Progressive Voters Guide

Democratic candidate Ann Ridgeway graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in psychology. Ridgeway and her husband have been married since 1978 and have three children together. In 1997, they lost their six-year-old son in a car accident. After spending time with her family to help them recover and heal, she started a charity named after her son that provides financial support for recreational activities and esteem-building programs for children in Orange County. She now serves on the Orange County Youth Commission and the Orange County Youth Council.

Ridgeway believes health care access is a human right and supports Medicaid expansion. She wants to revitalize rural areas by expanding broadband access and increasing job opportunities. Ridgeway supports combating climate change and making investments in renewable energy. She is also a gun owner who supports common sense legislation to prevent gun violence.

Incumbent Republican Delegate Nick Freitas did not submit his paperwork to the state Board of Elections and therefore failed to qualify for the ballot. He has pledged to run a write in campaign. Delegate Freitas is strongly anti-choice and supports targeted restrictions on abortion providers, which are medically unnecessary restrictions designed to shut down clinics. He also opposes gun violence prevention legislation. Delegate Freitas supports school vouchers that take funding away from public schools.

Ann Ridgeway is the more progressive choice in this race.