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Incumbent Delegate Marcus Simon is a lifelong resident of Fairfax County who has represented the 53rd District in the House of Delegates since 2014. He earned a bachelor's degree from New York University and earned his law degree from American University. Since obtaining his law degree, he has worked as a real estate attorney and served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He currently lives in Fairfax with his wife and two children.

As chair of the Privileges and Elections Committee, Simon worked to ensure easy and fair access to our elections. In 2020, he helped pass legislation that established no-excuse absentee voting in Virginia. He also helped expand access to satellite voting sites, early voting, and Sunday voting. He supports the restoration of voting rights to returning citizens. He is also a strong advocate for campaign finance reform and has regularly introduced a bill to prohibit campaign funds from being used for personal use, though it has failed to pass the legislature.

Simon supported marijuana legalization and sees it as beneficial to the economy, healthcare, and criminal justice system. As a delegate, he’s worked to ensure all Virginians benefit from marijuana legalization. He advocated to ensure tax revenue from marijuana sales goes to important causes, including public education, substance abuse programs, and public health organizations. He supported legislation establishing the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board and Fund, which puts tax money back into communities disproportionately affected by drug enforcement laws.

Simon has also worked to preserve the environment. He voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act to reduce Virginia’s use of fossil fuels. He supported a program to assist school boards in purchasing electric school buses as well as provide a rebate to those who buy electric vehicles. He also supported a requirement for car producers to sell a certain percentage of electric or hybrid cars. He has also worked to make sustainable transportation options safer and easier, such as voting for a bill to require drivers to change lanes when passing bicyclists.

Simon has advocated for working families as well. He voted for a bill to require certain Virginia businesses to provide paid sick leave to their employees. He also voted for a bill increase the minimum wage and the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, which provides protections for employees like nannies and housekeepers. He supported the Virginia Values Act, which protects workers from discrimination based on race, sex, national origin or sexual orientation.

Simon is being challenged by Libretarian candidate Dave Crance. Crance is an Army veteran and the Regional Manager of a hotel chain who builds his platform on the issues of lowering taxes, which defunds safety net programs and school education. He wants tax cuts for small businesses and businessowners, and believes in establishing term limits for politicians.

Due to his support for voting rights, the environment, criminal justice reform, and working families, Delegate Simon is the most progressive choice for Virginia’s 53rd District.

Last updated: 2023-10-27

Incumbent Delegate Marcus Simon is a lifelong resident of Fairfax County who has represented the 53rd District in the House of Delegates since 2014. He earned a bachelor's degree from New York University and earned his law degree from American University. Since obtaining his law degree, he has worked as a real estate attorney and served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He currently lives in Fairfax with his wife and two children.

As chair of the Privileges and Elections Committee, Simon worked to ensure easy and fair access to our elections. In 2020, he helped pass legislation that established no-excuse absentee voting in Virginia. He also helped expand access to satellite voting sites, early voting, and Sunday voting. He supports the restoration of voting rights to returning citizens. He is also a strong advocate for campaign finance reform and has regularly introduced a bill to prohibit campaign funds from being used for personal use, though it has failed to pass the legislature.

Simon supported marijuana legalization and sees it as beneficial to the economy, healthcare, and criminal justice system. As a delegate, he’s worked to ensure all Virginians benefit from marijuana legalization. He advocated to ensure tax revenue from marijuana sales goes to important causes, including public education, substance abuse programs, and public health organizations. He supported legislation establishing the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board and Fund, which puts tax money back into communities disproportionately affected by drug enforcement laws.

Simon has also worked to preserve the environment. He voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act to reduce Virginia’s use of fossil fuels. He supported a program to assist school boards in purchasing electric school buses as well as provide a rebate to those who buy electric vehicles. He also supported a requirement for car producers to sell a certain percentage of electric or hybrid cars. He has also worked to make sustainable transportation options safer and easier, such as voting for a bill to require drivers to change lanes when passing bicyclists.

Simon has advocated for working families as well. He voted for a bill to require certain Virginia businesses to provide paid sick leave to their employees. He also voted for a bill increase the minimum wage and the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, which provides protections for employees like nannies and housekeepers. He supported the Virginia Values Act, which protects workers from discrimination based on race, sex, national origin or sexual orientation.

