Katrina Callsen’s story begins with her father’s family giving him up for adoption because he was the product of an interracial relationship during a time when interracial marriage was illegal in Virginia. Callsen believes that unjust laws such as the one that kept her father from his family affect people for generations after they are abolished. Her parents raised her to value education and growing up in a military family gave her a deep gratitude for Americans who serve the country. Callsen’s value of education landed her at Yale, where she graduated and went on to join Teach for America. She is now the Deputy City Attorney for Charlottesville and the Chair of the Albemarle County School Board. Through this experience, she has seen firsthand the effects of laws on members of the community.

Callsen wants to make sure that reproductive health care, including contraception and abortion, are accessible to anyone who needs it. She wants to end gender-based violence by enforcing Red Flag laws and supporting legislation that combats domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. She also supports having more women in leadership, along with equal pay.

Callsen supports gun violence prevention legislation that will protect people in Virginia from being the victims of gun violence. She believes that this should include universal background checks and the same extreme risk protection laws that prevent gender-based violence. She also wants an assault weapons ban and gun safety training for gun owners.

Callsen says that her plan for education includes “investing in public education, expanding access to higher education, and supporting teachers and school staff.” She wants to increase funding for public schools, as they’re underfunded. She also wants to decrease the size of classes and expand early childhood education. Callsen supports higher education reform as well, and she wants to expand apprenticeship programs and financial aid, making education more accessible for those who aspire to earn a degree. Her plan includes a framework that centers faculty and staff, offering improvements such as mental health services, increased pay, and development opportunities.

Callsen’s plan for affordable housing addresses many issues that affect access to housing. She wants to increase funding for affordable housing, and she wants to incentivize the development of accessible homes. She would also address homelessness, as it is an issue that needs to be examined from certain angles. She also wants to protect homeowners’ as well as renters’ rights, which would secure tenants’ access to housing.

Callsen supports protections for the LGBTQ community, as she believes that they have “the fundamental human right to live free from discrimination and prejudice.” Callsen wants to support legislation that will combat LGBTQ discrimination in housing, employment, and public spaces. She promises to help fight bullying and harassment in schools, as well as ban conversion therapy. She also promises to support legislation that addresses the needs of the LGBTQ community, which include gender-affirming care, mental health services, and HIV prevention and treatment.

Callsen’s plan for climate justice has several pillars aimed at securing sustainability and equity for Virginians. She wants to fight environmental discrimination, which affects marginalized communities ecosystems, causing them to deal with more pollution and the effects of climate change. She also wants clean energy, sustainable transportation, and many other priorities that promote sustainability.

Callsen is the sole candidate for this race and is the progressive choice.

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