Senate District 019

Virginia’s new 89th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Chesapeake City and parts of Suffolk City. With over 64,000 registered voters, this district is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in one direction or another.

Incumbent Democratic Delegate Jerrauld “Jay” Jones is a lifelong resident of the 89th House District. Delegate Jones is also the youngest Black delegate in Virginia. Jones’s father represented the 89th District 20 years ago and his grandfather, Hilary H. Jones, Jr. was a pioneer in the civil rights movement. Delegate Jones completed his undergraduate studies at the College of William and Mary, where he was a double major in Government and History, and obtained his law degree from the University of Virginia.

Delegate Jones’s campaign priorities are increased education, transportation improvements, the environment, job creation, and criminal justice reform. He sponsored legislation creating driver privilege cards for undocumented Virginians, removed restrictions on abortion access, and fought for tighter legislation around body cameras for law enforcement.

Even though he is running unopposed, Delegate Jones is the more progressive choice in this race.

Incumbent Democratic Delegate Joe Lindsey is a personal injury, family law, criminal defense, and business attorney. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia, was an honor graduate of Hampton Institute, and earned his law degree from Washington College of Law, American University, in Washington, DC.

Delegate Lindsey supported legislation to end unlawful discriminatory housing practices. He also supported numerous gun violence prevention bills including one which made it mandatory to notify law enforcement about lost or stolen guns. Delegate Lindsey is an avid supporter of reproductive rights and voted to expand Medicaid access to 400,000 low income Virginians.

Even though he is running unopposed, Delegate Lindsey is the more progressive choice in this race.

Democratic candidate Martha Mugler is a native of Hampton and lives in Poquoson with her husband and two children. Mugler was elected to the Hampton School Board in 2008, and is currently serving her third term.

She vows to protect the Chesapeake Bay and address the effects of climate change and sea level rise. She supports a person’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion without politically-motivated restrictions. She also supports efforts to reform Virginia’s cash bail system that imprisons people who have not been convicted of a crime unless they can pay for release.

Her opponent, Republican Colleen Holcomb, is the vice-president of Government Relations of Eagle Forum, a right-wing, anti-choice, anti-immigrant organization. Holcomb opposes Medicaid expansion.

Martha Mugler is the more progressive choice in this race.

Virginia’s new 97th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Virginia Beach City. With over 63,000 registered voters, this is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in one direction or another.

Democratic candidate Dr. Kevin Washington was raised in Richmond, VA and served in the United States Army. His campaign platform is focused on education, health care, criminal justice reform, and the environment.

He will fight to create more livable wage jobs, improve our schools, and make public safety a top priority. His campaign priorities include working to ensure sexual orientation and gender identity are legally protected against workplace discrimination. He vows to support and defend the rights of disenfranchised communities, minorities, and the LGBTQ community. He also voiced his intention to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. He believes that the minimum wage should be increased over a few years and that we need to make improvements to our paid family and medical leave policies.

His opponent, Republican Scott Wyatt, is a strong advocate for conservative values. Wyatt has stated that if elected he will be a solid pro-life vote. Wyatt won the Republican nomination after months of infighting within the Republican Party and former Delegate Chris Peace.

Dr. Washington is the more progressive choice in this race.

Democratic candidate Dr. Ella Webster received her Doctorate in Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School. Since 2010, she has worked for health districts all over the eastern region. Dr. Webster served as a United States Peace Corps Maternal Child Health Volunteer in the Central African Republic for two years in the 1990s after receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Drew University. Dr. Webster served on the Gloucester County Public Library Board of Trustees from 2010 to 2019, when she was term-limited and has been on the Three Rivers Healthy Families Advisory Board since 2014.

Dr. Webster has professional experience with abortion services and believes choices about health care should be left to people and their doctors. She has voiced her concern about gun violence and seeks to create sensible gun laws.

Incumbent Republican Delegate Keith Hodges was elected into the House of Delegates in 2011 and voted to prohibit sanctuary cities in Virginia, allowing the use of local resources to do the job of the federal government and the separate of immigrant families. He also supports the controversial Atlantic Coast pipeline. He has rejected commonsense gun violence prevention measures.

Dr. Webster is the more progressive choice in this race.

Democratic candidate Francis Edwards, a retired international CEO of QVC, graduated from the University of Cambridge with honors. He earned a masters degree in engineering and a postgraduate degree in business administration. He is originally from London and came to America seeking the American dream of ‘'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

Edwards’ campaign platform includes ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, fair redistricting reform, and enacting automatic voter registration. He also vows to bring broadband internet to all areas of Virginia.

Incumbent Republican Delegate Margaret Ransone was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2011 has constantly shown us that progressive issues are not her priority. She is a strong supporter of Virginia’s Right to Work laws, policies that are designed to destroy labor unions. She has opposed legislation to protect reproductive rights, and voted against expanding Medicaid in Virginia.

Francis Edwards is the more progressive choice in this race.