Home 2021 Elections Delegates Rip Sullivan, Vivian Watts, Shelly Simonds, Suhas Subramanyam, Schuyler VanValkenburg Endorse...

Delegates Rip Sullivan, Vivian Watts, Shelly Simonds, Suhas Subramanyam, Schuyler VanValkenburg Endorse Terry McAuliffe for Governor

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From the Terry McAuliffe for Governor campaign:

Following Historic General Assembly Session, Legislators Endorse Terry McAuliffe for Governor

Delegates Rip Sullivan, Suhas Subramanyam, Vivian Watts, Shelly Simonds and Schuyler VanValkenburg Are Latest Legislators Supporting Terry’s Bold Plan to Create a More Equitable Virginia

MCLEAN, VA – Following a historic session that made great progress on creating a post-COVID economy and a more equitable criminal justice system, members of the House of Delegates from across Virginia today endorsed Terry McAuliffe for Governor, citing Terry’s strong record and bold plan to create a more equitable Virginia. The legislators endorsing Terry include House Democratic Caucus Chair Rip Sullivan, House Finance Committee Chair Vivian Watts, and Delegates Suhas Subramanyam, Schuyler VanValkenburg, and Shelly Simonds.

These delegates join numerous other legislators in supporting Terry, including Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas, Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, and House Majority Leader Charniele Herring. In recent weeks, Terry has also been endorsed by major labor organizations, including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).   

Terry’s growing coalition of legislators supporting his campaign include:

  • Senate President Pro-Tempore L. Louise Lucas (Co-Chair of Terry for Virginia)
  • House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (Co-Chair of Terry for Virginia)
  • House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (Fairfax County)
  • Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (Fairfax County, and Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church)
  • House Democratic Caucus Chair Rip Sullivan (Arlington and Fairfax Counties)
  • House Education Committee Chair Delegate Roslyn Tyler (Counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Lunenburg, Southampton, Sussex, and Cities of Emporia and Franklin)
  • House Transportation Committee Chair Delores McQuinn (Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico, and City of Richmond)
  • House Appropriations Chair Luke Torian (Prince William County)
  • House Finance Committee Chair Delegate Vivian Watts (Fairfax County)
  • Senate Appropriations and Finance Committee Chair Janet Howell (Counties of Arlington and Fairfax) 
  • Senator Lionell Spruill (Cities of Chesapeake and Norfolk)
  • Senator Adam Ebbin (Arlington and Fairfax Counties, and City of Alexandria)
  • Senator Barbara Favola (Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun Counties)
  • Senator Dave Marsden (Fairfax County)
  • Senator George Barker (Fairfax and Prince William Counties, and City of Alexandria)
  • Senator John Bell (Loudoun and Prince William Counties)
  • Delegate Alfonso Lopez (Arlington and Fairfax Counties)
  • Delegate Cliff Hayes, Jr. (Cities of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach)
  • Delegate Mike Mullin (Counties of James City and York, and Cities of Newport News and Williamsburg)
  • Delegate Alex Askew (City of Virginia Beach)
  • Delegate Don Scott (City of Portsmouth)
  • Delegate Mark Sickles (Fairfax County)
  • Delegate Kathleen Murphy (Fairfax and Loudoun Counties) 
  • Delegate Karrie Delaney (Fairfax and Loudoun Counties)
  • Delegate David Reid (Loudoun County)
  • Delegate Chris Hurst (Radford City; Giles, Pulaski and Montgomery Counties)
  • Delegate Kaye Kory (Fairfax County)
  • Delegate Martha Mugler (Counties of York, Hampton, and Poquoson)
  • Delegate Steve Heretick (Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth)
  • Delegate Clint Jenkins (Cities of Chesapeake and Suffolk)
  • Delegate Suhas Subramanyam (Loudoun and Prince William Counties)
  • Delegate Shelly Simonds (Newport News)
  • Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg (Henrico County)

“I have always known Terry McAuliffe to be a strong and bold leader. In 2019, when we were working hard to take back the majority in the House of Delegates, Terry stepped up.  He was relentless in his efforts to help us, raising money and participating in more than 140 events throughout Virginia. Thanks in no small part to his help, we have been able to make historic progress during the last two General Assembly sessions,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair Rip Sullivan (Arlington and Fairfax Counties). “Terry is running a campaign based on bold plans to rebuild Virginia’s economy and create a more equitable future for all Virginians. I know that as Virginia’s next governor he will continue his fight against disparities in education, health, and housing, and for that I am proud to endorse him.”

“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been devastating for people of Virginia and her economy. We need a leader who understands the need to go big and bold in our recovery while creating a more equitable future for our Commonwealth. Terry has wide-ranging plans to help Virginia come back stronger than ever, and that is why I am endorsing him for Virginia’s next governor,” said House Finance Committee Chair Vivian Watts (Fairfax County). “Terry has demonstrated his ability to get things done. As our 72nd Governor, Terry created 200,000 good-paying jobs and raised personal income by 14%. Terry McAuliffe will provide the bold leadership we need, and I am proud to join him in his fight for Virginia’s future.” 

