Skip to main content

House of Delegates

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below House of Delegate races on your ballot.

  • Virginia’s new 57th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Henrico County and parts of Goochland County. With almost 63,000 registered voters, this is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in either direction. 

    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Democratic candidate Susanna Gibson and Republican candidate David Owen are facing each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 57th House of Delegates district. This is an open seat with no incumbent in the race.
    Susanna Gibson is a nurse practitioner and a public health expert who graduated from University of Virginia and Columbia University. She has been working in Richmond as a physician for almost 15 years, and through this experience, she has become familiar with the realities of the healthcare system. Gibson wants to apply this knowledge to her role as Delegate to fight for families and community members in Virginia.

    Susanna Gibson is passionate about reproductive health and education, which started at a young age while volunteering and shadowing at the UVA Teen Health Center. She believes that women must have control over their own bodies, access to affordable quality healthcare, and make their own healthcare decisions in consultation with their healthcare providers. She is committed to ensuring that Virginia does not move backwards on reproductive rights and will use her professional knowledge to explain the damage that will be done to women, families, and communities if women are unable to work or care for their loved ones.

    Gibson also wants quality education for all students, which requires an environment that engages students and cultivates them as they prepare for next steps, including higher education. She wants to create a culture that rewards and trusts teachers rather than setting them up to be seen as untrustworthy and devious, as Governor Youngkin’s failed tip line attempted to do. She also believes that college should be accessible to students and affordable to their families, because no one should have to forgo college or drown in debt because of the current system.

    Gibson believes in commonsense gun violence prevention measures. On children experiencing gun violence she has said, “Our children should not have to practice active-shooter drills at school and live with the real fear of being harmed by someone with a weapon intended for a war zone.” Gibson believes that Virginia should invest in community-based programs such as gun buyback programs, increased street-lighting, and other evidence based programs that have been shown to reduce gun violence.

    Gibson’s medical expertise informs her opinion on how mental health and substance abuse should be handled. She believes that those who need resources should have access to them, as it improves the quality of life of everyone in communities. She also believes that the response to substance abuse should be met with treatment rather than incarceration and punishment. She advocates for more education and acceptance regarding mental health and hopes to introduce legislation to increase the number of Drug Courts in Virginia, as they save considerable costs and help communities.

    Susanna Gibson is facing Republican David Owen. Owen is a native Virginian who graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He worked as a construction engineer, and he was part-owner of Boone Homes for 20 years before he and his partners sold the company. He does not support police reform, or legislation that allows communities to hold police accountable. He promotes teaching inaccurate history and anti-trans policies.

    Susanna Gibson is the progressive choice for this race, as she is an expert in public health, supports investments in public education, and advocates for mental health.
  • Virginia’s new 58th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Henrico County. With close to 61,000 registered voters, this district leans Democratic. 

    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Rodney Willett is facing a challenge from Republican Shaia Riley in the general election for Virginia’s new 58th House of Delegates district. Delegate Willett has served in the House of Delegates since 2020.
    Incumbent Delegate Rodney Willett is a Virginia native who studied law at the College of William and Mary. Delegate Willett has served District 73 since 2020, and he was reelected in 2021. He has also served on an extensive list of Boards, which include the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, and the Virginia’s Children’s Health Insurance Advisory Board. He also was a member of the Student Engagement and Leadership Advisory Board at the College of William and Mary, where he founded an endowment that funds student volunteers.

    Delegate Willett believes that everyone should have accessible, affordable healthcare. He wants people to be taken care of by a quality health care system. He believes that there was some improvement when we expanded Medicaid, but that further measures should be taken, as too many people still do not have access to affordable health care. In addition to expanding access, he wants to increase funding for mental health care and addiction treatment. He also learned from his experience on the Board of Rx Partnership that too many people cannot access the prescriptions that they need, and he believes that this is a major problem.