Simon is being challenged by Libretarian candidate Dave Crance. Crance is an Army veteran and the Regional Manager of a hotel chain who builds his platform on the issues of lowering taxes, which defunds safety net programs and school education. He wants tax cuts for small businesses and businessowners, and believes in establishing term limits for politicians.

Due to his support for voting rights, the environment, criminal justice reform, and working families, Delegate Simon is the most progressive choice for Virginia’s 53rd District.

Last updated: 2023-10-27

House District 013

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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 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

Senate District 037

Virginia’s new 37th State Senate district encompasses parts of Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and Falls Church City. With almost 146,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Democratic candidate Saddam Azlan Salim and Republican candidate Ken Reid will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 37th State Senate district. Reid previously served as the Leesburg District Loudoun County Supervisor.

Saddam Azlam Salim is a graduate of George Mason University where he received his Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in public and non-profit finance and currently works as a Senior Consultant advising federal clients. Salim is also actively involved in several community organizations. He serves as second Vice Chair on the 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee, the Co-State Director for South Asians for America, and is a founding member of the API Caucus and the FCDC Black Caucus.

One of Salim’s priorities is reproductive rights. Salim pledges to ensure that people have access to reproductive health and education including “high quality and medically accurate sex education in our public schools.” Salim also understands the importance of having community resources and will fight to expand access to abortion in underserved communities. Additionally, Salim plans to bring down the maternal mortality rate by advocating for more resources for prenatal care, especially for people of color. Lastly, Salim has committed to making sure that accurate information regarding reproductive options are made available to patients and that no restrictions are placed on reproductive services or information.

Another issue in Salim’s campaign is LGBTQ+ rights. He promises to oppose all legislation that negatively targets LGBTQ+ communities. Once elected, Salim has plans to add legislation that protects the rights of LGBTQ+ people by adding Virginia to the list of states that include Rainbow Wall legislation. He also has plans to sponsor legislation that codifies the right to have gender affirming care and prohibits anti-trans legislation from other states. Salim promises to be an ally and fight alongside the LGBTQ+ community against all attacks.

This first time candidate also has a plan for climate action in the Commonwealth. Salim understands how crucial it is for Virginia to move towards clean energy. He plans to allow local governments to set energy codes in order to improve energy efficiency and aid in reaching 50% of the Virginia Clean Economy Act Goals.
Salim also supports the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). He promises to oppose any efforts by the Governor to pull out of RGGI and be an outspoken advocate of environmental policies.

Salim is a 2023 gun sense candidate and supports an assault weapons ban as well as legislation for mandatory waiting periods for firearm purchases. He also plans to support legislation that will restrict perpetual domestic abusers from making purchases. He pledges to support legislation that provides early prevention, investing in communities with higher gun violence rates and making sure that they have access to resources such as affordable housing, healthcare, and jobs, so that gun violence is less prevalent in their communities.

Salim’s opponent is Loudon County Supervisor, Republican Ken Reid, a former business owner and author. Reid obtained his M.A. University of Missouri School of Journalism from George Mason University along with an B.A. Rutgers in political science and Espanol. Reid builds his campaign off of his support for state income tax cuts as well as the removal of state interference in prescription medication and medical devices. Reid also shows strong support for the police department, believing that we should increase police funding despite clear and indisputable evidence that police are incapable of de escalating and stopping crime. He opposes environmental initiatives such as RGGI and allowing local government to set energy codes believing them to be “extremist environmental provisions.” Saddam Azlam Salim is the progressive choice for this race due to his advocacy for commonsense gun laws, his dedication to climate action, and his position to protect the LGBTQ+ community from growing attacks.
Last updated: 2023-10-06

House District 013

Incumbent Delegate Marcus Simon is a lifelong resident of Fairfax County who has represented the 53rd District in the House of Delegates since 2014. He earned a bachelor's degree from New York University and earned his law degree from American University. Since obtaining his law degree, he has worked as a real estate attorney and served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He currently lives in Fairfax with his wife and two children.

