City of Newport News

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.

Virginia’s new 69th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of York County, parts of James City County, parts of Gloucester County, and parts of Newport News City. With over 64,000 registered voters, this district leans Republican.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Chad Green faces a challenge from Democrat Mark Downey and Independent Valerie Beverly in HD-69.

Virginia’s House District 69 comprises parts of York County, James City County, Gloucester County, and the City of Newport News in the Hampton Roads region. In the 2024 election it leaned Republican, with the GOP presidential and senatorial nominees carrying the district by very narrow margins.

Dr. Mark Downey is a pediatrician based in Williamsburg and a lifelong resident of upper York County, where he attended Bruton High School. He is the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 69th House District in the November 2025 election. Known for his medical background, Downey emphasizes safeguarding healthcare access, strengthening public education, and advocating for progressive policies on gun safety, climate change, and equity in health. His campaign is supported by endorsements from key advocacy organizations.

Constitutional Amendment
Dr. Mark Downey supports enshrining reproductive rights in Virginia’s state Constitution.

Education
Downey commits to fully investing in public education and opposes using public funds for private schools or charter schools. He advocates for early-childhood education with universal preschool starting at age 3. 

Health and Human Services
Downey advocates for protecting and expanding Medicaid. He supports a universal health care model. He supports the Right to Contraception Act. 

Other Issues
Downey urges for safe storage of firearms to prevent accidental shootings and suicide.

The Opposition

Delegate Chad Green was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2023. He graduated from the University of Alabama and earned his law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Previously, he served on the York County Board of Supervisors. He is a founding member of an organization that supports wetland and duck habitat conservation.

He believes that sanctuary cities and other measures taken to protect vulnerable immigrants “disrespect the rule of law” and “have no place in our country.” He engages in anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Delegate Green voted against Constitutional Amendments to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights.

Delegate Green voted against a bill to establish paid family and medical leave, increasing the minimum wage, and repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees. He has voted against gun violence prevention legislation and a bill to establish the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force.

Valerie Beverley is an ordained minister and insurance business owner. She graduated from Virginia Union University with an M.A. in Theology/Theological Studies. She also holds an M.A. in Social Work from Norfolk State University. 

Beverely supports the use of AI and modern technical resources to educate children. She acknowledges the importance of trades in the military and veteran communities.

Beverley advocates for increasing the number of public service workers and first responders to reduce premiums and increase access in rural areas. She pushes for clean air, clean water, regenerative soil, and detoxifying food supplies.

Recommendation

Limited information was available on Valerie Beverley's priorities and stances. Based on his support for abortion access, quality public education, and expanding Medicaid, Dr. Mark Downey is the most progressive candidate in this race.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Shelly Simonds faces a challenge from Republican Cynthia Scaturico and Independent John Bloom in HD-70.

Virginia's House District 70 is entirely located within Newport News. In the 2024 election it leaned Democratic by double-digit margins.

Incumbent Democrat Delegate Shelly Simonds has served in the House of Delegates since 2020. Simonds previously served the Newport News Public School system as both a teacher and later an elected school board director. She has a B.A. in International Relations and Affairs from Bucknell University as well as an M.A. in Communications and Media Studies from Stanford University. She has community leadership experience in environmental advocacy. She currently resides in the Denbigh area and is a mother to two daughters attending university.
Committee Assignments: Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources; Counties, Cities and Towns; Education (Vice Chair; K-12 Subcommittee Chair), Finance (Subcommittee #3)

Constitutional Amendment
- Delegate Simonds co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- She co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens.
- She co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.

Education
Delegate Simonds focuses on STEM education and career and technical education to prepare students for the workforce. She advocates for increasing teacher pay. She voted against a forced outing bill targeting transgender students.

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

Health and Human Services
Delegate Simonds fights to expand the accessibility and affordability of health care, treatment, and medicine in Virginia, including lowering prescription drug costs, building on her 2021 legislative win to enhance telehealth access, and making diagnostic and preventative medicine more accessible.

She voted in favor of a bill to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control, as well as a bill to require state health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved birth control.

Other Issues
- Delegate Simonds supports comprehensive campaign finance reform and voted in favor of a bill to prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal expenses.
- Voted to establish the Income-Qualified Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force
- Co-sponsored a bill to establish Gun Free Zones in Capitol Square and public institutions of higher education
- Voted to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or possession of assault-style weapons
- Voted to authorize Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections.
- Co-sponsored a bill to establish regulations for “high-risk” AI

The Opposition

Republican Cynthia Scaturico grew up in Lincoln, Illinois. She is a frontline supervisor in food manufacturing and holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Robert Morris College. Scaturico serves as 1st Vice President of the Hampton Roads Republican Women’s Club. She is a mother of three and grandmother to six. 

Scaturico advocates for parental rights regarding how to raise and educate children. She wants to keep Virginia as a right-to-work state. Scaturico advocates for tougher penalties for human trafficking offenses and supports increasing funding for local police. She pushes for securing borders and is committed to defending 2nd Amendment rights.

John Bloom (Constitution Party) is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering. He also holds an M.S. in Environmental Technology. He retired from the Navy and the civilian workforce, where he worked as a nuclear engineer and health physicist. Currently, he works as a substitute teacher in the Newport News School District and as a railroad conductor and ride operator at Busch Gardens. He ran for the 95th District House of Delegates seat in 2013. In 2015, he failed to qualify for the ballot for the 1st District State Senate seat. He also ran for that same seat during the 2016 Special General Election. In 2024, he ran for Newport New City School Board (North). He is a self-described “recovering Republican.”

