Dinwiddie County
Not in Dinwiddie County? Find your guide.
Ballot Drop Boxes
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th
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
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Republican incumbent Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and former Democratic US Representative Abigail Spanberger will face each other in the general election for Governor of Virginia.
The Democratic nominee for Governor, Abigail Spanberger actually fights to expand healthcare and reproductive freedom instead of rolling over when conservatives threaten to restrict abortion rights. She’s committed to investing in clean energy, holding polluters accountable, and reducing energy costs for working families. Her gun-safety agenda goes far beyond “thoughts and prayers,” taking on the NRA head-on instead of cashing their donation checks. Spanberger’s pragmatic progressive vision gives suburban moderates and left-leaners tired of corporate centrism and culture-war theatrics a real reason to show up.
The Opposition
The Republican nominee for Governor, Winsome Earle-Sears is all about slashing taxes for big corporations while telling unemployed workers that losing a job is “no big deal.” She grandstands against critical race theory and “woke” classrooms to score culture-war points instead of tackling real education challenges. By waving her Marine Corps credentials, she sells herself as the ultimate tough-on-crime candidate, conveniently ignoring how lax gun laws endanger communities. Her true believers are MAGA zealots who think banning books, rolling back reproductive freedoms, and erasing civil liberties are more important than looking out for working families.Recommendation
Due to her advocacy for abortion access, gun violence prevention, and clean energy, Abigail Spanberger is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-24
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Republican incumbent Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and former Democratic US Representative Abigail Spanberger will face each other in the general election for Governor of Virginia.
The Democratic nominee for Governor, Abigail Spanberger actually fights to expand healthcare and reproductive freedom instead of rolling over when conservatives threaten to restrict abortion rights. She’s committed to investing in clean energy, holding polluters accountable, and reducing energy costs for working families. Her gun-safety agenda goes far beyond “thoughts and prayers,” taking on the NRA head-on instead of cashing their donation checks. Spanberger’s pragmatic progressive vision gives suburban moderates and left-leaners tired of corporate centrism and culture-war theatrics a real reason to show up.
The Opposition
The Republican nominee for Governor, Winsome Earle-Sears is all about slashing taxes for big corporations while telling unemployed workers that losing a job is “no big deal.” She grandstands against critical race theory and “woke” classrooms to score culture-war points instead of tackling real education challenges. By waving her Marine Corps credentials, she sells herself as the ultimate tough-on-crime candidate, conveniently ignoring how lax gun laws endanger communities. Her true believers are MAGA zealots who think banning books, rolling back reproductive freedoms, and erasing civil liberties are more important than looking out for working families.Recommendation
Due to her advocacy for abortion access, gun violence prevention, and clean energy, Abigail Spanberger is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-24
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Republican John Reid will face each other in the general election for Lt. Governor of Virginia.
The Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor, Ghazala Hashmi is fighting to pump real money into public schools instead of the right’s perennial budget cuts and culture-war book bans. She defends reproductive freedom and Medicaid expansion for working families while conservatives keep dialing back healthcare access and waving anti-abortion placards. Her clean-energy agenda and environmental-justice bills actually target polluters, not the customary GOP handouts to pipeline lobbyists. Dreamers, suburban progressives fed up with partisan hijinks, and anyone who’d trade culture-war theatrics for equity and opportunity will cheer her unapologetic stand for Virginia’s working families.
The Opposition
The Republican nominee for Lt. Governor, John Reid is a self-styled small-government crusader who’ll happily cut taxes for wealthy donors while pretending he’s doing the same for working Virginians. He rails against “woke” curriculum and critical race theory, because apparently teaching actual American history is more offensive to him than runaway inequality. He touts law-and-order credentials and celebrity as a conservative radio host, hawking gun rights like they’re the ultimate public-safety strategy. He even plans to torpedo constitutional protections for same-sex marriage, proving that an openly gay candidate will stab his own community in the back for party unity, the perfect pick for culture-war diehards who prefer corporate giveaways to real solutions for working families.Recommendation
Due to her advocacy for public education, abortion access, and environmental justice, Ghazala Hashmi is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-24
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Republican John Reid will face each other in the general election for Lt. Governor of Virginia.
The Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor, Ghazala Hashmi is fighting to pump real money into public schools instead of the right’s perennial budget cuts and culture-war book bans. She defends reproductive freedom and Medicaid expansion for working families while conservatives keep dialing back healthcare access and waving anti-abortion placards. Her clean-energy agenda and environmental-justice bills actually target polluters, not the customary GOP handouts to pipeline lobbyists. Dreamers, suburban progressives fed up with partisan hijinks, and anyone who’d trade culture-war theatrics for equity and opportunity will cheer her unapologetic stand for Virginia’s working families.
The Opposition
The Republican nominee for Lt. Governor, John Reid is a self-styled small-government crusader who’ll happily cut taxes for wealthy donors while pretending he’s doing the same for working Virginians. He rails against “woke” curriculum and critical race theory, because apparently teaching actual American history is more offensive to him than runaway inequality. He touts law-and-order credentials and celebrity as a conservative radio host, hawking gun rights like they’re the ultimate public-safety strategy. He even plans to torpedo constitutional protections for same-sex marriage, proving that an openly gay candidate will stab his own community in the back for party unity, the perfect pick for culture-war diehards who prefer corporate giveaways to real solutions for working families.Recommendation
Due to her advocacy for public education, abortion access, and environmental justice, Ghazala Hashmi is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-24
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares faces a challenge from former Democratic Virginia State Delegate Jay Jones.
The Democratic nominee for Attorney General, Jay Jones has pledged to sue the Trump administration every time it infringes on the rights of Virginians. He’s secured victories for abortion access, expanded Medicaid to cover thousands more Virginians, and even wrote anti-price-gouging measures to keep corporate vultures in check. His public-safety plan pairs smart gun-violence prevention and community-based crime interventions rather than recycling the right’s tired “lock ’em up” mantra for political ads. Grassroots progressives, consumer-rights advocates, and anyone sick of endless culture-war stunts will line up behind a candidate who actually puts families over fear-mongering theatrics.
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares cozies up to ICE, shaming local authorities who don’t cooperate with Trump’s policies of mass deportation, because terrorizing immigrant families is apparently his idea of due process. He grandstands on opioid crackdowns but turns a blind eye to corporate-friendly loopholes that keep the drug pipeline flowing. He bills himself as a federalism champion when suing Washington over environmental rules, conveniently ignoring states’ rights whenever big donors flash a check. His true believers are tough-on-crime zealots who think more ICE raids, harsher sentencing, and tax cuts for the wealthy are the pinnacle of compassionate governance.Recommendation
Due to his advocacy for abortion access, gun violence prevention, and Medicaid coverage, Jay Jones is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-24
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares faces a challenge from former Democratic Virginia State Delegate Jay Jones.
The Democratic nominee for Attorney General, Jay Jones has pledged to sue the Trump administration every time it infringes on the rights of Virginians. He’s secured victories for abortion access, expanded Medicaid to cover thousands more Virginians, and even wrote anti-price-gouging measures to keep corporate vultures in check. His public-safety plan pairs smart gun-violence prevention and community-based crime interventions rather than recycling the right’s tired “lock ’em up” mantra for political ads. Grassroots progressives, consumer-rights advocates, and anyone sick of endless culture-war stunts will line up behind a candidate who actually puts families over fear-mongering theatrics.
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares cozies up to ICE, shaming local authorities who don’t cooperate with Trump’s policies of mass deportation, because terrorizing immigrant families is apparently his idea of due process. He grandstands on opioid crackdowns but turns a blind eye to corporate-friendly loopholes that keep the drug pipeline flowing. He bills himself as a federalism champion when suing Washington over environmental rules, conveniently ignoring states’ rights whenever big donors flash a check. His true believers are tough-on-crime zealots who think more ICE raids, harsher sentencing, and tax cuts for the wealthy are the pinnacle of compassionate governance.Recommendation
Due to his advocacy for abortion access, gun violence prevention, and Medicaid coverage, Jay Jones is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-24
House of Delegates
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below House of Delegate races on your ballot.
House District 082
Virginia’s new 82nd House of Delegates district encompasses Petersburg City, parts of Dinwiddie County, parts of Prince George County, and Surry County. With almost 64,000 registered voters, this is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in one direction or another.
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor faces a challenge from Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams in HD-82.