As chair of the Privileges and Elections Committee, Simon worked to ensure easy and fair access to our elections. In 2020, he helped pass legislation that established no-excuse absentee voting in Virginia. He also helped expand access to satellite voting sites, early voting, and Sunday voting. He supports the restoration of voting rights to returning citizens. He is also a strong advocate for campaign finance reform and has regularly introduced a bill to prohibit campaign funds from being used for personal use, though it has failed to pass the legislature.

Simon supported marijuana legalization and sees it as beneficial to the economy, healthcare, and criminal justice system. As a delegate, he’s worked to ensure all Virginians benefit from marijuana legalization. He advocated to ensure tax revenue from marijuana sales goes to important causes, including public education, substance abuse programs, and public health organizations. He supported legislation establishing the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board and Fund, which puts tax money back into communities disproportionately affected by drug enforcement laws.

Simon has also worked to preserve the environment. He voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act to reduce Virginia’s use of fossil fuels. He supported a program to assist school boards in purchasing electric school buses as well as provide a rebate to those who buy electric vehicles. He also supported a requirement for car producers to sell a certain percentage of electric or hybrid cars. He has also worked to make sustainable transportation options safer and easier, such as voting for a bill to require drivers to change lanes when passing bicyclists.

Simon has advocated for working families as well. He voted for a bill to require certain Virginia businesses to provide paid sick leave to their employees. He also voted for a bill increase the minimum wage and the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, which provides protections for employees like nannies and housekeepers. He supported the Virginia Values Act, which protects workers from discrimination based on race, sex, national origin or sexual orientation.

Simon is being challenged by Libretarian candidate Dave Crance. Crance is an Army veteran and the Regional Manager of a hotel chain who builds his platform on the issues of lowering taxes, which defunds safety net programs and school education. He wants tax cuts for small businesses and businessowners, and believes in establishing term limits for politicians.

Due to his support for voting rights, the environment, criminal justice reform, and working families, Delegate Simon is the most progressive choice for Virginia’s 53rd District.

Last updated: 2023-10-27

Incumbent Delegate Marcus Simon is a lifelong resident of Fairfax County who has represented the 53rd District in the House of Delegates since 2014. He earned a bachelor's degree from New York University and earned his law degree from American University. Since obtaining his law degree, he has worked as a real estate attorney and served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He currently lives in Fairfax with his wife and two children.

As chair of the Privileges and Elections Committee, Simon worked to ensure easy and fair access to our elections. In 2020, he helped pass legislation that established no-excuse absentee voting in Virginia. He also helped expand access to satellite voting sites, early voting, and Sunday voting. He supports the restoration of voting rights to returning citizens. He is also a strong advocate for campaign finance reform and has regularly introduced a bill to prohibit campaign funds from being used for personal use, though it has failed to pass the legislature.

Simon supported marijuana legalization and sees it as beneficial to the economy, healthcare, and criminal justice system. As a delegate, he’s worked to ensure all Virginians benefit from marijuana legalization. He advocated to ensure tax revenue from marijuana sales goes to important causes, including public education, substance abuse programs, and public health organizations. He supported legislation establishing the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Board and Fund, which puts tax money back into communities disproportionately affected by drug enforcement laws.

Simon has also worked to preserve the environment. He voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act to reduce Virginia’s use of fossil fuels. He supported a program to assist school boards in purchasing electric school buses as well as provide a rebate to those who buy electric vehicles. He also supported a requirement for car producers to sell a certain percentage of electric or hybrid cars. He has also worked to make sustainable transportation options safer and easier, such as voting for a bill to require drivers to change lanes when passing bicyclists.

Simon has advocated for working families as well. He voted for a bill to require certain Virginia businesses to provide paid sick leave to their employees. He also voted for a bill increase the minimum wage and the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, which provides protections for employees like nannies and housekeepers. He supported the Virginia Values Act, which protects workers from discrimination based on race, sex, national origin or sexual orientation.

Simon is being challenged by Libretarian candidate Dave Crance. Crance is an Army veteran and the Regional Manager of a hotel chain who builds his platform on the issues of lowering taxes, which defunds safety net programs and school education. He wants tax cuts for small businesses and businessowners, and believes in establishing term limits for politicians.

Due to his support for voting rights, the environment, criminal justice reform, and working families, Delegate Simon is the most progressive choice for Virginia’s 53rd District.

Last updated: 2023-10-27