired Chesapeake Public Schools teacher who is running on her record of confident, authentic leadership.

On the campaign trail, Cheryl is emphasizing the kitchen table issues that aren’t given enough attention by the media. In House District 98, that means an intense focus on protecting America’s veterans. Like so many others, Cheryl made Virginia Beach home after her father’s work with the Navy brought the family there in 1975.

Beyond veterans issues, Cheryl is contrasting herself with the GOP incumbent as someone who will work to help public schools thrive, secure reproductive freedom, and defend marriage equality in the commonwealth.

Located entirely within Virginia Beach, House District 98 stretches from the North Carolina Border all the way to Virginia Beach Boulevard.

GOP performance in the district has fallen every year since 2021, which bodes well for what many expect to be a favorable 2025 environment.

Cheryl is set to take on GOP incumbent Delegate Barry Knight. Knight has represented the area since 2009 and has been one of the most loyal votes for GOP party leaders in Richmond, voting along party lines in 95% of all recorded votes.

As a single mom, a small business owner, a former social worker, and now a Freshman Virginia Delegate, Delegate Debra Gardner has spent her life devoted to changing lives and making a difference.

In the General Assembly Debra has already delivered on campaign promises. Bills she authored to eliminate the legal distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, improve child mental health, and assist former inmates on the job hunt were all signed by the Governor this year.

In her first re-election race, Debra isn’t taking anything for granted. Her extensive public service experience, proven leadership skills, and strong work ethic mean that she’s not just going to work on behalf of the residents of the 76th District – she’s going to get things done for them.

Located South of Richmond in Chesterfield County, House District 76 is diverse, growing, and reliably Democratic.

Senator Kaine carried the district by over 30 points in 2024. Turnout here will be key to powering statewide Democratic victories in November.

Facing Delegate Gardner in November’s election is John Thomas. A local boy, Thomas graduated from Lloyd C. Bird High School and has worked in grocery retail and defense contracting. No doubt if elected he would help Republicans in the General Assembly try to take away reproductive rights, voting rights, and many other important freedoms of Virginians.

That’s it for Volume 13 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.

Have a great Labor Day weekend.  Rest up for the sprint to November 4!

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