House District 089

Virginia’s new 17th State Senate district encompasses Suffolk City, Isle of Wight County, parts of Portsmouth City, Southampton County, Brunswick County, Greensville County, Franklin City, parts of Dinwiddie County, Emporia City, and parts of Chesapeake City. With over 164,000 registered voters, this is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in one direction or another.

Democrat Amy Laufer is a former middle school teacher. She taught in Jamaica as a Peace Corps volunteer before teaching at Louisa Middle School and Tandem Friends School in Charlottesville. Laufer has served on the Charlottesville City School Board and is the founder of Virginia’s List, an organization that supports Democratic women running for office.

Laufer’s platform prioritizes education, including raising teacher pay and investing in pre-k classes. She also supports criminal justice reform and tackling the problem of mass incarceration. Laufer supports Medicaid expansion, would vote to repeal the punitive work requirements, and will continue to fight to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable health care. She also supports the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.

Incumbent Republican Senator Bryce Reeves voted against Medicaid expansion and against raising the minimum wage in Virginia. He is anti-choice and opposes commonsense gun violence prevention measures. Senator Reeves also voted against legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in housing and public employment.

Laufer is the progressive choice in this race.

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.