“Our criminal justice system is in desperate need of reform to address the racial disparities that impact our Black and Brown communities. In my career, I have been an ardent fighter for justice and to reform our criminal justice system, and I know Terry McAuliffe has the same goal,” said Delegate Suhas Subramanyam (Loudoun and Prince William Counties). “When he served as Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry restored voting rights to more than 173,000 Virginians – more than any governor in American history. As our next governor, he will boldly reform our criminal justice system with a focus on equity and second chances. I am proud to endorse Terry McAuliffe for Governor today and join him in his mission to create a more equitable Virginia for all.” 

“As a public school teacher, I know firsthand how much the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our educators and students, compounding decades of inequities in our education system. We need a leader who is ready to take bold action to push our education system forward and that is why I am endorsing Terry McAuliffe for Governor,” said Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg (Henrico County). “As Virginia’s 72nd Governor, Terry secured a record $1 billion investment in education, and he has plans to continue this fight by delivering the largest education investment in the history of Virginia. He will not only give our schools the resources they need, but also take on the inequities that disproportionately impact students of color, low-income students, and students in rural communities. I am proud to join Terry in his fight for Virginia’s schools.”

“Climate change is one of the most pressing threats facing Newport News and the broader Hampton Roads area. And for too long, communities of color have paid the price for our inability to act and have been disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change and environmental contaminants,” said Delegate Shelly Simonds (Newport News). “As we work to rebuild from this pandemic we have to make sure environmental justice is at the forefront, tackling many of the health issues caused by pollutants. We need a leader like Terry McAuliffe who will champion bold initiatives to protect our environment and will lift up historically disadvantaged communities that have been impacted the most. Terry has the momentum, leadership, and bold ideas to get this done.”

“I am proud to have these delegates join me in fighting for my big, bold vision to create a more equitable future for all Virginians. Now more than ever we need to work together to rebuild Virginia’s post-COVID economy and move our Commonwealth forward,” said Terry McAuliffe. “As Governor, I look forward to working with these legislators to invest in our workers and our education system, and take bold action to create a more equitable criminal justice system, as well as ensure Virginia’s post-COVID recovery lifts up all Virginians. But we can only get this done if we are ready to act boldly.” 

Since he announced his campaign three months ago, Terry has been running a bold campaign reaching every corner of the Commonwealth. Terry has released numerous policy proposals, conducted more than 50 local television interviews, and hosted over a dozen virtual events to get his message out directly to Virginians. Terry’s big, bold plans include action to strengthen Virginia’s education system and dramatically increase teacher pay, help secure Virginia’s economic recovery from COVID-19, reform our criminal justice system to create a more equitable Virginia, ensure Virginians have access to regular nutritious meals, address the broken, predatory system of prescription drug pricing, boldly confront the gun violence epidemic, make Virginia the best state in the nation for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Healthcare (STEM-H) and computer science education, tackle the housing crisis in the Commonwealth and invest in Virginia’s workforce to create a more equitable post-COVID economy.

These legislators join a broad and growing coalition of support for Terry McAuliffe for governor:

