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Election Day November 5, 2024
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Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th

The Virginia Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Please share this guide with your friends and family.

Federal

The election for President of the United States is on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris (D) is running against former president, Donald J. Trump (R), a businessman and former reality television star.
For her running mate, Vice President Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. For his running mate, former president Trump chose JD Vance.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is running to be the 47th President of the United States. She previously served as a US Senator for the state of California, as well as the Attorney General for California, and the District Attorney for San Francisco.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is the Democratic candidate for Vice President of the United States. He previously served as a congressman for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. Governor Walz is a National Army Guard veteran and retired school teacher. 

Together on the Issues
⭐ They support reproductive freedom and access to abortion and will never allow a national abortion ban to become law!
⭐ They support affordable housing!
⭐ They support investing in small businesses–especially when it comes to entrepreneurs from marginalized communities!
⭐ They support making healthcare more accessible and affordable!
⭐ They support affordable quality childcare and education!
⭐ They support high-quality clean energy jobs and environmental justice!
⭐ They support passing the Equality Act and protecting the rights and freedoms of LGBTQIA+ communities!
⭐ They support common-sense gun violence prevention legislation!

There’s definitely more, but you get it by now.

The Opposition
Former Republican President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance are facing off against Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. 

The Republican candidate for president is Donald Trump. If you’ve found yourself looking at our voter guide, we probably don’t need to tell you all the reasons not to vote for him–so we’ll just do a few. Donald Trump’s administration is responsible for legislation and deregulation that led to disasters such as deregulated meat distribution and increases in working class tax payments due to his 2017 tax law. Trump also fired the CDC team that was responsible for detecting zoological diseases in wildlife in China, which was a decision that directly led to the mishandling of Covid-19. Even before his presidency, Trump had a terribly long history of racism, homophobia, sexism, violence against women, and fraudulent activity. One paragraph is not enough to cover his record of being an absolutely horrible human being, let alone a deplorable president.

Let’s not forget: thirty-four counts. And an insurrection. 🤬

JD Vance, on the other hand, is just your run-of-the-mill racist. He’s not even exceptionally good at it, seeing as how he admitted to creating false stories about Haitians on national television. He also talked about single childfree women (who are free to have children or not if they wish) using “childless cat ladies” as an insult. JD Vance’s pivot from his previous statements about Trump exposes how weak his constitution is, and how it has affected his political motivations. At best, JD Vance is a grifter who was extremely critical of Trump before he realized there was money in extreme MAGA Trumpism. At his worst, Vance is your everyday sexist who knows that the general public will excuse him for being fatally boring if he spews racist and sexist rhetoric. Please, for the love of all that is good and even somewhat enjoyable, do not vote for these vile men. 

Recommendation (Note: Not an endorsement!)
For many–maybe even countless–reasons, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz are without a doubt the progressive candidates in this race. We don’t even need to say anything more about the other two.
Last updated: 2024-09-25

This election will be held on November 5, 2024. Incumbent Democratic candidate Tim Kaine and Republican candidate Hung Cao will face each other in the general election for United States Senator for Virginia.

United States Democratic Senator Tim Kaine was first elected to the Senate in 2012. He served as Virginia’s governor from 2006 until 2010. Prior to that, he was the lieutenant governor. Additionally, Senator Kaine served as Richmond’s mayor from 1998 until 2001 and City Council District 2 representative from 1994 until 2001. In 2016, Hilary Clinton announced Senator Kaine as her running mate in her bid for the presidency. He is married to Anne Holton, former Virginia Secretary of Education. 

