Senate District 028

Democrat Qasim Rashid is a best-selling and critically acclaimed author, practicing attorney, visiting fellow at Harvard University's Prince Al Waleed bin Talal School of Islamic Studies, and national spokesperson for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. Rashid vows to work to protect the rights of immigrants while ensuring a documented legal path to citizenship. Rashid believes in ensuring gender pay equity and supports paid family and medical leave. Additionally, Rashid believes in repealing right to work policies that are designed to eliminate labor unions and benefit big corporations.

His opponent is incumbent Republican Senator Richard Stuart. Senator Stuart is anti-choice and has opposed Medicaid expansion and raising the minimum wage. Stuart supported a bill that would prohibit the establishment of sanctuary cities, forcing localities to use local resources to do the job of the federal government.

Qasim Rashid is the more progressive choice in this race.

Democratic candidate Trudy Berry is a veteran of the US Air Force and earned a degree in criminal justice from Longwood University in Farmville. She is a mother of 5 and a grandmother to 13. As Delegate, Berry would ensure that every Virginian has access to quality, affordable health care. She would also vote to increase the minimum wage and to ensure everyone has access to paid sick days. Berry believes that every household in rural Virginia should have access to the Internet and cell phone service.

Her opponent, incumbent Republican Delegate Thomas C. Wright III, has been in office since 2000. He doesn’t support commonsense gun violence prevention laws like universal background checks. Delegate Wright voted for legislation that would prohibit the establishment of sanctuary cities, putting members of Virginia’s immigrant community at an increased risk of family separation and deportation. Delegate Wright also supported HB 773, which would allow individuals, businesses, and organizations to discriminate against LGBTQ community members.

Because of her commitment to affordable health care, increasing the minimum wage, and ensuring everyone has paid sick days, Trudy Berry is the more progressive choice in this race.

Democratic candidate Lindsey Dougherty has committed her life to public service. Dougherty has worked extensively with at-risk youth in the juvenile justice system, partnering with community organizations that help incarcerated youth build both life and job skills. She has worked with state and local governments to increase access to better health through recreation and art. Currently, Dougherty works in the Budget and Management Department as an analyst in Chesterfield County.

Dougherty believes that communities do better when everyone is safe, healthy, and engaged with their neighbors. As Delegate, she would support offering free community college and trade school programs to all in-state students and universal pre-K for all 3 and 4-year-olds. She also supports increasing the minimum wage and increasing teacher pay.

She is running against Republican candidate Carrie Coyner. Coyner is a lawyer who was formerly on the Chesterfield County School Board. Coyner was replaced as the Chesterfield School Board’s representative on the school system’s gifted education advisory committee after making comments critical of Matoaca Middle School’s administration and teachers in the school’s center-based gifted program. Coyner’s campaign focuses on education issues but fails to mention other issues related to healthcare, the economy, and reproductive rights.

Dougherty is the more progressive choice in this race.

Incumbent Democratic Delegate Lashrecse Aird was elected in November 2015 to represent the 63rd District. She holds the special distinction of being the youngest woman ever elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Delegate Aird is actively engaged in numerous civic boards and organizations. She is Chair of the Petersburg Democratic Committee, Chair of the Petersburg Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Political Awareness and Involvement Committee, and a former member of the Petersburg Planning Commission.

She is a strong progressive champion who supports Medicaid expansion, increased school funding, voting rights, abortion access, and equality for all.

She is opposed by Larry Haake, who is running as an Independent. Haake is a former police officer who served as the Chesterfield County Registrar for 22 years, but not without controversy. In 2004, Haake asked that uniformed police officers be stationed at the county’s 62 polling places. This action drew criticism from Democrats, progressive allies, and the local Muslim community, all stating that the presence of armed officers could intimidate some voters.

Lashrecse Aird is the progressive choice in this race.