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This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran is facing a challenge from Republican Ed McGovern in the general election for Virginia’s new 18th District in the House of Delegates. Delegate Tran was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2017.

Incumbent Delegate Tran was first elected in 2017. She was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. following the Vietnam War. Tran graduated from Duke University and obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. She worked for 12 years at the U.S Department of Labor. She and her husband live in West Springfield with their five children. Since her election in 2017, Delegate Tran has had 29 of her bills passed into law.

As the mother of five and president of her local Parent and Teachers’ Association, Tran understands the challenges facing Virginia’s public education system and wants to improve funding for schools. She supports universal pre-K. In 2021, she voted for a 5% raise for teachers so that Virginia can retain a talented workforce, address teacher shortages, and prevent turnover. She also voted for increased funding so that schools can reopen safely during the pandemic.

Tran supports abortion access and reproductive rights. She believes that medical decisions should be made by a person and their doctor, not politicians. She voted to repeal medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion providers in 2020 and provide abortion coverage on the state health insurance exchange in 2021. She supported offering a 12 month supply of birth control under state Medicaid plans.

Tran’s parents were able to seek asylum in the United States when she was a young child and she understands many issues faced by immigrants and refugees today. In 2020, Tran successfully sponsored legislation to allow undocumented people to get driver privilege cards in the Commonwealth and carried legislation to protect the private information of undocumented drivers the following year. She also voted to grant in-state tuition to undocumented students in 2020 and expand eligibility for state financial aid for undocumented students in 2021.

Tran believes the state legislature must take urgent action to address climate change in Virginia. She opposes fracking and offshore oil drilling and wants to update our power grid so that it depends more on solar power and offshore wind energy. She voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act in 2020, which commits the Commonwealth to 100% clean energy by 2050. She sponsored legislation this year to hold polluting utilities accountable by making sure they are charging customers fair prices.

Tran is facing a challenge from the same opponent she faced in the last election, Republican Ed McGovern. He is a retired federal employee. McGovern supports using taxpayer money to fund private education opportunities like school voucher programs and opposes holding police accountable for the violence they inflict on communities. He is also against government efforts to keep our communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to her support of public education, immigrant rights, abortion access, and the environment, Delegate Kathy Tran is the most progressive choice in this race.
Last updated: 2023-10-06

House District 018

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Election Day November 7, 2023
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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 033


Former Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy represented the 87th District from 2017 to December 2020, when she resigned to make an unsuccessful run for Governor. She is now seeking the State Senate in District 33 in 2023. During her stint as Delegate, she fought to pass Medicaid expansion to 400,000 Virignians. She also voted for a pay raise for Virginia teachers. She co-patroned a bill to increase the grand larceny threshold from $200 to $500. She supports legislation to increase abortion access, affordable public transportation, and criminal justice reform.

As Delegate, Carroll Foy was a strong advocate for building good jobs and ensuring sustainable development. In 2018, she earned the Champion of Enterprise Award from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for her efforts. Carroll Foy passed bipartisan legislation to give veterans greater access to the capital they need to start and grow a business. She co-sponsored a bill that rewarded companies for creating jobs in underserved communities. Additionally, she passed legislation to give small minority-owned businesses more opportunities to secure contracts with utilities. She passed legislation to provide greater access to coding courses in high school, preparing students for the 21st-century economy. Finally, she passed a bill allowing local school divisions to enter into College and Career Access Pathways Partnerships with community colleges.

Fmr. Del. Carroll Foy has always fought for unions and working families. As a Delegate, she passed groundbreaking legislation that instituted a prevailing wage on all state-funded construction projects, sponsored legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and passed a bill that cracks down on companies that don't pay their workers. She also sponsored legislation to ensure that workers' compensation covered firefighters who contracted cancer on the job. She co-sponsored legislation repealing the "Comstock rule" that banned the use of Project Labor Agreements, which would help thousands of construction workers get quality health coverage. Their efforts led to the biggest expansion of labor rights in decades.

Fmr. Del. Carroll Foy has spent her career fighting for equal rights. She led the fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and has made concrete changes to advance equality for all Virginians. As Delegate, she worked to protect reproductive freedom, helped to lead the Reproductive Health Protection Act, and pushed legislation to establish equality in school dress codes. She also advocated for paid family and medical leave and passed the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act.

Throughout her career, Fmr. Del. Carroll Foy has witnessed the systemic flaws that define the criminal justice system, which disproportionately impact our most vulnerable communities. She has advocated for those who could not advocate for themselves and on behalf of those for whom the justice system is broken. As a Delegate, she sponsored legislation to address cash bail reform, the ban on parole, and the issue of "driving poor," all of which contribute to mass incarceration and cyclical patterns of joblessness and poverty within minority communities. She also sponsored a bill prohibiting the use of neck restraints, such as chokeholds, by law enforcement and passed legislation to repeal the Habitual Drunkard law, which unfairly punishes the homeless and those struggling with substance abuse.