On the Issues 
⭐ Champions reproductive rights and access to abortion 
⭐ Was a deciding vote to protect the Affordable Care Act
⭐ Advocated for quality public education since his time in Virginia local and state politics
⭐ Helped pass the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act
⭐ Strong supporter of DACA
⭐ Passed his EMBRACE Act to improve climate resiliency at military facilities
⭐ Supports Equality Act
⭐ Popularly known as America’s Dad

The Opposition
Senator Kaine is facing a challenge from Republican candidate Hung Cao, a retired Navy captain. Cao unsuccessfully ran for Virginia’s Congressional District 10 seat against former Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton in 2022. Cao is anti-abortion, regularly uses anti-immigrant rhetoric, and boldly supports former president Donald Trump. 🤬

Recommendation (Note: Not an endorsement!)
Because of his decades-long proven track record of being a champion for the people, Senator Tim Kaine is the progressive candidate in this race. 
Last updated: 2024-09-25

3rd Congressional District

Virginia’s 3rd district includes 4 counties and parts of Chesapeake City. With a population of 781,088 this district leans Democratic.

This election will be held on November 5, 2024. Incumbent Democrat Bobby Scott, Republican candidate John Sitka, and Independent candidate Rhoda Taylor-Young will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District. Congressman Bobby Scott has served in the House of Representatives since 1993.

Democrat incumbent Congressman Bobby Scott has served in Congress since 1993. He previously served in the State Senate from 1983 until 1993, as well as the House of Delegates from 1978 until 1983. He grew up in Newport News and is a graduate of Harvard College and Boston College Law School. Previously, he served in the National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve. He is the Top Democrat of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Crime Subcommittee on the House Judiciary Committee.

On the Issues
⭐ Supports reproductive freedom and the right to abortion
⭐ Co-sponsored Women’s Health Protection Act, Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act of 2023, and Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom
⭐ Sponsored the Raise the Wage Act of 2023 alongside Senator Bernie Sanders
⭐ Praises the Affordable Healthcare Act and opposes attempts to weaken or repeal the act
⭐ Is a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus and co-sponsored the Access to Family Building Act (establishes a federal right to access IVF)
⭐ Introduced the Lower Drug Costs for American Families Act
⭐ Sponsored the Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Effective (SAFE) Justice Act
⭐ Supports gun violence prevention and helped introduce the Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence Act
⭐ Voted in favor of an assault weapons ban
⭐ As Co-Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, voted in favor of the John Lewis Voting Rights Bill
⭐ There are more good things… simply too much too list here.

Things to Note
Founded the Peninsula Legal Aid Center
One of the youngest branch presidents of the Newport News NAACP
Serves on the Committee on the Budget
Vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus Gun Violence Prevention TasK Force

The Opposition
Congressman Bobby Scott is being challenged by Republican John Sitka. 🤡 He unsuccessfully ran for the Virginia House of Delegates District 93 seat against Delegate Jackie Glass in 2023. Sitka has a Doctorate in Education Leadership from Liberty University. He is a Navy Veteran. His issues page engages in anti-immigrant rhetoric, and he looks to “a wall” as a way to enforce clearly anti-immigrant/anti-immigration ideas. Sitka opposes gun violence prevention legislation. In other words, he is absolutely not a progressive. 🤬

Recommendation (Note: Not an Endorsement!)
Because of his decades-long career in progressive politics and his track record of fighting for the people, Bobby Scott is the progressive candidate in this race. Honestly, we couldn’t even include all the amazing legislation he has been part of.
Last updated: 2024-09-06

City of Portsmouth

This election will be held on November 5, 2024.

Ingrid Phillips Whitaker has earned the endorsement of our education partners at The Virginia Voter Guide, which we have included below. You can also learn more about her on their website here. 

Ingrid Phillips Whitaker is a passionate educator and advocate running for the Portsmouth School Board. With extensive experience in education and community service, Whitaker is dedicated to improving the quality of local schools and ensuring all students have access to the resources they need to thrive. Her platform emphasizes academic excellence, teacher support, and the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for students. Whitaker is committed to fostering collaboration between parents, teachers, and administrators to promote student success.
Last updated: 2024-09-23

This election will be held on November 5, 2024.

Irene Shanee Boone has earned the endorsement of our education partners at The Virginia Voter Guide, which we have included below. You can also learn more about her on their website here. 

