It’s starting! This historic election is underway!

Today is the first day that Virginians can go out and vote early in-person for the November 4th election. If you are like me and often busy on Election Day, voting early is a great option to cast  your vote and ensure your voice is heard for this crucial election in Virginia.

You can find information on when and where you can vote early on the VA Department of Elections’ webpage here. More early voting locations will be opening across Fairfax as we get closer to November 4th. And remember: if you vote on election day, you have to vote in your usual precinct voting location.

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 in any way 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.

Freshman Delegate Michael Feggans is facing his first re-election race in what is shaping up to be one of the most expensive House races this cycle.

A 20-year Air Force veteran leading medical and IT teams globally and a cybersecurity instructor, Michael is uniquely suited to represent the 97th District.

Michael has introduced legislation in the House of Delegates to create green energy jobs in the region, promote firearm safety, and ensure financial stability for the surviving spouses of military members lost in the line of duty. On the campaign trail Michael is vowing to continue the fight for a brighter future in Virginia Beach.

House District 97 is located entirely within the city of Virginia Beach.

While Democrats carried the district last year, Youngkin carried it in 2021. With Youngkin’s handpicked successor at the top of the GOP ticket this year, Democrats cannot take this seat for granted.

This seat is crucial to protecting our majority — we simply MUST send Michael back to the House.

Michael is set to take on GOP nominee Tim Anderson. Tim is out of touch with Virginians’ values and will fight to undo the progress that has been made in Virginia. Tim has voted against expanding healthcare access, public education funding, and critical protections for reproductive rights.

Far from Richmond, NoVa, and the Hampton Roads, Josh Outsey is running to bring generational change to the people of far Southwest Virginia.

In a district that hasn’t changed hands in 31 years but continues to struggle, his message may just be breaking through to area voters.

As the federal government attempts to dismantle the systems that help struggling communities and many working families across the nation, Josh knows many far Southwest Virginians will suffer. He knows his neighbors deserve more than the sliver of the pie they are currently getting. At a time when businesses are leaving, schools are closing, and healthcare is crumbling, Josh is offering an alternative to the status quo.

Spread across five municipalities, House District 45 is the southwestern-most tip of Virginia along the Kentucky and Tennessee borders.

Having voted for Trump by over 83% in 2024, a Democratic victory here will depend on convincing broad swaths of GOP voters to cross party lines.

Josh is set to take on GOP incumbent Delegate Terry Kilgore. At a time when voters are calling for generational change, Delegate Kilgore represents just the opposite, having served in the General Assembly since 1994. It’s time for a change.

Jon Lucci started his career with $50 in his bank account and $100,000 in student loan debt. Today, he’s a published author, community leader, and business owner who has employed hundreds of people. Now he is bringing that same dedication and grind to the campaign trail.

Jon believes families across Virginia deserve a representative who listens, leads, and delivers. From kitchen table issues like education and healthcare to bigger-picture challenges like trade and job creation, he is running for office to make government work for working families.

Speaking with voters, Jon highlights his plans to improve education, expand the economy, stop the trade war on farmers, expand rural healthcare access, and promote public safety.

House District 32 is located in the northernmost point in the commonwealth along the Maryland border.

With multiple blue precincts in Winchester, Jon can win with high turnout in the city and convincing rural voters to flip.

Jon is set to take on incumbent GOP Delegate Bill Wiley. Wiley has served the areas since 2020 and is among the most conservative members of the General Assembly, voting along party lines 92% of the time.

Born and raised in the Hampton Roads, Delegate Phil Hernandez is facing his first re-election race after a banner first term in the House of Delegates in which he passed ten bills into law during the first session alone.

This includes landmark legislation to expand property tax relief to more Gold Star families, create the largest pilot program in the nation to help families and businesses lower energy bills, improve access to the Child Care Subsidy Program, establish a new Chief Resilience Office to help Virginia prepare for the impacts of a changing climate, and enact the most sweeping reforms to unclaimed property in a generation that will help return over $100 million to families in Virginia every year.

Phil was named “Rookie Legislator of the Year” in 2024 by the Virginia Education Association. He also received the 2025 Legislative Leadership Award from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

Located entirely in Norfolk, House District 94 includes Ocean View and East Beach.

While the district is reliably democratic, we need a high turnout to power a statewide democratic victory. McAuliffe carried the district by less than 4 points, a telltale sign of what made 2021 a bad year for Democrats.

Delegate Hernandez is set to take on a GOP opponent in the general election. No doubt this person, if elected and part of a GOP majority in the House of Delegates, will go against the constitutional amendments to protect reproductive healthcare, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ marriage.

That’s it for Volume 16 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