Progressive Voters Guide Powered by Progress Virginia
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Democrat

Francis Edwards

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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. 

Last updated: 2023-04-05

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. 

Last updated: 2023-04-05

House District 099

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Election Day November 5, 2019
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State Senate

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.

Senate District 019

State Senator

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Democrat

Flo Ketner

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Democratic candidate Flo Ketner is originally from Floyd County, Virginia. Ketner graduated from Radford University with an undergraduate degree in English and currently lives in Christiansburg. She serves as the Treasurer on the board of the Cayambis Institute Of Latin American Studies in Music.

Ketner’s priorities include healthcare access, gun safety, and the environment. She supports expanding health care access and ensuring rural Virginians have access to life saving care and facilities. She is also concerned about protecting our natural environment and preserving our resources. She supports state ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Her opponent, incumbent Republican Senator David Suetterlein opposes both commonsense gun violence prevention measures and access to reproductive health care. Suetterlein voted against raising the state minimum wage and against expanding Medicaid to cover 400,000 low-income working Virginians.

Ketner is the more progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Democratic candidate Flo Ketner is originally from Floyd County, Virginia. Ketner graduated from Radford University with an undergraduate degree in English and currently lives in Christiansburg. She serves as the Treasurer on the board of the Cayambis Institute Of Latin American Studies in Music.

Ketner’s priorities include healthcare access, gun safety, and the environment. She supports expanding health care access and ensuring rural Virginians have access to life saving care and facilities. She is also concerned about protecting our natural environment and preserving our resources. She supports state ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Her opponent, incumbent Republican Senator David Suetterlein opposes both commonsense gun violence prevention measures and access to reproductive health care. Suetterlein voted against raising the state minimum wage and against expanding Medicaid to cover 400,000 low-income working Virginians.

Ketner is the more progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Endorsed By: Virginia AFL-CIO

Senate District 020

State Senator

No Good Choices

Incumbent Republican Senator William Stanley voted against Medicaid expansion and against raising the minimum wage in Virginia. He has consistently opposed access to reproductive healthcare, including voting to cut off abortion access for low income individuals and to defund Planned Parenthood. Senator Stanley voted against legislation to prohibit discrimination on the job based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

There is not much information on the policy positions of his opponent, Independent candidate Sherman Witcher, who failed to obtain the Democratic nomination. Witcher supports better funding for schools and pay for teachers. In 2007, he ran for Senate as an independent against Republican Robert Hurt. He received 24% of the vote. In 2009, he ran again against Del. Charles Poindexter, R-Franklin, and received 21% of the vote.

Based on the limited information available, Witcher is likely the more progressive choice but you always have the option to write in a candidate.

Incumbent Republican Senator William Stanley voted against Medicaid expansion and against raising the minimum wage in Virginia. He has consistently opposed access to reproductive healthcare, including voting to cut off abortion access for low income individuals and to defund Planned Parenthood. Senator Stanley voted against legislation to prohibit discrimination on the job based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

There is not much information on the policy positions of his opponent, Independent candidate Sherman Witcher, who failed to obtain the Democratic nomination. Witcher supports better funding for schools and pay for teachers. In 2007, he ran for Senate as an independent against Republican Robert Hurt. He received 24% of the vote. In 2009, he ran again against Del. Charles Poindexter, R-Franklin, and received 21% of the vote.

Based on the limited information available, Witcher is likely the more progressive choice but you always have the option to write in a candidate.

House District 099

Delegate

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Democrat

Francis Edwards

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Virginia’s new 99th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Virginia Beach City. With almost 65,000 registered voters, this district leans Republican.

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. 

Last updated: 2023-04-05

City of Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach Clerk of Court

No Good Choices

Tina Sinnen has been the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Virginia Beach for the past 16 years, and has been working in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office for 29 years. Sinnen is listed as an Independent but has been endorsed by the Republican Party of Virginia Beach. After the mass shooting at a city office earlier this year, Sinnen did not call for better gun safety measures, but rather training on how to respond to a shooting.

Sinnen is running unopposed and is not a progressive choice for this race. You always have the option to write in a candidate of your choosing.

Tina Sinnen has been the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Virginia Beach for the past 16 years, and has been working in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office for 29 years. Sinnen is listed as an Independent but has been endorsed by the Republican Party of Virginia Beach. After the mass shooting at a city office earlier this year, Sinnen did not call for better gun safety measures, but rather training on how to respond to a shooting.

Sinnen is running unopposed and is not a progressive choice for this race. You always have the option to write in a candidate of your choosing.

Beach District

Depending on where you live, you may have the following district races on your ballot.

Virginia Beach City Council, Beach District

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Guy Tower

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Guy Tower has lived in Virginia since 1979. He started in Virginia Beach in 1979, and has been in the Beach District since 2014. Tower is a retired lawyer, mediator, and educator. His partner for the past three decades is a retired judge of the Virginia Beach Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court, and they have four children.
 
Tower was appointed to serve as an interim member until the special election this November. If elected to continue his service, he wants to ensure the safety of the residents. One of his priorities is restructuring the funds for stormwater. Tower also believes in transparency and equity. He wants to ensure that residents from every demographic and neighborhood have the opportunity to succeed through fair hiring practices and contracting.
 
Richard Kowalewitch is one of Tower’s opponents. Kowalewitch believes that crime is the biggest threat to the county, and more police officers will eliminate the issue. Kowalewitch is a proud supporter of President Trump.

Rosemary Wilson is also running. Wilson objected to Colin Kaepernick's protests to draw attention to the treatment of Black Americans, calling it a "disrespect" and "an embarrassment." She aligns with the other candidates in her concern about the environment but she fails to hold equity and inclusion as similarly important. Wilson’s website addresses gun violence, but her solution revolves around increased funding for police rather than pushing for common sense gun laws. 

Tower is the most progressive choice for this race.

Last updated: 2025-03-25

Guy Tower has lived in Virginia since 1979. He started in Virginia Beach in 1979, and has been in the Beach District since 2014. Tower is a retired lawyer, mediator, and educator. His partner for the past three decades is a retired judge of the Virginia Beach Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court, and they have four children.
 
Tower was appointed to serve as an interim member until the special election this November. If elected to continue his service, he wants to ensure the safety of the residents. One of his priorities is restructuring the funds for stormwater. Tower also believes in transparency and equity. He wants to ensure that residents from every demographic and neighborhood have the opportunity to succeed through fair hiring practices and contracting.
 
Richard Kowalewitch is one of Tower’s opponents. Kowalewitch believes that crime is the biggest threat to the county, and more police officers will eliminate the issue. Kowalewitch is a proud supporter of President Trump.

Rosemary Wilson is also running. Wilson objected to Colin Kaepernick's protests to draw attention to the treatment of Black Americans, calling it a "disrespect" and "an embarrassment." She aligns with the other candidates in her concern about the environment but she fails to hold equity and inclusion as similarly important. Wilson’s website addresses gun violence, but her solution revolves around increased funding for police rather than pushing for common sense gun laws. 

Tower is the most progressive choice for this race.

Last updated: 2025-03-25