    Delegate Willett believes that education and adequate employment are key components in creating successful futures for people. He wants to make pre-K enrollment universal for all Virginia kids, and also improve other areas, such as funding for schools, counseling resources, and fair wages for teachers. Del. Willett wants to minimize red tape so that businesses can operate more efficiently, and he also wants to focus on job training, liveable wages, and equal pay.

    Delegate Willett also supports abortion access and would vote against an abortion ban.
    Additionally, he supports common sense gun violence prevention legislation that would include universal background checks, as they are a proven way to keep guns out of the hands of those who mean harm. He wants extreme risk protective orders to be enforced as well.

    Delegate Willett believes the science that strongly suggests that climate change is real, and he sees that Virginia is already suffering from the effects. As time goes on, sea level rise will cause even more damage to a coastal state like Virginia, and Del. Willett wants to support legislation that will help protect the environment to ensure the safety of Virginians.

    Delegate Willett is facing a challenge from Republican Riley Shaia, a University of Virginia graduate and group exercise instructor. While she has stayed quiet regarding her own views on abortion, she has repeatedly expressed gratitude over being endorsed by Governor Youngkin, who hopes to implement a 15-week abortion ban. She claims to be tired of partisan politics but aligns herself with extremist politicians.

    Willett is the progressive choice for this race, as he supports reproductive rights, accessible healthcare, and legislation that promotes community safety.
  • Rachel Levy ran for the 55th district in 2019, and through community engagement, helped to increase voter turnout to 30 percent. She personally visited every precinct within the district, and due to redistricting, she is now running for the 59th district. Levy was raised by two civil rights lawyers, which sparked her passion for civic engagement that inspired her to earn her doctorate in educational leadership and policy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Levy is a leader in the group Together Hanover, and she is a member of the Hanover Democratic Committee and the Hanover NAACP. She is also a Jury Commissioner for the Ashland District of Hanover, and she serves on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. The list covering her involvement in Virginia government is extensive, and it includes a number of committees, local councils, and a board of directors.

    Levy is an experienced educator and leader in in her field, holding a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy. She has classroom experience and policy expertise, and her dedication to promoting equity within our public education system benefits all types of students. She advocates for policies that benefit students of color, special needs students, English Language Learners, and low-income students. She also wants increased salaries for teachers and protections for trans and non-binary students. Levy believes that laws should be developed and enforced for the purpose of ensuring the safety and funding of schools, including the improvement of buildings’ quality.

    Levy wants accessible healthcare for everyone, which includes lowered or capped drug prices, expanding access to medicaid, funding and resources for mental health services, including for substance abuse disorders. She also supports the protection of reproductive rights and expanding access to abortion and contraception. Levy believes that racial disparities need to be addressed along with socio-economic and gender-based disparities in access to healthcare.

    Rachel Levy supports responsible gun ownership, and she wants to uplift the need for legislation that aims to prevent injuries and deaths from gun accidents, deaths by suicide, along with gun violence. Levy also wants gun safety training for gun owners, extreme risk protection orders, secure storage policies, along with other policies to ensure the safety of members in the community.

    Buddy Fowler is a Republican who has served the 55th District since 2014. He is a graduate of Hermitage High School, and he is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Mary Washington with a degree in History. He serves as the Vice Chair of Finance and he is Chair of Subcommittee 2 for Local Taxation in the House of Delegates. He also serves on a number of other committees. Fowler voted against notices that would protect renters from rising rent without adequate notice, and he also supported legislation to restrict privacy and participation in sports for trans children. He also sponsored a bill to allow anyone with a concealed handgun permit to be exempted from the one-gun-a-month law.

    Rachel Levy is the progressive choice for this race, as she maintains an extensive platform, which includes gun safety, reproductive rights, and accessible healthcare.



    Last updated: 2023-10-27

    Rachel Levy

    Rachel Levy ran for the 55th district in 2019, and through community engagement, helped to increase voter turnout to 30 percent. She personally visited every precinct within the district, and due to redistricting, she is now running for the 59th district.

