House District 046

Incumbent Senator Lionell Spruill is a lifelong Virginian and Democrat. He was born in Norfolk and received an Honorary Doctorate from Norfolk University. Senator Spruill was a member of several civic leagues in the state, which led to his appointment as Chairman of the Chesapeake City Council in 1988. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1994 and the state Senate in 2016.

Senator Spruill is pro-choice and has voted against personhood bills and mandatory ultrasounds before abortion. He supports legislation like the Virginia Energy Plan that would have put a 15 year pause on offshore oil drilling and encouraged clean energy options. Senator Spruill voted to expand Medicaid in Virginia and supports raising wages for Virginia families. He passed legislation to close Jim Crow loopholes in Virginia law that exempted some professions from the state minimum wage.

His opponent, Jeff Staples, is running as an independent. Staples supports ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment and expanding healthcare access. He does not have a clear stance on immigration, reproductive health, economic opportunity, or other progressive issues.

Senator Spruill is the progressive choice in this race.

Delegate Cheryl Turpin is a high school science teacher in Virginia Beach. She received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University before earning a graduate degree from the University of Richmond. Turpin was elected to the House of Delegates in 2017 and is now running for the state Senate seat vacated by Republican Senator Frank Wagner.

During her time in the House, Turpin voted to expand Medicaid and raise wages for teachers across Virginia. She opposed legislation designed to scapegoat immigrant communities. She supports expanding clean energy options and ensuring all students have access to quality education. She has sponsored legislation to add sexual orientation and gender identity to Virginia’s hate crimes statute.

Her opponent, Republican Jen Kiggans, is a Navy veteran and nurse practitioner. She is anti-choice and has been vocal in her stance against abortion. She opposes gun violence prevention measures.

Cheryl Turpin is the progressive choice in this race.

Incumbent Democratic Delegate Charniele Herring was elected to the General Assembly in January 2009 in a special election. She was the first African American woman from Northern Virginia to be elected to the House of Delegates. She graduated from George Mason University with a degree in economics. She later went to law school and she currently works as General Counsel for a government contracting firm.

Since her election, Delegate Herring has supported fair, affordable housing, education, and affordable health care access. She was a strong supporter of Medicaid expansion and voted to allow an additional 300,000 Virginians to see a doctor when they need to. She is also in favor of renewable energy resources. Delegate Herring has been a champion for abortion access and founded the Legislative Reproductive Health Caucus. Additionally, she has consistently fought for gun violence prevention.

Delegate Herring is running unopposed and is the progressive choice in this race.