Bloom believes the top issue facing Newport News Public Schools is students sleeping in class.

Recommendation

Based on her history of advocating for quality public education, workers' rights, and expanding affordable healthcare, Delegate Shelly Simonds is the progressive candidate in this race.

Virginia’s new 85th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Newport News City. With over 58,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Cia Price is running for reelection unopposed in HD-85.

Virginia's House District 85 is entirely located within the City of Newport News. In the 2024 election it remained strongly Democratic by double-digit margins.

Marcia S. “Cia” Price is a lifelong Peninsula-raised legislator serving Virginia’s 85th District since 2024, after representing District 95 since 2016. A philosophy and religious studies graduate with a divinity degree, she is the founding director of VA BLOC and a leading advocate for voting rights, housing justice, and gun safety. As chair of the House Privileges and Elections Committee and the VA Commission to End Hunger, she blends legislative leadership with deep community engagement.
Committee Assignments: General Laws, Health and Human Services (Health Professions Subcommittee Chair), Privileges and Elections (Chair)

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 to increase protections and support for cyberbullying
- Co-sponsored a bill to authorize public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted against a“forced-outing” bill targeting transgender students

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

Health and Human Services
- Voted to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to require health insurance plans to cover birth control

Other Issues
Delegate Price is a champion for voting rights and chief-patroned the Voting Rights Act of Virginia. She supports ranked choice voting. She co-sponsored a bill to establish regulations for “high-risk” AI. She also co-sponsored a bill to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of assault-style weapons.

Recommendation

This is an uncontested race. Based on her history of advocating for voting rights, tenants' rights, and quality, affordable healthcare, Delegate Cia Price is a progressive candidate.

Virginia’s new 87th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Hampton City. With over 65,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Jeion Ward faces a challenge from Republican John Chapman in HD-87.

Virginia's House District 87 is entirely located within the City of Hampton. In the 2024 election it remained strongly Democratic by double-digit margins.

Jeion A. Ward is a veteran Democratic Delegate in Virginia’s House, serving since 2004. A trained educator and labor leader, she holds a B.A. in English from Christopher Newport University and has a long history of advocacy—from leading her local teachers’ union to driving civic engagement efforts. She chairs the House Labor and Commerce Committee and sits on key panels shaping transportation, tech, and state governance.
Committee Assignments: Communications, Technology and Innovation, Labor and Commerce (Chair), Rules, Transportation

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
- Voted to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Co-sponsored a bill to authorize public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted against a forced-outing bill targeting transgender students

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

Health and Human Services
- Voted to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid medical and family leave
- Voted to require health insurance plans to cover birth control

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

The Opposition

Republican John Chapman ran unsuccessfully for the House of Delegates District 87 seat in 2023. However, we were unable to find information on his current priorities or stances.  

Recommendation

Based on her history of advocating for workers' rights, gun violence prevention, and quality, affordable healthcare, Delegate Jeion Ward is the progressive candidate in this race.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic financial manager Sanu Dieng-Cooper is running for Treasurer unopposed in the City of Newport News.


Newport News is an independent city in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia, covering about 69 square miles and home to an estimated 183,000 residents. In the 2024 presidential election, Newport News voters supported the Democratic nominee by double-digit margins.

Democrat Sanu Dieng-Cooper is a mom and advocate with over 14 years of experience in finance and nonprofit leadership. She attended Hampton University, where she earned a degree in finance and banking. Dieng-Cooper was the executive director of Transitions Family Violence Services.

Dieng-Cooper advocates for financial empowerment and literacy. She stresses the importance of accessibility and wants to launch a mobile app for residents. She also prioritizes transparency and community engagement and looks to town halls and listening sessions to facilitate that within the community. Dieng-Cooper advocates for staff development and a college internship program through partnerships with local colleges and universities.

To address barriers to access, Dieng-Cooper plans to create a Mobile Treasurer’s Office that will go directly to neighborhoods where tax assistance, payment plans, and other financial resources are needed. Additionally, she advocates for free financial literacy workshops to equip residents with the skills to manage their finances. She also wants to establish a Financial Empowerment Center in partnership with nonprofits, faith communities, and local businesses for guidance on budgeting, credit improvement, and homeownership. Dieng-Cooper will also increase language accessibility through a revamped website.

Other Candidates

Independent Justin Kennedy holds a law degree from Rutgers Law School. In 2002, he and his wife founded a business consulting and media development company together. They are heavily involved in their community and have two sons. 

Kennedy prioritizes community engagement to foster trust, transparency, and accountability. He stresses the importance of town halls, financial literacy workshops, and open forums as ways to support the community and identify barriers to services. Kennedy advocates for more technology use to remove those barriers. 

Recommendation

Due to her prioritizing financial literacy, accessibility, and language access Sanu Dieng-Cooper is the more progressive candidate in this race. 

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic former assistant commonwealth's attorney Shannon Jones is running unopposed for Commonwealth's Attorney in the City of Newport News.


Newport News is an independent city in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia, covering about 69 square miles and home to an estimated 183,000 residents. In the 2024 presidential election, Newport News voters supported the Democratic nominee by double-digit margins.

Democrat Shannon Jones is a former Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and community advocate. She is a graduate of Old Dominion University and Howard University School of Law.

Jones advocates for programs that uplift the community and focus on crime prevention. She is the founder of STARS (Student Trial Advocates Reaching For Success), a nonprofit that involves students in mock trials facilitated by legal professionals. She wants to collaborate with community institutions such as schools to prevent youth violence. She supports initiatives that aim to keep young people away from the pipeline of the criminal justice system. 

Recommendation

Jones is running unopposed and is a progressive candidate.