  • U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi
  • Senate President Pro-Tempore L. Louise Lucas (Co-Chair of Terry for Virginia)
  • House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (Co-Chair of Terry for Virginia)
  • Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (Co-Chair of Terry for Virginia)
  • House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (Fairfax County)
  • Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (Fairfax County, and Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church)
  • House Education Committee Chair Delegate Roslyn Tyler (Counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Lunenburg, Southampton, Sussex, and Cities of Emporia and Franklin)
  • House Transportation Committee Chair Delores McQuinn (Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico, and City of Richmond)
  • House Appropriations Chair Luke Torian (Prince William County)
  • Senate Appropriations and Finance Committee Chair Janet Howell (Counties of Arlington and Fairfax) 
  • Senator Lionell Spruill (Cities of Chesapeake and Norfolk)
  • Senator Adam Ebbin (Arlington and Fairfax Counties, and City of Alexandria)
  • Senator Barbara Favola (Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun Counties)
  • Senator Dave Marsden (Fairfax County)
  • Senator George Barker (Fairfax and Prince William Counties, and City of Alexandria)
  • Senator John Bell (Loudoun and Prince William Counties)
  • Delegate Alfonso Lopez (Arlington and Fairfax Counties)
  • Delegate Cliff Hayes, Jr. (Cities of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach)
  • Delegate Mike Mullin (Counties of James City and York, and Cities of Newport News and Williamsburg)
  • Delegate Alex Askew (City of Virginia Beach)
  • Delegate Don Scott (City of Portsmouth)
  • Delegate Mark Sickles (Fairfax County)
  • Delegate Kathleen Murphy (Fairfax and Loudoun Counties) 
  • Delegate Karrie Delaney (Fairfax and Loudoun Counties)
  • Delegate David Reid (Loudoun County)
  • Delegate Chris Hurst (Radford City; Giles, Pulaski and Montgomery Counties)
  • Delegate Kaye Kory (Fairfax County)
  • Delegate Martha Mugler (Counties of York, Hampton, and Poquoson)
  • Delegate Steve Heretick (Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth)
  • Delegate Clint Jenkins (Cities of Chesapeake and Suffolk)
  • Former Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova
  • Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay
  • Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chair Penelope Gross
  • Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Member John Foust
  • Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Member Rodney L. Lusk
  • Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Member Walter L. Alcorn
  • Loudoun County Supervisor Kristen Umstattd
  • Prince William County School Board Chairman Babur B. Lateef 
  • Montgomery County Supervisor Mary Biggs
  • Prince Edward County Supervisor Jerry Townsend 
  • Nottoway County Supervisor Sherman Vaughn 
  • Greensville County Board of Supervisors Chair James Brown
  • Greensville County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Belinda Astrop
  • Greensville County Board of Supervisors Member Tony Conwell
  • Tazewell County Supervisor Maggie Asbury
  • Mayor Kenny Alexander (Norfolk)
  • Mayor McKinley Price (Newport News)
  • Mayor Donnie Tuck (Hampton)
  • Mayor Shannon Glover (Portsmouth) 
  • Mayor Sherman Lea (Roanoke)
  • Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger (Manassas City) 
  • Mayor Kelly Burk (Leesburg)
  • Mayor Earnest “Earnie” Porta Jr (Occoquan)
  • Mayor Ed Owens (South Boston)
  • Norfolk Vice Mayor Martin Thomas
  • Manassas City Vice Mayor Pamela Sebesky
  • Lynchburg Vice Mayor Beau Wright
  • Norfolk City Councilor Courtney Doyle
  • Chesapeake Council Member Ella Ward
  • Hampton City Councilor Chris Snead
  • Hampton City Councilor Eleanor Weston Brown
  • Hampton City Councilor W.H. “Billy” Hobbs Jr.
  • Hampton City Councilor Chris Bowman
  • Portsmouth City Councilor Lisa Lucas-Burke
  • Manassas City Councilmember Mark Wolfe 
  • Manassas City Councilmember Ralph Smith
  • Manassas City Councilmember David Farajollahi
  • Farmville City Councilman Brian Vincent 
  • Bristol City Councilor Neal Osborne
  • Smithfield Town Councilor Valerie Butler
  • Leesburg Town Councilman Zach Cummings
  • Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano
  • Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Anton Bell
  • Hampton School Board Chair Joe Kilgore
  • Fairfax County School Board Member Karen Corbett Sanders 
  • Montgomery County School Board Member Sue Kass
  • Hampton Commissioner of Revenue Ross Mugler
  • Norfolk Commissioner of Revenue Evans Poston
  • Portsmouth Sheriff Michael Moore
  • Norfolk Sheriff Joe Baron
  • Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid
  • Portsmouth Clerk of Court Cynthia Morrison
  • Manassas City Treasurer Patricia Richie-Folks
  • Roanoke Clerk of Court Steve McGraw
  • Portsmouth Commissioner of Revenue Frankie Edmondson
  • Wise County Commissioner of Revenue Douglas Mullins
  • Portsmouth Treasurer Paige Cherry
  • Hampton Treasurer Molly Ward
  • Former Congressman Jim Moran (VA-08)
  • Former Congressman Lewis F. “L.F.” Payne (VA-05)
  • Former House Majority Leader C. Richard “Dickie” Cranwell (Roanoke County)
  • Former House Minority Leader and Charlottesville Mayor David Toscano 
  • Former Virginia Beach Delegate and former United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia Bobby Mathieson
  • Former Virginia Beach Delegate Cheryl Turpin
  • Former Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim
  • Former Newport News Mayor Joe Frank
  • Former Charlottesville Mayor Rev. Alvin Edwards 
  • Former Prince William County Supervisor Frank Principi
  • Former Virginia Beach City Councilor Amelia Ross-Hammond
  • Former Roanoke County Sheriff Gerald Holt
  • Former Prince Edward County Sheriff Wesley Reed 
  • Former Montgomery County School Board Member Connie Froggatt
  • Former 5th CD Congressional Candidate Roger Dean Huffstetler
  • Former DNC Member Steve Cochran (Montgomery County)
  • John Grisham, Best-selling author 
  • Renee Grisham, Food security advocate 
  • Susan Payne, Community leader 
  • Reverend Jackie Nophlin, Bristol community leader
  • Rev. Dr. Robert A. Diggs Sr., Petersburg faith leader
  • Rev. Jeffrey Dodson Sr., Petersburg faith leader
  • Rev. Dr. Rebecca Branch-Griffin, Petersburg faith leader
  • Rev. June Twyman, Petersburg faith leader
  • Rev. Dr. Claudie Grant Jr., Prince George faith leader
  • Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Walker Sr., Dinwiddie faith leader 
  • Kameron Gray, Student Government Association President at Virginia State University
  • Prince George Board of Supervisors Chairman Floyd Brown, Jr.
  • Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors Member Brenda Ebron-Bonner

To learn more about Terry’s vision for Virginia, visit www.TerryMcAuliffe.com.

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