Democratic incumbent Delegate Danica Roem was elected in 2017. She is the first openly transgender woman elected to the Virginia legislature and the first openly transgender person elected to any state office in the United States. Roem is originally from the Manassas area and worked as a reporter for The Gainesville Times. She attended St. Bonaventure University in New York. Roem serves on the Transportation, Communications, Technology and Innovation, and the Counties, Cities, and Towns committees.
Before her election, Roem was uninsured for nearly three years and went without health coverage. She voted to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians in 2018. In 2020, Roem supported capping the price of insulin to $50 and repealing medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion access. This year, she voted to make health insurance plans with abortion coverage available on the state exchange. She also patroned legislation to remove age limits on autism-related health coverage. She continues to fight for healthcare for LGBTQ Virginians by sponsoring legislation that ensures coverage for transition-related care.
As a reporter, Roem covered transportation and when she first ran in 2017, Roem’s priority was fixing Route 28 along with other transit issues in her district. During her time as a delegate, Roem secured funding to widen Rte. 28, expand mass transit in western Prince William County, and improve dangerous intersections in the district. She also fought to fully fund the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), which is responsible for long-term transportation planning, and was appointed to serve on the NVTA in 2020.
Roem also supports strengthening the state’s public education system by increasing funding and addressing inequities within the system. In 2021, she voted for a 5% pay raise for Virginia teachers. In 2019, she co-sponsored legislation aimed at eliminating Virginia’s school-to-prison pipeline. She also supported legislation that prevents students from being shamed for failure to pay school meal debt and makes it easier for families to apply for free and reduced meals.
As a delegate, Roem advocates for government accountability, accessibility, and transparency. She has carried legislation to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act in Virginia. In 2021, she voted for the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, which prohibits discrimination at the polls, and other measures aimed at making voting more accessible in the Commonwealth. She also wants to enact reform in Virginia to eliminate conflicts of interest in the campaign finance system.
Del. Roem is facing a challenge from Christopher Stone, a military veteran, and former Trump administration appointee. Stone opposes efforts to hold police accountable for the violence they enact on communities. He also opposes efforts to reduce Virginia’s prison population by reforming sentencing practices. He does not support laws aimed at keeping our communities safe from gun violence.
Due to her support of affordable healthcare access, transportation funding, public education, and making our democracy stronger by increasing transparency and voting access, Del. Danica Roem is the most progressive choice in this election.
Democratic incumbent Delegate Danica Roem was elected in 2017. She is the first openly transgender woman elected to the Virginia legislature and the first openly transgender person elected to any state office in the United States. Roem is originally from the Manassas area and worked as a reporter for The Gainesville Times. She attended St. Bonaventure University in New York. Roem serves on the Transportation, Communications, Technology and Innovation, and the Counties, Cities, and Towns committees.
Before her election, Roem was uninsured for nearly three years and went without health coverage. She voted to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians in 2018. In 2020, Roem supported capping the price of insulin to $50 and repealing medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion access. This year, she voted to make health insurance plans with abortion coverage available on the state exchange. She also patroned legislation to remove age limits on autism-related health coverage. She continues to fight for healthcare for LGBTQ Virginians by sponsoring legislation that ensures coverage for transition-related care.
As a reporter, Roem covered transportation and when she first ran in 2017, Roem’s priority was fixing Route 28 along with other transit issues in her district. During her time as a delegate, Roem secured funding to widen Rte. 28, expand mass transit in western Prince William County, and improve dangerous intersections in the district. She also fought to fully fund the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), which is responsible for long-term transportation planning, and was appointed to serve on the NVTA in 2020.
Roem also supports strengthening the state’s public education system by increasing funding and addressing inequities within the system. In 2021, she voted for a 5% pay raise for Virginia teachers. In 2019, she co-sponsored legislation aimed at eliminating Virginia’s school-to-prison pipeline. She also supported legislation that prevents students from being shamed for failure to pay school meal debt and makes it easier for families to apply for free and reduced meals.
As a delegate, Roem advocates for government accountability, accessibility, and transparency. She has carried legislation to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act in Virginia. In 2021, she voted for the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, which prohibits discrimination at the polls, and other measures aimed at making voting more accessible in the Commonwealth. She also wants to enact reform in Virginia to eliminate conflicts of interest in the campaign finance system.
Del. Roem is facing a challenge from Christopher Stone, a military veteran, and former Trump administration appointee. Stone opposes efforts to hold police accountable for the violence they enact on communities. He also opposes efforts to reduce Virginia’s prison population by reforming sentencing practices. He does not support laws aimed at keeping our communities safe from gun violence.
Due to her support of affordable healthcare access, transportation funding, public education, and making our democracy stronger by increasing transparency and voting access, Del. Danica Roem is the most progressive choice in this election.