This race is showing signs of tightening as we get closer to November. Roanoke College recently released a poll that had Spanberger ahead by just 7% points, down from 17% this past May in a similar poll. The Lt. Governor and Attorney General races are even closer, with our candidates holding just 3% leads.

This tightening will no doubt have serious implications for House of Delegates races across the Commonwealth.

It is more important than ever to learn about our candidates across Virginia, and to support them in any way you can. 

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.

After coming within 700 votes in her 2023 race, Jessica Anderson is back on the ballot in District 71 and ready to bring it home.

Unlike her opponent, Jess is not a career politician.

She’s an everyday person who is passionate about advocating for the needs of her community. Jess understands the real struggles that families face in Virginia’s 71st House of Delegates District because she has firsthand experience.

Jessica is dedicated to strengthening the foundations of her constituents’ lives, from boosting economic security and ensuring affordable healthcare to investing in public education and expanding affordable housing. She stands firmly for reproductive rights, family care policies, common sense gun safety, and environmental stewardship, believing that addressing these key issues will create a brighter, more resilient future for every family in the 71st District and beyond.

Located along I-64 in some of Virginia’s fastest growing areas, House District 71 is a truly purple seat.

Over ten years, the district has voted for Vice President Harris (2024), Senator Kaine (2024), Governor Youngkin (2021), Governor Northam (2017), and President Trump (2016).

While Democrats feel good about statewide conditions, we know all politics are local. You can be certain all eyes will be on District 71 as results roll in on election night.

Jess is again set to take on GOP incumbent Delegate Amanda Batten. While her district may be purple, Batten’s voting record is deep red. She has served as the GOP caucus chair and voted in lockstep with the GOP on 90% of all recorded votes.

Liz Richardson is a farmer advocate, chaplain, and educator running to represent Virginia’s 100th district in the House of Delegates.

Born and raised on the Eastern Shore, she comes from a family of farmers, watermen, teachers, and first responders who have shaped her commitment to service and her love for this region.

Liz’s decision to run is rooted in the same commitment that has guided her entire career: serving people, building bridges across differences, and strengthening the well-being of communities. Liz brings a depth of experience to her campaign, spanning the fields of education, nonprofit leadership, healthcare, and spiritual care.

Unique among Virginia districts, House District 100 is split between Virginia Beach and the Virginia portion of the Delmarva peninsula.

While the seat has not been announced as a battleground by the Democratic Party, it may well be in play this cycle.

Senator Tim Kaine carried the seat in 2018, another post-Trump election year which saw conditions similar to those we see today. With a strong statewide environment for Democrats, this will be a seat to watch on election night.

Liz is all set to take on GOP incumbent Delegate Rob Bloxom in the November election. First elected in 2013, Bloxom supports GOP efforts to limit voting access in Virginia and introduced legislation to eliminate 31 days of absentee voting availability for Virginians.

Rodney Nickens is running for the Virginia House of Delegates because District 90 deserves a fighter who puts people over politics. Rodney is committed to ensuring every resident has access to affordable housing, quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

A native of Chesapeake’s Hartwood Trace neighborhood, Rodney is the Founder and CEO of R&N Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm that advances equity-driven policy and empowers grassroots leaders nationwide. His career has centered on equitable housing and economic development, with his work helping shape policies that expand affordable housing and dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity. His firm has also advised national judiciary reform campaigns and progressive candidates across the country.

Rodney holds a Juris Doctor from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, specializing in Social Justice Lawyering; a Master’s in African-American Studies from UCLA; and a Bachelor’s degree with honors from UC Merced. He also serves as an Alumni Trustee for the UC Merced Foundation Board and is a Board Member of the New Leaders Council in Oakland.

House District 90 is located entirely within Chesapeake from the city center to the North Carolina border.

Democratic victory in the seat depends on strong turnout in the northern portion of the district and flipping significant numbers of voters in the rural southern precincts.

Rodney is set to take on GOP incumbent Delegate Jay Leftwich. Leftwich has served in the General Assembly since 2014 and been a reliable vote for GOP party bosses, voting along party lines in 89% of all recorded votes.

 We close out our tour of Hampton Roads area candidates with incumbent Delegate Shelly Simonds, who is seeking her fourth term in House District 70.

Delegate Simonds is a former teacher who started her political journey as a member of the Newport News School Board. In the House of Delegates, she is known for her commitment to workforce development as co-founder of the Career and Technical Education Caucus, a bi-partisan effort to connect students to careers.

Delegate Simonds serves as the Vice Chair of the House Education Committee and the Chair of the K-12 subcommittee. Her other committee assignments include Finance, Counties Cities & Towns, as well as Agriculture and Natural Resources.  She is acting chair of the Aerospace Advisory Council and a strong proponent of STEM education.

Republicans have nominated Hampton Roads Republican Women’s Club First Vice President Cynthia Scaturico to take on Delegate Simonds in November. She recently moved to Newport News from Carroll County, Iowa where she held office on the Board of Supervisors.

New to the area, and an unabashed supporter of President Trump’s failing political agenda, Scaturico is far from aligned with the values of her district. Libertarian candidate John Bloom will also appear on the ballot, but has failed to raise any funds or mount a serious campaign.

That’s it for Volume 12 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