Senate District 018

Democratic candidate Jessica Foster is a mom, small business owner, and attorney. She represents undocumented immigrant children in need of special immigrant status who have been abandoned or are victims of child abuse and neglect. Her platform includes increased education funding, protecting the healthcare rights of the poor, criminal and juvenile justice reform, gun violence prevention, and protecting the environment.

Incumbent Republican Delegate Mark Cole has been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2002. He sponsored House Bill 663, a bathroom bill restricting public restroom use according to a person's "anatomical sex", defined as "the physical condition of being male or female, which is determined by a person's anatomy," with violators liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $50. Delegate Cole also supports anti-immigrant bills. As chair of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, Cole has led the charge for restrictive voting bills that make it more difficult for Virginians to access the ballot.

Jessica Foster is the more 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.

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.

Incumbent Democratic Delegate Jeion Ward is a lifelong resident of the Hampton Roads area. She is a graduate of Thomas Nelson Community College and is currently an educator. Delegate Ward is very active in her community and was elected President of the Hampton Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 4260. She is also a member of the Executive Council of the Virginia AFL-CIO.

Delegate Ward has coordinated both partisan and non-partisan "Get-Out-The-Vote" campaigns in targeted areas of Hampton and Newport News since 1997. In addition, she has organized voter registration drives and restoration of rights campaigns. She has proposed legislation that would make election day a school holiday. She also supports common sense gun violence prevention laws and protecting reproductive rights. She voted to expand Medicaid in Virginia to 400,000 low income Virginians.

Delegate Ward is running unopposed and is the progressive choice in this race.