Jason Ford is a Center Manager at Rappahannock Goodwill, helping locals find access to training, education, and employment. He graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2020 with a degree in Political Science. Jason has a passion for helping others and has found fulfillment in seeing others succeed and grow.

Ford supports abortion access and believes everyone should be able to make their own healthcare decisions without government intervention. He recognizes that most Virginians support safe and legal abortion care. Regardless of the reasons, he supports Virginians and their right to access safe medical care and to make their own decisions. He supports expanding reproductive healthcare and family planning services. This includes access to contraception, affordable childcare, affordable housing, and a living wage.

Ford is in favor of common sense gun legislation. He recognizes gun violence prevention is top of mind for Virginians. He supports the use of extreme risk protection orders, noting they are proven to save lives. Ford also mentions the need to regulate “ghost guns.”

Increasing access to mental health resources is one of Ford’s key priorities. He advocates for bringing more mental health professionals into schools and communities, increasing training opportunities and prevention activities, improving and expanding local psychiatric units and hospitals, and providing better mental health resources to individuals in the correctional system. He also supports building partnerships between schools, service providers, and social service agencies.

Ford values public education and focuses on teacher pay as a major issue to tackle. He wants to work toward teachers and aides being paid above the national average, community partnerships for vocational training, internships, and apprenticeships, and enhancing school infrastructure. He advocates for facility and technology improvements, as well as policies that provide equitable opportunities so students are equipped with everything they need to thrive.

Challenging Incumbent Republican Senator Bryce Reeves are Democrat Jason Ford and Independent Elizabeth Melson. Senator Bryce Reeves has served in the State Senate since 2012. He is anti-abortion, stands against common sense gun laws, and voted against requiring schools to create transgender-friendly student policies. He also voted against repealing the same-sex marriage ban from Virginia’s State Constitution.

Independent candidate Elizabeth Melson is a farm and farmers market manager and yoga instructor. She offers trauma-informed programming to residents at RSW Regional Jail. She has experience in grassroots organizing for many topics including rights restoration and sentencing reform. Melson’s campaign site mentions defending the Second Amendment, requiring voter identification or verification, and funding public education while supporting families who choose private or homeschooling.

Due to his support for abortion access, common sense gun laws, and public education, Jason Ford is the most progressive candidate in this race.
Close Window