Fmr. Del. Carroll Foy is facing Republican Mike Van Meter in the general election. Van Meter will do nothing to hold police accountable for abuse against the communities they’re supposed to protect. He follows in the footsteps of the worst Republican attacks on public education. He will do nothing to prevent gun violence plaguing our communities.

Given her record of supporting sustainable development, lifting up unions, pursuing equality, and fighting for a fair criminal justice system, Fmr. Del. Carroll Foy is the clear progressive choice in this race.
Last updated: 2023-10-27

Senate District 034

Senator Scott A. Surovell has represented Eastern Fairfax County since 2010. Prior to his time in the Senate, Senator Surovell served six years in the House of Delegates. Senator Surovell lives in Mt. Vernon with his wife and four children. He practices law and has dedicated his legislative career to fighting for Northern Virginia’s fair share, protecting consumers, and preserving our environment for future generations.

Senator Surovell has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans. He voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act and voted against prohibiting state funding for abortion services. Earlier in his career, he voted against requiring an ultrasound prior to an abortion and against defining life as beginning at conception.

Senator Surovell has consistently voted as a criminal justice advocate. He voted against mandatory consecutive sentences of imprisonment, a policy that keeps people locked in a vicious cycle. He voted against requiring school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement. He voted to expand voting rights to release inmates, a move praised by both criminal justice and voting rights advocates. Amongst other policies, he also sponsored a bill to require police to inform drivers on why they are being stopped.

Senator Surovell has also championed civil liberties and rights. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants, a practice derided by civil rights groups. He voted to repeal the state statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to adopt gender-neutral terms. He voted to prohibit state funding for conversion therapy on minors and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a bill he also co-sponsored.

Gun violence prevention has also been at the top of his priorities. In 2021, he voted to establish gun-free zones on school board property and voted to prohibit the possession of firearms within 40 feet of a polling place. In 2020, he voted to prohibit individuals subject to a protective order from possessing firearms and voted to increase penalties for unsecured firearms. He also voted to require reporting lost or stolen firearms and authorize the temporary seizure of guns from persons posing substantial risk.

Senator Surovell is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Springman. Springman is a typical Republican: he will do nothing to curb police violence and abuse, he will weaken public education and further attacks on trans youth, and believes cutting taxes is a panacea for all economic ails.

Given his record on reproductive health, criminal justice, civil rights, and gun violence prevention, Senator Scott Surovell is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-23

Senator Scott A. Surovell has represented Eastern Fairfax County since 2010. Prior to his time in the Senate, Senator Surovell served six years in the House of Delegates. Senator Surovell lives in Mt. Vernon with his wife and four children. He practices law and has dedicated his legislative career to fighting for Northern Virginia’s fair share, protecting consumers, and preserving our environment for future generations.

Senator Surovell has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans. He voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act and voted against prohibiting state funding for abortion services. Earlier in his career, he voted against requiring an ultrasound prior to an abortion and against defining life as beginning at conception.

Senator Surovell has consistently voted as a criminal justice advocate. He voted against mandatory consecutive sentences of imprisonment, a policy that keeps people locked in a vicious cycle. He voted against requiring school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement. He voted to expand voting rights to release inmates, a move praised by both criminal justice and voting rights advocates. Amongst other policies, he also sponsored a bill to require police to inform drivers on why they are being stopped.

Senator Surovell has also championed civil liberties and rights. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants, a practice derided by civil rights groups. He voted to repeal the state statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to adopt gender-neutral terms. He voted to prohibit state funding for conversion therapy on minors and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a bill he also co-sponsored.

Gun violence prevention has also been at the top of his priorities. In 2021, he voted to establish gun-free zones on school board property and voted to prohibit the possession of firearms within 40 feet of a polling place. In 2020, he voted to prohibit individuals subject to a protective order from possessing firearms and voted to increase penalties for unsecured firearms. He also voted to require reporting lost or stolen firearms and authorize the temporary seizure of guns from persons posing substantial risk.

Senator Surovell is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Springman. Springman is a typical Republican: he will do nothing to curb police violence and abuse, he will weaken public education and further attacks on trans youth, and believes cutting taxes is a panacea for all economic ails.

Given his record on reproductive health, criminal justice, civil rights, and gun violence prevention, Senator Scott Surovell is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-23

Senate District 035

Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1966, Randolph-Macon College in 1970, and began a career in juvenile justice as a probation officer with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He went on to establish and operate Fairfax County’s shelter home for youth with severe family problems and was later appointed as the first Superintendent of Fairfax County’s Juvenile Detention Center. He served in the House of Delegates for four years before he was elected to the state Senate in 2009.
Senator Marsden has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his service. Most recently, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans and voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act. In previous sessions, he voted against a measure to prohibit state funding of abortion services and voted to repeal the requirement for an ultrasound prior to an abortion, a bill he co-sponsored.

