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Democrat

Shelly Simonds

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Democratic candidate Shelly Simonds is an educator and longtime environmental activist. She has worked for years in the environmental advocacy space as a former member of the Legislative Contact Team with the League of Conservation Voters. She strongly supports raising the minimum wage. She also vows to prioritize defending healthcare access, reducing drug prices, and protrecting abortion access.

Incumbent Republican Delegate David Yancey is not only anti-choice, but he also supported a bill that authorized individuals subject to a protective order to carry a concealed handgun, possibly putting domestic violence victims in danger.

Independent Michael Bartley is an Aerospace Engineer, working for Eagle Technologies in Newport News. Bartley does not voice support of sensible gun violence prevention laws. He plans on pushing for personal use of all drugs to be decriminalized.

Simonds is the more progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Democratic candidate Shelly Simonds is an educator and longtime environmental activist. She has worked for years in the environmental advocacy space as a former member of the Legislative Contact Team with the League of Conservation Voters. She strongly supports raising the minimum wage. She also vows to prioritize defending healthcare access, reducing drug prices, and protrecting abortion access.

Incumbent Republican Delegate David Yancey is not only anti-choice, but he also supported a bill that authorized individuals subject to a protective order to carry a concealed handgun, possibly putting domestic violence victims in danger.

Independent Michael Bartley is an Aerospace Engineer, working for Eagle Technologies in Newport News. Bartley does not voice support of sensible gun violence prevention laws. He plans on pushing for personal use of all drugs to be decriminalized.

Simonds is the more progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

House District 094

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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 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.

Senate District 021

State Senator

John S. Edwards photo
Democrat

John S. Edwards

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Incumbent Senator John Edwards was elected to the state Senate in 1995. Edwards hails from Roanoke, Virginia. He graduated from Princeton University in 1966 cum laude and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1970. Senator Edwards served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Captain from 1971 through 1973.

Senator Edwards has supported numerous progressive issues including legislation to deny gun purchases to persons determined to be a danger to themselves or others. He is a strong ally in the fight for environmental protection, conservation, and preservation. He successfully sponsored Virginia’s first power purchase agreement (PPA) legislation in 2013. He also passed a bill to make it easier for localities to obtain solar energy services from third parties in 2017. Senator Edwards also sponsored a bill that would have reversed a law that allows natural gas pipeline companies to survey on private property without permission.

His opponent is Independent Steven Nelson. Unfortunately, there is little public information about Nelson’s campaign platform. In 2015, he ran as an Independent in the 19th Senate district. In that race, he voiced strong support for continued reliance on polluting fossil fuels. He also criticized the Affordable Care Act and the AARP for their support for access to affordable health care. He describes himself as an “independent conservative.”

Delegate Edwards is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

Incumbent Senator John Edwards was elected to the state Senate in 1995. Edwards hails from Roanoke, Virginia. He graduated from Princeton University in 1966 cum laude and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1970. Senator Edwards served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Captain from 1971 through 1973.

Senator Edwards has supported numerous progressive issues including legislation to deny gun purchases to persons determined to be a danger to themselves or others. He is a strong ally in the fight for environmental protection, conservation, and preservation. He successfully sponsored Virginia’s first power purchase agreement (PPA) legislation in 2013. He also passed a bill to make it easier for localities to obtain solar energy services from third parties in 2017. Senator Edwards also sponsored a bill that would have reversed a law that allows natural gas pipeline companies to survey on private property without permission.

His opponent is Independent Steven Nelson. Unfortunately, there is little public information about Nelson’s campaign platform. In 2015, he ran as an Independent in the 19th Senate district. In that race, he voiced strong support for continued reliance on polluting fossil fuels. He also criticized the Affordable Care Act and the AARP for their support for access to affordable health care. He describes himself as an “independent conservative.”

Delegate Edwards is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05

House District 094

Delegate

Shelly Simonds photo
Democrat

Shelly Simonds

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Virginia’s new 94th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Norfolk City. With close to 42,000 registered voters, this district leans Democratic.

Democratic candidate Shelly Simonds is an educator and longtime environmental activist. She has worked for years in the environmental advocacy space as a former member of the Legislative Contact Team with the League of Conservation Voters. She strongly supports raising the minimum wage. She also vows to prioritize defending healthcare access, reducing drug prices, and protrecting abortion access.

Incumbent Republican Delegate David Yancey is not only anti-choice, but he also supported a bill that authorized individuals subject to a protective order to carry a concealed handgun, possibly putting domestic violence victims in danger.

Independent Michael Bartley is an Aerospace Engineer, working for Eagle Technologies in Newport News. Bartley does not voice support of sensible gun violence prevention laws. He plans on pushing for personal use of all drugs to be decriminalized.

Simonds is the more progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-04-05