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Franklin County
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Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th
The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Vote in every race on your ballot! It's our right and our responsibility. Please share this guide with your friends and family.
State Senate
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.
Senate District 014
State Senator
Rebecca Raveson
Democrat
There is minimal information available about Democratic candidate Rebecca Raveson. She has no website, Twitter account, or campaign Facebook page.
Incumbent Republican John Cosgrove has been consistently anti-choice. He voted against funding for reproductive healthcare and to require unnecessary ultrasounds before abortion. He is against our immigrant communities, having voted against the formation of sanctuary cities, and supports discrimination on the basis of religion. He opposed the ratification of the ERA and is staunchly against gun violence prevention.
Senate District 018
State Senator
L. Louise Lucas
Democrat
Originally from Portsmouth, incumbent Senator Louise Lucas received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Norfolk State University. She is a Deaconess at the New Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Lucas was elected to the state Senate in 1991.
Lucas has co-sponsored legislation to prohitbit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. She has supported Medicaid expansion and voted to raise the minimum wage in Virginia. Lucas is a champion for voting rights and has introduced constitutional amendments to guarantee the right to vote in Virginia and reform the Commonwealth’s redistricting process. She is reliably pro-choice and has introduced legislation to expand background checks for gun purchases in Virignia.
She is running unopposed and is the progressive choice for this race.
Economic Justice: AFL-CIO
Social Justice: EMILY's List
House of Delegates
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below House of Delegate races on your ballot.
House District 064
Delegate
Michele Joyce
Democrat
Democratic candidate Michele Joyce is a longtime resident of Smithfield where she and her husband have raised their two daughters. Joyce has a background in physics and has worked at Jefferson Lab in Newport News for 20 years. For the last decade, Michele has been a volunteer community leader and advocate, helping hundreds of residents in the rural areas of the district to find access to affordable health care. After witnessing a neighborhood family fall victim to a flawed health care system, she decided it was time to play an active role in helping folks in her community. She vows to improve lives in our rural communities by eliminating food and internet deserts and by protecting the family farm.
Her opponent is incumbent Republican Delegate Emily Brewer. Delegate Brewer was first elected in 2017. She is endorsed by the NRA and the Virginia Citizens Defense League, proving that she is against commonsense gun violence prevention measures. She is also against abortion access and doesn’t believe people should be able to make choices about their own bodies.
Michele Joyce is the more progressive choice in this race because of her strong commitment to affordable health care.
Economic Justice: AFL-CIO
Website: https://www.joyce4va.com/
Endorsements: https://www.joyce4va.com/endorsements
Facebook: http://facebook.com/michelejoycefordelegate
Endorsements: https://www.joyce4va.com/endorsements
Facebook: http://facebook.com/michelejoycefordelegate
House District 075
Delegate
Roslyn Tyler
Democrat
Incumbent Democratic Delegate Roslyn “Roz” Tyler was born in Greensville County, Virginia. She has a master’s degree in Education from Virginia State University. She works as the Clinical Coordinator of Physical Therapy at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center.
Delegate Tyler serves on the Militia, Police and Public Safety, Education, and Appropriations Committees. She supported the Governor’s amendment that reinstated driving privileges for over 627,000 Virginians on July 1, 2019, who had their licenses suspended due to non-payment of court costs, fines, forfeitures, restitution, or penalties. She also supports ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment and voted for Medicaid expansion.
Her opponent is H. Otto Wachsmann Jr., a pharmacist from Stony Creek. Wachsmann has not put forth a concrete platform on any issues, but we do know that he is running as a Republican.
Delegate Tyler is the more progressive choice in this race.
Education: Virginia Education Association
Environment: Virginia Sierra Club
Economic Justice: AFL-CIO
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