City of Charlottesville

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.

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.

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.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Katrina Callsen is running for reelection unopposed in HD-54.

Virginia’s House District 54 encompasses the City of Charlottesville and adjacent portions of Albemarle County. In the 2024 election it remained a strong Democratic district by comfortable double‐digit margins.

Incumbent Democrat Delegate Katrina Callsen was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2023. She graduated from Yale University and joined the Teach for America program. Previously, she served as the Chair of the Albemarle County School Board and Deputy City Attorney for the City of Charlottesville.
Committee Assignments: Counties, Cities and Towns, Courts of Justice, Finance

Constitutional Amendments
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-sponsored a bill to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution

Education
- Voted to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted to increase protections and support for cyberbullying
- Sponsored a bill to authorize public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property

Economy and Inflation
- Voted to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Co-patroned a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted to establish regulatory bodies in the cannabis industry in Virginia
- Voted to establish the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Health and Human Services
- Voted in favor of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to prohibit the Board of Medicine from disciplining a doctor for providing legal abortion care

Other Issues
- Co-sponsored a bill to establish regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted to authorize Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
- Co-sponsored a bill to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of assault-style weapons
- Co-sponsored a bill to prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal expenses

Recommendation

This is an uncontested race. Based on her commitment to supporting abortion access, workers' rights, and quality, affordable healthcare, Delegate Katrina Callsen is a progressive candidate.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Amy Laufer is running for reelection unopposed in HD-55.

Virginia’s House District 55 covers parts of Albemarle County, Louisa County, Nelson County, and a small sliver of Fluvanna County in Virginia’s Piedmont region. In the 2024 election it leaned Democratic by comfortable double-digit margins.

Incumbent Democrat Delegate Amy Laufer was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2023. She made previous bids for a Virginia State Senate seat, as well as Charlottesville City Council. Delegate Laufer grew up in rural Wisconsin on a dairy farm. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and later became a water analyst for the state of Wisconsin. She is a graduate of the Teachers College at Columbia University. In addition to being an educator, Delegate Laufer served on the Charlottesville City School Board. She lives in Albemarle County with her husband and their three children. Delegate Laufer is running unopposed.
Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, Education, Finance

Constitutional Amendments
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution

Education
- Co-patroned a bill to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted against increasing protections and support for cyberbullying
- Voted to authorize public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property

Economy and Inflation
- Voted to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Co-sponsored a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Co-patroned a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Co-sponsored a bill to establish regulatory bodies in the cannabis industry in Virginia
- Voted to prohibit landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted to establish the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Health and Human Services
- Voted in favor of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to prohibit the Board of Medicine from disciplining a doctor for providing legal abortion care

Other Issues
- Co-sponsored a bill to establish regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted to authorize Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
- Co-sponsored a bill to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of assault-style weapons
- Co-sponsored a bill to prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal expenses

Recommendation

This is an uncontested race. Based on her commitment to supporting workers' rights and quality, affordable healthcare, Delegate Amy Laufer is a progressive candidate.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic Treasurer Jason Vandever is running for reelection unopposed in the City of Charlottesville.

Charlottesville is an independent city in central Virginia, entirely surrounded by Albemarle County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, covering about 10 square miles with a population of roughly 45,000. In the 2024 election, Charlottesville voters overwhelmingly voted Democratic.

Incumbent Democrat Jason A. Vandever has served as the Charlottesville Treasurer since 2012. He received his secondary education at James Madison University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2004. He continued his education at Virginia Tech's Center for Public Administration and Policy and Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. From these schools, he earned a Master Governmental Treasurer Certification, a Master's Certificate in Local Government Management, and a Master's Degree in Public Affairs.

Vandever’s office has implemented policies like e-billing, free e-check payments, and automatic payments. Additionally, his office has changed its collections approach by eliminating extra fees, delaying certain collection actions, and extending payment plans. They also work with community partners to make sure their policies are aligned with the values of the city. Vandever advocates for processes that make paying taxes easier. He plans to expand community partnerships to assist individuals with qualifying for tax relief and home assistance programs.  

In coordination with other city departments, Vandever is working on a debt management and cash flow forecasting tool. He recognizes the city has competing priorities like education, housing, and transportation.

Recommendation

Due to his commitment to accessible resources, Incumbent Jason Vandever is a progressive candidate.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic Sheriff James E. Brown III is running for reelection unopposed in the City of Charlottesville.

Charlottesville is an independent city in central Virginia, entirely surrounded by Albemarle County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, covering about 10 square miles with a population of roughly 45,000. In the 2024 election, Charlottesville voters overwhelmingly voted Democratic.

Sheriff James Brown III grew up in Charlottesville and attended Charlottesville City Public Schools. He graduated from Longwood College with a B.A. in Pre-Law with a focus in Criminal Justice. He holds a graduate certificate in public administration from the University of Virginia. He previously served as a Deputy Clerk in General District Court and was an Albemarle County Police Officer. He was first elected as sheriff in 2009 and is running unopposed.

Brown advocated for more training for law enforcement following the murder of George Floyd. His office is involved in several programs, such as the Charlottesville-Albemarle TRIAD program, which connects senior citizens to resources that prevent elderly people from being victimized. The office is also involved with Fight Crime Invest in Kids, and R.A.D., a self-defense course that is offered by the sheriff’s office. Brown wants to continue the work that he has been doing for over 17 years by focusing on community safety and collaboration with different boards. 

Recommendation

This is an uncontested race. Based on his commitment to community to criminal justice reform, Sheriff James Brown is a progressive candidate.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic Commonwealth's Attorney Joe Platania is running for reelection unopposed in the City of Charlottesville.

Charlottesville is an independent city in central Virginia, entirely surrounded by Albemarle County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, covering about 10 square miles with a population of roughly 45,000. In the 2024 election, Charlottesville voters overwhelmingly voted Democratic.

Incumbent Joe Platania has served as Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney since 2018. Platania attended Providence College before joining the Jesuit Volunteer Corps where he was a teacher. He then attended Washington and Lee University School of Law and, following his 1998 graduation, defended death row inmates in Richmond. He later became one of the first attorneys at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Public Defender’s Office in 1999. In 2003, he began working for the Charlottesville Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

Platania believes that fair treatment of offenders is imperative to the safety of the people living in Charlottesville. He believes that every case should be treated on an individual basis and that harmed parties should be able to speak about what they would like to see happen in their cases. As Commonwealth’s Attorney, his office ended mandatory minimum sentencing for convicted offenders, excluding very serious cases. 

Plantania’s office reduced first-time nonviolent felonies to misdemeanors. By reserving jail space for those who are a threat to public safety, Plantania’s office has achieved the area’s lowest jail population in over 20 years. 

Plantania was the only law enforcement official in Charlottesville who supported undocumented immigrants and rejected measures taken by ICE, such as mandatory release notification. Along with 12 other prosecutors in Virginia, he joined the Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice, a coalition of prosecutors who seek criminal justice reform. The coalition has advocated for the end of cash bail and the abolition of the death penalty.

His office started a docket to prioritize therapy for those with mental illnesses who had been charged with a crime. Plantania has said that community care and proactive measures are necessary to combat youth violence. 

Recommendation

Joe Platania is running unopposed in the general election. Due to his support of criminal justice reform he is a progressive choice for this seat.