Skip to main content
Democrat

Phil Hernandez

Democratic candidate Phil Hernandez, an attorney, was raised in Hampton Roads by a single mom. He went to public schools and then to the College of William and Mary, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.

He has spent the years since fighting for the rights of working people around the country. Hernandez vows to ease the burden of student loan debt and protect borrowers from abusive lending practices. He plans to champion policies that reduce harmful pollution in our air and water, improve coastal resilience, and create new jobs and industries in clean energy technology. He has pledged support for the Equal Rights Amendment and policies that build a more inclusive future, including the areas of housing, employment, and voting rights.

Incumbent Republican Delegate Robert Bloxom fought for increased car inspections fees. He has opposed reproductive rights. Even though he sponsored legislation to give driver's licenses to immigrants, he voted to prohibit sanctuary cities (cities with municipal laws designed to protect immigrants) in Virginia. He also voted to restrict access to safe and legal abortions.

Hernandez is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Democratic candidate Phil Hernandez, an attorney, was raised in Hampton Roads by a single mom. He went to public schools and then to the College of William and Mary, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.

He has spent the years since fighting for the rights of working people around the country. Hernandez vows to ease the burden of student loan debt and protect borrowers from abusive lending practices. He plans to champion policies that reduce harmful pollution in our air and water, improve coastal resilience, and create new jobs and industries in clean energy technology. He has pledged support for the Equal Rights Amendment and policies that build a more inclusive future, including the areas of housing, employment, and voting rights.

Incumbent Republican Delegate Robert Bloxom fought for increased car inspections fees. He has opposed reproductive rights. Even though he sponsored legislation to give driver's licenses to immigrants, he voted to prohibit sanctuary cities (cities with municipal laws designed to protect immigrants) in Virginia. He also voted to restrict access to safe and legal abortions.

Hernandez is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

House District 100

Not in House District 100? Find your state's guide.

Election Day November 5, 2019
Find Drop Box Locations
Ballot Drop Boxes

Senate District 020

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 100

Virginia’s new 100th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Virginia Beach City, Accomack County, and Northampton County. With just over 63,000 registered voters, this district leans Republican.

Democratic candidate Phil Hernandez, an attorney, was raised in Hampton Roads by a single mom. He went to public schools and then to the College of William and Mary, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.

He has spent the years since fighting for the rights of working people around the country. Hernandez vows to ease the burden of student loan debt and protect borrowers from abusive lending practices. He plans to champion policies that reduce harmful pollution in our air and water, improve coastal resilience, and create new jobs and industries in clean energy technology. He has pledged support for the Equal Rights Amendment and policies that build a more inclusive future, including the areas of housing, employment, and voting rights.

Incumbent Republican Delegate Robert Bloxom fought for increased car inspections fees. He has opposed reproductive rights. Even though he sponsored legislation to give driver's licenses to immigrants, he voted to prohibit sanctuary cities (cities with municipal laws designed to protect immigrants) in Virginia. He also voted to restrict access to safe and legal abortions.

Hernandez is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

City of Virginia Beach

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

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.

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