    Rachel Levy ran for the 55th district in 2019, and through community engagement, helped to increase voter turnout to 30 percent. She personally visited every precinct within the district, and due to redistricting, she is now running for the 59th district. Levy was raised by two civil rights lawyers, which sparked her passion for civic engagement that inspired her to earn her doctorate in educational leadership and policy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Levy is a leader in the group Together Hanover, and she is a member of the Hanover Democratic Committee and the Hanover NAACP. She is also a Jury Commissioner for the Ashland District of Hanover, and she serves on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. The list covering her involvement in Virginia government is extensive, and it includes a number of committees, local councils, and a board of directors.

    Levy is an experienced educator and leader in in her field, holding a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy. She has classroom experience and policy expertise, and her dedication to promoting equity within our public education system benefits all types of students. She advocates for policies that benefit students of color, special needs students, English Language Learners, and low-income students. She also wants increased salaries for teachers and protections for trans and non-binary students. Levy believes that laws should be developed and enforced for the purpose of ensuring the safety and funding of schools, including the improvement of buildings’ quality.

    Levy wants accessible healthcare for everyone, which includes lowered or capped drug prices, expanding access to medicaid, funding and resources for mental health services, including for substance abuse disorders. She also supports the protection of reproductive rights and expanding access to abortion and contraception. Levy believes that racial disparities need to be addressed along with socio-economic and gender-based disparities in access to healthcare.

    Rachel Levy supports responsible gun ownership, and she wants to uplift the need for legislation that aims to prevent injuries and deaths from gun accidents, deaths by suicide, along with gun violence. Levy also wants gun safety training for gun owners, extreme risk protection orders, secure storage policies, along with other policies to ensure the safety of members in the community.

    Buddy Fowler is a Republican who has served the 55th District since 2014. He is a graduate of Hermitage High School, and he is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Mary Washington with a degree in History. He serves as the Vice Chair of Finance and he is Chair of Subcommittee 2 for Local Taxation in the House of Delegates. He also serves on a number of other committees. Fowler voted against notices that would protect renters from rising rent without adequate notice, and he also supported legislation to restrict privacy and participation in sports for trans children. He also sponsored a bill to allow anyone with a concealed handgun permit to be exempted from the one-gun-a-month law.

    Rachel Levy is the progressive choice for this race, as she maintains an extensive platform, which includes gun safety, reproductive rights, and accessible healthcare.



    Rachel Levy

    Rachel Levy ran for the 55th district in 2019, and through community engagement, helped to increase voter turnout to 30 percent. She personally visited every precinct within the district, and due to redistricting, she is now running for the 59th district.

  • Virginia’s new 60th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Hanover County and parts of New Kent County. With close to 69,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Republican.
    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republican Delegate Scott Wyatt is facing a challenge from Democrat Keith Braxton in the general election for Virginia’s new 60th House of Delegates district. Delegate Wyatt has served in the House of Delegates since 2020.
    Keith Braxton is a mentor and public servant to those in his community, and he has always been a values-driven leader. He began his career of leadership as a coach for the VMI Keydets, and went on to lead many teams across divisions and colleges to successful seasons. Eventually, Keith found his passion in teaching. Today, he continues to teach students at Patrick Henry and Atlee High School.

    Braxton is a working man running for working people. He understands that the process is rigged against working people, but wants to fight for a system that grants adequate representation to all voices and perspectives in the community. Braxton supports many measures designed to benefit working families, such as a Child Tax Credit, universal public pre-k, paid parental leave, high quality maternal care, access to IVF, and affordable healthcare.

    As a public school teacher, Braxton has an intimate understanding of the needs of our students, faculty, and school staff. He wants more funding for schools in general and specifically wants to ensure teachers are given the support they deserve and require. He opposes Republican attacks on public education and wants to fight back against the restrictive social agenda they’ve been pushing. Additionally, he supports universal free lunch and increased funding for transportation that would ensure all students can get to school and feel safe and appreciated.