Virginia's House District 82 includes the City of Petersburg, Surry County, and portions of Dinwiddie and Prince George counties. In the 2024 election it leaned Democratic by single-digit margins.
Virginia's House District 82 includes the City of Petersburg, Surry County, and portions of Dinwiddie and Prince George counties. In the 2024 election it leaned Democratic by single-digit margins.
Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams grew up in the Five Forks area of Hopewell, spending most of her childhood in a single-parent home. She previously ran for the District 82 seat in 2023. She graduated from Virginia Tech, and went on to work at a CPA firm. Later she became an auditor for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Kimberly Pope Adams will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
Kimberly Pope Adams believes in the right to a free, quality public school education for every child. She supports funding schools and increasing teacher pay and advocates for investments in school infrastructure.
She recognizes that food insecurity is an undeniable fact for many residents and plans to target this by:
- Incentivizing local farmers to donate to community food banks
- Promoting initiatives where local farmers sell their produce directly to public schools
- Encouraging traditional grocery store retailers to invest in our community
- Additionally, she supports unions and collective bargaining, paid sick leave, and pledges to invest in broadband access.
Kimberly Pope Adams pledges to oppose any attempt to ban abortions or restrict access to contraception.
She promotes a law enforcement workforce that reflects the community it serves. She will work with community leaders, individual citizens, and law enforcement to establish innovative crime prevention initiatives and ensure state funding exists to adequately staff Sheriff and Police departments.
Incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. She holds a psychology degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Alongside her husband, she is a small business owner of car repair shops.
Delegate Kim Taylor voted against a bills to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution and equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted in favor of a forced-outing bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Did not vote on a bill that would establish Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Based on her commitment to protecting abortion access, quality public education, and supporting Constitutional Amendments for abortion access, voting rights, and marriage equality, Kimberly Pope Adams is the progressive candidate in this race.
Kimberly Pope Adams will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
Kimberly Pope Adams believes in the right to a free, quality public school education for every child. She supports funding schools and increasing teacher pay and advocates for investments in school infrastructure.
She recognizes that food insecurity is an undeniable fact for many residents and plans to target this by:
- Incentivizing local farmers to donate to community food banks
- Promoting initiatives where local farmers sell their produce directly to public schools
- Encouraging traditional grocery store retailers to invest in our community
- Additionally, she supports unions and collective bargaining, paid sick leave, and pledges to invest in broadband access.
Kimberly Pope Adams pledges to oppose any attempt to ban abortions or restrict access to contraception.
She promotes a law enforcement workforce that reflects the community it serves. She will work with community leaders, individual citizens, and law enforcement to establish innovative crime prevention initiatives and ensure state funding exists to adequately staff Sheriff and Police departments.
Incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. She holds a psychology degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Alongside her husband, she is a small business owner of car repair shops.
Delegate Kim Taylor voted against a bills to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution and equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted in favor of a forced-outing bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Did not vote on a bill that would establish Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Based on her commitment to protecting abortion access, quality public education, and supporting Constitutional Amendments for abortion access, voting rights, and marriage equality, Kimberly Pope Adams is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
Virginia’s new 82nd House of Delegates district encompasses Petersburg City, parts of Dinwiddie County, parts of Prince George County, and Surry County. With almost 64,000 registered voters, this is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in one direction or another.
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor faces a challenge from Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams in HD-82.
Virginia's House District 82 includes the City of Petersburg, Surry County, and portions of Dinwiddie and Prince George counties. In the 2024 election it leaned Democratic by single-digit margins.
Virginia's House District 82 includes the City of Petersburg, Surry County, and portions of Dinwiddie and Prince George counties. In the 2024 election it leaned Democratic by single-digit margins.
Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams grew up in the Five Forks area of Hopewell, spending most of her childhood in a single-parent home. She previously ran for the District 82 seat in 2023. She graduated from Virginia Tech, and went on to work at a CPA firm. Later she became an auditor for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Kimberly Pope Adams will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
Kimberly Pope Adams believes in the right to a free, quality public school education for every child. She supports funding schools and increasing teacher pay and advocates for investments in school infrastructure.