Irene Shanee Boone is a dedicated community leader and candidate for the Portsmouth School Board. With a strong focus on education equity, Boone is committed to ensuring that all students receive the resources and support they need to succeed. She advocates for increased parental involvement, enhanced academic opportunities, and improved school safety. Boone’s platform emphasizes supporting teachers, fostering student achievement, and creating an inclusive environment where every child in Portsmouth can thrive academically and personally.
Last updated: 2024-09-23

This election will be held on November 5, 2024.

Jaclyn Teresa Walker has earned the endorsement of our education partners at The Virginia Voter Guide, which we have included below. You can also learn more about her on their website here. 

Jaclyn Teresa Walker is a passionate advocate for education and a candidate for the Portsmouth School Board. With a background in public service and community engagement, she is committed to improving local schools and ensuring equitable access to resources for all students. Walker prioritizes transparency, parental involvement, and the well-being of both students and staff. Her platform focuses on enhancing academic achievement, supporting teachers, and fostering a safe, inclusive learning environment for Portsmouth’s diverse student population.
Last updated: 2024-09-23

This election will be held on November 5, 2024.

LaKeesha S. "Klu" Atkinson has earned the endorsement of our education partners at The Virginia Voter Guide, which we have included below. You can also learn more about her on their website here. 

LaKeesha S. "Klu" Atkinson is a dynamic community leader and candidate for the Portsmouth School Board. Known for her dedication to youth advocacy and community engagement, Atkinson is committed to creating equitable opportunities for all students. She emphasizes the importance of parental involvement, enhancing student achievement, and supporting educators. Her platform focuses on improving school safety, increasing resources for students and staff, and fostering an inclusive learning environment where every child can reach their full potential in Portsmouth.
Last updated: 2024-09-23

This election will be held on November 5, 2024.

Lateacia Sessoms has earned the endorsement of our education partners at The Virginia Voter Guide, which we have included below. You can also learn more about her on their website here. 

Lateacia Sessoms is a dedicated community advocate and candidate for the Portsmouth School Board. With a passion for improving public education, Sessoms focuses on providing equitable resources, supporting teachers, and enhancing student achievement. She is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students, while increasing parental involvement and transparency in decision-making. Sessoms aims to address the unique challenges facing Portsmouth schools, advocating for policies that promote academic success and prepare students for a bright future.
Last updated: 2024-09-23

This election will be held on November 5, 2024. Incumbent Mayor Shannon Glover is being challenged by independent candidate Lisa Lucas-Burke and independent candidate Harold Carothers III.

Independent candidate Lisa Lucas-Burke is the current Vice Mayor of Portsmouth. She was first elected to the city council in 2016. She attended Norfolk State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Vice Mayor Lucas-Burke is the daughter of Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas. 

On the Issues
Advocates for equitable and affordable housing and worked to get local developments built
Voted in support of collective bargaining for city employees
Supports fully funding public education

Worth Mentioning
Vice Mayor Lucas-Burke is extremely outspoken against city corruption and clearly unafraid to speak truth to power. A clip of her going off on a “corrupt” city official went semi-viral a couple years ago. She also hopes more candidates, especially women, will run to ‘change up’ the male-dominated council makeup.” 👏👏👏

The Opposition
Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke is challenging incumbent Portsmouth City Mayor Shannon Glover who was first elected in 2020. Prior to that, he served on the City Council. He is a graduate of Norfolk State University and the Naval School of Health Sciences. Mayor Glover has served on many boards including Paul D. Camp Community College, the Boy’s and Girl’s Club Portsmouth Division, and the Westmoreland Youth Association.

Mayor Glover does appear to hold some progressive values such as enhancing access to healthcare, including mental health support, tackling food insecurity, and affordable housing. However, he voted against collective bargaining for city employees. Furthermore, a pending lawsuit between the mayor and the city’s former assessor as well as past allegations of disparaging behavior from a former police chief turned city manager raise concerns. 

Recommendation (Note: Not an endorsement!)
Because of her history of holding city officials accountable and her commitment to progressive issues, Vice Mayor Lisa Lucas-Burke is the progressive choice in this race.
Last updated: 2024-09-25