    Braxton is fundamentally a believer in a person’s right to choose what is best for themselves. That’s why he’s a staunch advocate for abortion access: he believes that the government has no place in the doctor’s office. Additionally, he names religious freedom as a core principle of our state and nation. He says that people should be free to worship in any manner they see fit, regardless of faith, and opposes Republican efforts to push a Christian agenda.

    Braxton also believes in a multifaceted approach to public safety. He wants to ensure all people feel safe by increasing funding for mental health, incentivizing police to live in the communities they police, requiring higher standards for police training, funding a more diverse police force, banning assault weapons, raising the minimum age for firearms purchases to 21, and establishing universal background checks.

    Braxton is challenging incumbent Republican Scott Wyatt, a retired telecommunications manager. Wyatt opposes legislative measures to keep our communities safe from gun violence and is against abortion access. He also voted against raising the minimum wage, legalizing marijuana, and abolishing the death penalty.

    Given his support for common sense gun legislation, initiatives that benefit working people, and public education, Braxton is decidedly the progressive choice in this race.
  • John Quincy Smith currently lives in King George County and was raised in a working-class family in Ohio. Following military service that included a deployment to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict, the GI Bill helped him to earn a Ph.D. in history from Ohio State. He continued to serve as a Department of Defense civilian with the U.S. Air Force as a historian with assignments in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. and deployments to Southwest Asia. After retiring from the role of Air Force Senior Historian, he and his wife, Grace, moved to King George County, where Grace works as a special education teacher at King George Elementary School.

    Smith wants to build a robust regional economy for everyone, with controlled development to protect the environmental integrity of the Northern Neck region. This stance earned him an endorsement from the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC)..

    He also supports commonsense gun legislation. His policy positions earned him the 2023 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. He wants to defend voting rights, and supports increased funding to build quality public education. His desire to protect reproductive rights and access to abortion earned him an endorsement from Roe Your Vote Virginia and from the Committee to Protect Healthcare.

    Smith’s opponent in this race is Republican Hillary Pugh Kent, a conservative businesswoman. She’d rather blindly increase funding for law enforcement than do anything to hold them accountable. She’s a COVID-19 conspiracy theorist who believes the pandemic was overblown because we handed the government the reins. Independent Richard Kenski is also in this race, but at the time of research we could find no information on him.

    Because of his support for building strong healthcare that supports abortion access, his push to protect the environment, and his commonsense gun control positions, John Quincy Smith is the progressive choice in this race.
    Last updated: 2023-10-23

    John Quincy

    John Quincy Smith currently lives in King George County and was raised in a working-class family in Ohio. Following military service that included a deployment to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict, the GI Bill helped him to earn a Ph.D. in history from Ohio State.

    John Quincy Smith currently lives in King George County and was raised in a working-class family in Ohio. Following military service that included a deployment to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict, the GI Bill helped him to earn a Ph.D. in history from Ohio State. He continued to serve as a Department of Defense civilian with the U.S. Air Force as a historian with assignments in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. and deployments to Southwest Asia. After retiring from the role of Air Force Senior Historian, he and his wife, Grace, moved to King George County, where Grace works as a special education teacher at King George Elementary School.

    Smith wants to build a robust regional economy for everyone, with controlled development to protect the environmental integrity of the Northern Neck region. This stance earned him an endorsement from the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC)..

    He also supports commonsense gun legislation. His policy positions earned him the 2023 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. He wants to defend voting rights, and supports increased funding to build quality public education. His desire to protect reproductive rights and access to abortion earned him an endorsement from Roe Your Vote Virginia and from the Committee to Protect Healthcare.

    Smith’s opponent in this race is Republican Hillary Pugh Kent, a conservative businesswoman. She’d rather blindly increase funding for law enforcement than do anything to hold them accountable. She’s a COVID-19 conspiracy theorist who believes the pandemic was overblown because we handed the government the reins. Independent Richard Kenski is also in this race, but at the time of research we could find no information on him.

    Because of his support for building strong healthcare that supports abortion access, his push to protect the environment, and his commonsense gun control positions, John Quincy Smith is the progressive choice in this race.