She recognizes that food insecurity is an undeniable fact for many residents and plans to target this by:
- Incentivizing local farmers to donate to community food banks
- Promoting initiatives where local farmers sell their produce directly to public schools
- Encouraging traditional grocery store retailers to invest in our community
- Additionally, she supports unions and collective bargaining, paid sick leave, and pledges to invest in broadband access.
Kimberly Pope Adams pledges to oppose any attempt to ban abortions or restrict access to contraception.
She promotes a law enforcement workforce that reflects the community it serves. She will work with community leaders, individual citizens, and law enforcement to establish innovative crime prevention initiatives and ensure state funding exists to adequately staff Sheriff and Police departments.
Incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. She holds a psychology degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Alongside her husband, she is a small business owner of car repair shops.
Delegate Kim Taylor voted against a bills to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution and equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted in favor of a forced-outing bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Did not vote on a bill that would establish Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Based on her commitment to protecting abortion access, quality public education, and supporting Constitutional Amendments for abortion access, voting rights, and marriage equality, Kimberly Pope Adams is the progressive candidate in this race.
Kimberly Pope Adams will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
Kimberly Pope Adams believes in the right to a free, quality public school education for every child. She supports funding schools and increasing teacher pay and advocates for investments in school infrastructure.
She recognizes that food insecurity is an undeniable fact for many residents and plans to target this by:
- Incentivizing local farmers to donate to community food banks
- Promoting initiatives where local farmers sell their produce directly to public schools
- Encouraging traditional grocery store retailers to invest in our community
- Additionally, she supports unions and collective bargaining, paid sick leave, and pledges to invest in broadband access.
Kimberly Pope Adams pledges to oppose any attempt to ban abortions or restrict access to contraception.
She promotes a law enforcement workforce that reflects the community it serves. She will work with community leaders, individual citizens, and law enforcement to establish innovative crime prevention initiatives and ensure state funding exists to adequately staff Sheriff and Police departments.
Incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. She holds a psychology degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Alongside her husband, she is a small business owner of car repair shops.
Delegate Kim Taylor voted against a bills to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution and equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted in favor of a forced-outing bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live Voted against establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Did not vote on a bill that would establish Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Based on her commitment to protecting abortion access, quality public education, and supporting Constitutional Amendments for abortion access, voting rights, and marriage equality, Kimberly Pope Adams is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
House District 083
Virginia’s new 83rd House of Delegates district district encompasses parts of Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, Brunswick County, Sussex County, Greensville County, Emporia County, and parts of Dinwiddie County. With over 66,000 registered voters, this district leans Republican.
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Otto Wachsmann faces a challenge from Democrat Mary Person in HD-83.
Virginia's House District 83 includes portions of Isle of Wight and Dinwiddie counties, as well as the entirety of Emporia City, Southampton, Brunswick, Sussex, and Greensville counties. In the 2024 election it leaned Republican by single-digit margins.
Virginia's House District 83 includes portions of Isle of Wight and Dinwiddie counties, as well as the entirety of Emporia City, Southampton, Brunswick, Sussex, and Greensville counties. In the 2024 election it leaned Republican by single-digit margins.
Mary L. Person is an Emporia native and longtime educator with over a quarter-century of experience—including 12 years supporting students with autism and serving as a middle school principal. A former Mayor and City Council member, she championed scholarships, affordable housing initiatives, water quality improvements, and workforce development. Now running for Delegate in District 83, she prioritizes strong public schools, rural healthcare access, economic opportunity, and community safety in her campaign.
Mary Person believes every child deserves a fully funded public school with qualified teachers and safe classrooms. As such, she opposes the school vouchers that take money away from public schools. She pledges to invest in teachers, students, and classrooms, and will work to expand early childhood education. As mayor, she championed free community college scholarships.
Person prioritizes job creation and attracting investments. She intends to focus on building opportunities that attract new business and investment through education, workforce readiness, and training. As mayor, she advocated for a first-time homebuyer program, improved housing standards, and a regional workforce training center.
Person pledges to fight to increase healthcare services, especially in rural communities. She called out the “Big Bad Bill” for gutting Medicaid and rural healthcare.
She believes safe neighborhoods are the foundation for strong communities and vows to invest in first responders, public safety infrastructure, and mental health practitioners.
