Progressive Voters Guide

Incumbent Senator Monty Mason is a longtime Virginian. He graduated from the College of William and Mary and has worked in real estate in Williamsburg for the last 25 years. Before becoming a Senator, he served as the Delegate for the 93rd District. He has supported reproductive rights by voting in favor of lowering taxes on menstrual products and voting against medically unnecessary ultrasounds. He also opposed a bill that would have removed state funding for abortions.

Senator Mason has also supported gun violence prevention. He opposed a bill that would have allowed emergency responders to carry concealed weapons on duty. Senator Mason is also passionate about job opportunities and accessible education, including for families of civilians and veterans. His platform includes ensuring that senior citizens are receiving the best care possible when entering care systems.

Sen. Mason is running unopposed, and because of his strong progressive stances on issues like the environment, gun safety, and reproductive healthcare, he is the progressive choice in this race.

Incumbent Senator Mamie Locke is staunchly pro-choice. Senator Locke voted in favor of providing menstrual products to jail and prison residents and opposed medically unnecessary ultrasounds prior to abortion. She routinely sponsors legislation to protect and expand access to reproductive health care, including sponsoring the Reproductive Health Equity Act. She supports our immigrant communities and legislation to protect them and their families. She received a 93% rating from the Virginia Sierra Club for voting in favor of bills like the Smoke Free Air Act.

Senator Locke is a strong supporter of LGBTQ communities. She supported bills that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. She also co-sponsored a bill that would prohibit employers from discriminating against applicants due to their history with the criminal justice system. She is also in favor of common sense gun violence prevention measures.

She is running unopposed. Due to her years of commitment to the community, she is the progressive choice.

Democrat Herbert Jones Jr. came to Virginia through an assignment in the Army. After leaving active duty to join the reserves, he was elected County Supervisor of New Kent County in 1999, beginning his journey in elected office. Thanks to his extensive knowledge of the military, Governor Northam appointed him to the commonwealth’s Military Advisory Council. 

Jones Jr. is pro-choice and has openly stated his support of reproductive healthcare facilities like Planned Parenthood. He supports clean, renewable energy and is in favor of common sense solutions to prevent gun violence. Jones supports raising teacher pay, increasing funding for pre-k, and apprenticeships for students. Unlike his opponent, he supports Medicaid expansion and would work to completely close the healthcare gap in Virginia.

His opponent, incumbent Senator Tommy Norment, is the Senate Majority Leader. He has consistently and vocally opposed progressive priorities. He has voted for bills that target immigrant communities and opposed bills that would increase the quality of life of those who have immigrated to the US. He has consistently opposed reproductive rights, including voting to mandate medically unnecessary ultrasounds and prohibit the use of state funds for abortion. Norment has repeatedly voted against raising the minimum wage. Because Sen. Norment is the Senate Majority Leader, the power that he holds often leads to the defeat of our bills.

Jones is the more progressive choice in this race.