Senator Marsden has also been a reliable voice for civil rights and liberties. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants. He also voted to repeal the State statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to include gender-neutral terms. Additionally, he voted to establish the Dress Code Equity Act, prohibit state funding of conversion therapy on minors, and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure he also co-sponsored.

Senator Marsden’s advocacy for civil liberties extends to criminal justice. In the most recent session, he voted to establish an independent policing auditor to oversee civilian law enforcement oversight groups. He voted against a measure to require school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement, a measure supported by civil rights groups. He voted to expand voting rights of returning citizens. He also voted to require law enforcement officers to inform drivers why they are being stopped.

Senator Marsden has also supported measures to expand healthcare and make it more affordable throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund. He also voted to limit the cost of Insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. Earlier in his career, he voted to require health insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also voted to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with minors and in restaurants.

Senator Marsden is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Vafiades, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. Vafiades uses dog-whistles to push his agenda, attacking civil rights movements and cozying up to hard-line Republicans. He attacks environmental regulations as radical special interests. He supports Republican efforts to police content in schools and calls measures for equity and respect defiance of parents.

Given his advocacy for civil liberties, reproductive justice, affordable healthcare, and criminal justice, Senator Marsden is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-23

Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1966, Randolph-Macon College in 1970, and began a career in juvenile justice as a probation officer with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He went on to establish and operate Fairfax County’s shelter home for youth with severe family problems and was later appointed as the first Superintendent of Fairfax County’s Juvenile Detention Center. He served in the House of Delegates for four years before he was elected to the state Senate in 2009.
Senator Marsden has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his service. Most recently, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans and voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act. In previous sessions, he voted against a measure to prohibit state funding of abortion services and voted to repeal the requirement for an ultrasound prior to an abortion, a bill he co-sponsored.

Senator Marsden has also been a reliable voice for civil rights and liberties. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants. He also voted to repeal the State statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to include gender-neutral terms. Additionally, he voted to establish the Dress Code Equity Act, prohibit state funding of conversion therapy on minors, and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure he also co-sponsored.

Senator Marsden’s advocacy for civil liberties extends to criminal justice. In the most recent session, he voted to establish an independent policing auditor to oversee civilian law enforcement oversight groups. He voted against a measure to require school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement, a measure supported by civil rights groups. He voted to expand voting rights of returning citizens. He also voted to require law enforcement officers to inform drivers why they are being stopped.

Senator Marsden has also supported measures to expand healthcare and make it more affordable throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund. He also voted to limit the cost of Insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. Earlier in his career, he voted to require health insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also voted to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with minors and in restaurants.

Senator Marsden is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Vafiades, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. Vafiades uses dog-whistles to push his agenda, attacking civil rights movements and cozying up to hard-line Republicans. He attacks environmental regulations as radical special interests. He supports Republican efforts to police content in schools and calls measures for equity and respect defiance of parents.

Given his advocacy for civil liberties, reproductive justice, affordable healthcare, and criminal justice, Senator Marsden is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-23

Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1966, Randolph-Macon College in 1970, and began a career in juvenile justice as a probation officer with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He went on to establish and operate Fairfax County’s shelter home for youth with severe family problems and was later appointed as the first Superintendent of Fairfax County’s Juvenile Detention Center. He served in the House of Delegates for four years before he was elected to the state Senate in 2009.
Senator Marsden has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his service. Most recently, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans and voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act. In previous sessions, he voted against a measure to prohibit state funding of abortion services and voted to repeal the requirement for an ultrasound prior to an abortion, a bill he co-sponsored.

Senator Marsden has also been a reliable voice for civil rights and liberties. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants. He also voted to repeal the State statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to include gender-neutral terms. Additionally, he voted to establish the Dress Code Equity Act, prohibit state funding of conversion therapy on minors, and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure he also co-sponsored.

Senator Marsden’s advocacy for civil liberties extends to criminal justice. In the most recent session, he voted to establish an independent policing auditor to oversee civilian law enforcement oversight groups. He voted against a measure to require school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement, a measure supported by civil rights groups. He voted to expand voting rights of returning citizens. He also voted to require law enforcement officers to inform drivers why they are being stopped.

Senator Marsden has also supported measures to expand healthcare and make it more affordable throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund. He also voted to limit the cost of Insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. Earlier in his career, he voted to require health insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also voted to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with minors and in restaurants.

Senator Marsden is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Vafiades, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. Vafiades uses dog-whistles to push his agenda, attacking civil rights movements and cozying up to hard-line Republicans. He attacks environmental regulations as radical special interests. He supports Republican efforts to police content in schools and calls measures for equity and respect defiance of parents.