Delegate Wachsmann voted against bills to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against preserving local housing
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Mary Person believes every child deserves a fully funded public school with qualified teachers and safe classrooms. As such, she opposes the school vouchers that take money away from public schools. She pledges to invest in teachers, students, and classrooms, and will work to expand early childhood education. As mayor, she championed free community college scholarships.
Person prioritizes job creation and attracting investments. She intends to focus on building opportunities that attract new business and investment through education, workforce readiness, and training. As mayor, she advocated for a first-time homebuyer program, improved housing standards, and a regional workforce training center.
Person pledges to fight to increase healthcare services, especially in rural communities. She called out the “Big Bad Bill” for gutting Medicaid and rural healthcare.
She believes safe neighborhoods are the foundation for strong communities and vows to invest in first responders, public safety infrastructure, and mental health practitioners.
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Delegate Otto Wachsmann was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. He also ran for the seat in 2019. He was named Director of Experiential Education at the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University and also served as President of the Virginia Pharmacists Association. He and his wife have two daughters and two grandchildren.Delegate Wachsmann voted against bills to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against preserving local housing
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Recommendation
Based on her advocacy for quality, public education and affordable healthcare, Mary Person is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22
Virginia’s new 83rd House of Delegates district district encompasses parts of Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, Brunswick County, Sussex County, Greensville County, Emporia County, and parts of Dinwiddie County. With over 66,000 registered voters, this district leans Republican.
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Otto Wachsmann faces a challenge from Democrat Mary Person in HD-83.
Virginia's House District 83 includes portions of Isle of Wight and Dinwiddie counties, as well as the entirety of Emporia City, Southampton, Brunswick, Sussex, and Greensville counties. In the 2024 election it leaned Republican by single-digit margins.
Virginia's House District 83 includes portions of Isle of Wight and Dinwiddie counties, as well as the entirety of Emporia City, Southampton, Brunswick, Sussex, and Greensville counties. In the 2024 election it leaned Republican by single-digit margins.
Mary L. Person is an Emporia native and longtime educator with over a quarter-century of experience—including 12 years supporting students with autism and serving as a middle school principal. A former Mayor and City Council member, she championed scholarships, affordable housing initiatives, water quality improvements, and workforce development. Now running for Delegate in District 83, she prioritizes strong public schools, rural healthcare access, economic opportunity, and community safety in her campaign.
Mary Person believes every child deserves a fully funded public school with qualified teachers and safe classrooms. As such, she opposes the school vouchers that take money away from public schools. She pledges to invest in teachers, students, and classrooms, and will work to expand early childhood education. As mayor, she championed free community college scholarships.
Person prioritizes job creation and attracting investments. She intends to focus on building opportunities that attract new business and investment through education, workforce readiness, and training. As mayor, she advocated for a first-time homebuyer program, improved housing standards, and a regional workforce training center.
Person pledges to fight to increase healthcare services, especially in rural communities. She called out the “Big Bad Bill” for gutting Medicaid and rural healthcare.
She believes safe neighborhoods are the foundation for strong communities and vows to invest in first responders, public safety infrastructure, and mental health practitioners.
Delegate Wachsmann voted against bills to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against preserving local housing
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Mary Person believes every child deserves a fully funded public school with qualified teachers and safe classrooms. As such, she opposes the school vouchers that take money away from public schools. She pledges to invest in teachers, students, and classrooms, and will work to expand early childhood education. As mayor, she championed free community college scholarships.
Person prioritizes job creation and attracting investments. She intends to focus on building opportunities that attract new business and investment through education, workforce readiness, and training. As mayor, she advocated for a first-time homebuyer program, improved housing standards, and a regional workforce training center.
Person pledges to fight to increase healthcare services, especially in rural communities. She called out the “Big Bad Bill” for gutting Medicaid and rural healthcare.
She believes safe neighborhoods are the foundation for strong communities and vows to invest in first responders, public safety infrastructure, and mental health practitioners.
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Delegate Otto Wachsmann was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. He also ran for the seat in 2019. He was named Director of Experiential Education at the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University and also served as President of the Virginia Pharmacists Association. He and his wife have two daughters and two grandchildren.Delegate Wachsmann voted against bills to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against preserving local housing
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Recommendation
Based on her advocacy for quality, public education and affordable healthcare, Mary Person is the progressive candidate in this race.
Last updated: 2025-09-22