    John Quincy

    John Quincy Smith currently lives in King George County and was raised in a working-class family in Ohio. Following military service that included a deployment to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict, the GI Bill helped him to earn a Ph.D. in history from Ohio State.

No Recommendation

Virginia’s new 68th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Gloucester County, King William County, Middlesex County, Essex County, Mathews County, and King & Queen County. With over 68,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Republican.
This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republican Keith Hodges is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 68th House of Delegates district. Delegate Hodges has served in the House of Delegates since 2012.
Incumbent Republican Delegate Keith Hodges has represented the district since 2012 and owns a pharmacy in Gloucester. Del. Hodges voted against raising the minimum wage and keeping communities safe from gun violence. He also voted against abolishing the death penalty and legalizing marijuana. Additionally, he opposed the Virginia Clean Energy Act and the Virginia Voting Rights Act.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write-in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.

No Recommendation

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 7, 2023. Republican candidate Chad Green is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 69th House of Delegates district. He previously served as the District 3 York County Supervisor.
Incumbent Delegate Chad Green (R) is an attorney and conservative activist. He labels efforts to hold police accountable as attacks by the “woke mob”. 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” and calls immigrants criminals that should be deported.

There is no recommendation in this race. We encourage people to vote and write-in a candidate. Remember, there are other races this year that need your vote, so we encourage you to show up to vote anyway.
  • Jessica Anderson is an everyday person who advocates for her community. She is a lifelong Virginian, a mother of three daughters, and a stepmother to a son and daughter. She attained her Associate's Degree in Business Administration while pregnant with her second born. She worked full-time with a local family dental practice for over 7 years before opting to be a stay-at-home mom for 2 years. She found herself struggling to provide health insurance for her young daughters and unable to meet financial needs for daily necessities while going through a difficult divorce. This moment showed her just how important and lifesaving social safety nets are to families.
    Anderson is a firm believer in abortion access and will fight to ensure it is protected in Virginia. She recognizes the importance of access to healthcare for her four daughters and opposes burdensome laws on healthcare professionals that put people in danger. She believes that legislators have no business in doctor's offices, making personal decisions and putting healthcare providers at legal risk simply for providing care. She opposes further arbitrary laws that are nothing more than political grandstanding and serve no purpose than to control this deeply personal decision. She supports the long-standing law in Virginia that demands healthcare providers respond quickly and ethically if a pregnancy is terminated in the 3rd trimester and to make every attempt and give any and all medical care required to ensure the child lives and thrives.

    Anderson believes that public education is crucial to the Commonwealth of Virginia and especially District 71. She opposes policies like "No Child Left Behind" and standardized testing that have dismantled public education both financially and structurally. She believes these policies have resulted in curricula that are far less engaging, focused on teaching to test, and push students through the system who have missed out on much-needed resources. She opposes policies like taking public school funding and putting it into private schools and book banning that are causing further harm to educators, students, and families. She will always stand for parental rights and advocate for meaningful dialogue between educators and families to reach the best compromise for all parties.

    Anderson will advocate for workers in Virginia to get access to basic benefits that others take for granted. She supports paid family and medical leave. She also supports earned sick time, which would provide every worker in Virginia with a minimum of 40 hours of earned sick time every year. She believes that families across Virginia need increased access to quality, affordable childcare programs. She also believes that living and aging at home should be a viable option for any Virginian who wishes to do so and wants to ensure that Virginia has the infrastructure and workforce in place to meet the growing demand for in-home nurses and care staff.

    Anderson will fight for responsible gun ownership. She supports implementing universal background checks. She also believes that guns should always be stored in a secure manner, locked and unloaded, particularly in households where children are present. She supports investing in community-based violence prevention programs to help address the root causes of gun violence. She believes that extreme risk protection laws are critical in saving lives and preventing gun violence. She is committed to voting on and advocating for common sense, responsible gun safety legislation that aims to keep kids and communities safe.