Given his advocacy for civil liberties, reproductive justice, affordable healthcare, and criminal justice, Senator Marsden is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-27

Incumbent Democratic Senator Dave Marsden is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia. Senator Marsden has lived in Burke since 1977 with his wife Julia and three sons. He graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in 1966, Randolph-Macon College in 1970, and began a career in juvenile justice as a probation officer with the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He went on to establish and operate Fairfax County’s shelter home for youth with severe family problems and was later appointed as the first Superintendent of Fairfax County’s Juvenile Detention Center. He served in the House of Delegates for four years before he was elected to the state Senate in 2009.
Senator Marsden has been a voice for reproductive health care access throughout his service. Most recently, he voted to repeal the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans and voted to establish the Reproductive Health Protection Act. In previous sessions, he voted against a measure to prohibit state funding of abortion services and voted to repeal the requirement for an ultrasound prior to an abortion, a bill he co-sponsored.

Senator Marsden has also been a reliable voice for civil rights and liberties. In 2020, he voted to prohibit No-knock Search Warrants. He also voted to repeal the State statutory same-sex marriage ban and amend state documents to include gender-neutral terms. Additionally, he voted to establish the Dress Code Equity Act, prohibit state funding of conversion therapy on minors, and amend the anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity, a measure he also co-sponsored.

Senator Marsden’s advocacy for civil liberties extends to criminal justice. In the most recent session, he voted to establish an independent policing auditor to oversee civilian law enforcement oversight groups. He voted against a measure to require school principals to report student misdemeanors to law enforcement, a measure supported by civil rights groups. He voted to expand voting rights of returning citizens. He also voted to require law enforcement officers to inform drivers why they are being stopped.

Senator Marsden has also supported measures to expand healthcare and make it more affordable throughout his career. In recent sessions, he voted to establish a COVID-19 Relief Fund. He also voted to limit the cost of Insulin to $50 per 30-day supply. Earlier in his career, he voted to require health insurance coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He also voted to prohibit smoking in a vehicle with minors and in restaurants.

Senator Marsden is facing a challenge from Republican Mark Vafiades, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. Vafiades uses dog-whistles to push his agenda, attacking civil rights movements and cozying up to hard-line Republicans. He attacks environmental regulations as radical special interests. He supports Republican efforts to police content in schools and calls measures for equity and respect defiance of parents.

Given his advocacy for civil liberties, reproductive justice, affordable healthcare, and criminal justice, Senator Marsden is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-27

House District 018

Virginia’s new 18th District in the House of Delegates encompasses parts of Fairfax County. With almost 61,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Kathy Tran is facing a challenge from Republican Ed McGovern in the general election for Virginia’s new 18th District in the House of Delegates. Delegate Tran was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2017.

Incumbent Delegate Tran was first elected in 2017. She was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the U.S. following the Vietnam War. Tran graduated from Duke University and obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. She worked for 12 years at the U.S Department of Labor. She and her husband live in West Springfield with their five children. Since her election in 2017, Delegate Tran has had 29 of her bills passed into law.

As the mother of five and president of her local Parent and Teachers’ Association, Tran understands the challenges facing Virginia’s public education system and wants to improve funding for schools. She supports universal pre-K. In 2021, she voted for a 5% raise for teachers so that Virginia can retain a talented workforce, address teacher shortages, and prevent turnover. She also voted for increased funding so that schools can reopen safely during the pandemic.

Tran supports abortion access and reproductive rights. She believes that medical decisions should be made by a person and their doctor, not politicians. She voted to repeal medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion providers in 2020 and provide abortion coverage on the state health insurance exchange in 2021. She supported offering a 12 month supply of birth control under state Medicaid plans.

Tran’s parents were able to seek asylum in the United States when she was a young child and she understands many issues faced by immigrants and refugees today. In 2020, Tran successfully sponsored legislation to allow undocumented people to get driver privilege cards in the Commonwealth and carried legislation to protect the private information of undocumented drivers the following year. She also voted to grant in-state tuition to undocumented students in 2020 and expand eligibility for state financial aid for undocumented students in 2021.

Tran believes the state legislature must take urgent action to address climate change in Virginia. She opposes fracking and offshore oil drilling and wants to update our power grid so that it depends more on solar power and offshore wind energy. She voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act in 2020, which commits the Commonwealth to 100% clean energy by 2050. She sponsored legislation this year to hold polluting utilities accountable by making sure they are charging customers fair prices.

Tran is facing a challenge from the same opponent she faced in the last election, Republican Ed McGovern. He is a retired federal employee. McGovern supports using taxpayer money to fund private education opportunities like school voucher programs and opposes holding police accountable for the violence they inflict on communities. He is also against government efforts to keep our communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to her support of public education, immigrant rights, abortion access, and the environment, Delegate Kathy Tran is the most progressive choice in this race.
Last updated: 2023-10-06