    Anderson is running against Incumbent Delegate Amanda Batten (R). Batten voted against the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the Virginia Clean Economy Act, and the legalization of marijuana. She also opposed abolishing the death penalty in Virginia and raising the minimum wage.

    Because of her positions on gun control, public education, and healthcare, Anderson is the clear progressive choice in this race.
    Last updated: 2023-10-23

    Jessica Anderson

    Jessica Anderson is an everyday person who advocates for her community. She is a lifelong Virginian, a mother of three daughters, and a stepmother to a son and daughter. She attained her Associate's Degree in Business Administration while pregnant with her second born.

    Jessica Anderson is an everyday person who advocates for her community. She is a lifelong Virginian, a mother of three daughters, and a stepmother to a son and daughter. She attained her Associate's Degree in Business Administration while pregnant with her second born. She worked full-time with a local family dental practice for over 7 years before opting to be a stay-at-home mom for 2 years. She found herself struggling to provide health insurance for her young daughters and unable to meet financial needs for daily necessities while going through a difficult divorce. This moment showed her just how important and lifesaving social safety nets are to families.
    Anderson is a firm believer in abortion access and will fight to ensure it is protected in Virginia. She recognizes the importance of access to healthcare for her four daughters and opposes burdensome laws on healthcare professionals that put people in danger. She believes that legislators have no business in doctor's offices, making personal decisions and putting healthcare providers at legal risk simply for providing care. She opposes further arbitrary laws that are nothing more than political grandstanding and serve no purpose than to control this deeply personal decision. She supports the long-standing law in Virginia that demands healthcare providers respond quickly and ethically if a pregnancy is terminated in the 3rd trimester and to make every attempt and give any and all medical care required to ensure the child lives and thrives.

    Anderson believes that public education is crucial to the Commonwealth of Virginia and especially District 71. She opposes policies like "No Child Left Behind" and standardized testing that have dismantled public education both financially and structurally. She believes these policies have resulted in curricula that are far less engaging, focused on teaching to test, and push students through the system who have missed out on much-needed resources. She opposes policies like taking public school funding and putting it into private schools and book banning that are causing further harm to educators, students, and families. She will always stand for parental rights and advocate for meaningful dialogue between educators and families to reach the best compromise for all parties.

    Anderson will advocate for workers in Virginia to get access to basic benefits that others take for granted. She supports paid family and medical leave. She also supports earned sick time, which would provide every worker in Virginia with a minimum of 40 hours of earned sick time every year. She believes that families across Virginia need increased access to quality, affordable childcare programs. She also believes that living and aging at home should be a viable option for any Virginian who wishes to do so and wants to ensure that Virginia has the infrastructure and workforce in place to meet the growing demand for in-home nurses and care staff.

    Anderson will fight for responsible gun ownership. She supports implementing universal background checks. She also believes that guns should always be stored in a secure manner, locked and unloaded, particularly in households where children are present. She supports investing in community-based violence prevention programs to help address the root causes of gun violence. She believes that extreme risk protection laws are critical in saving lives and preventing gun violence. She is committed to voting on and advocating for common sense, responsible gun safety legislation that aims to keep kids and communities safe.

    Anderson is running against Incumbent Delegate Amanda Batten (R). Batten voted against the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the Virginia Clean Economy Act, and the legalization of marijuana. She also opposed abolishing the death penalty in Virginia and raising the minimum wage.

    Because of her positions on gun control, public education, and healthcare, Anderson is the clear progressive choice in this race.

    Jessica Anderson

    Jessica Anderson is an everyday person who advocates for her community. She is a lifelong Virginian, a mother of three daughters, and a stepmother to a son and daughter. She attained her Associate's Degree in Business Administration while pregnant with her second born.

  • Virginia’s new 72nd House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Chesterfield County, Powhatan County, Amelia County, and Nottoway County. With almost 69,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Republican.
    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republican Delegate Lee Ware is facing a challenge from Democrat Bilal Raychouni in the general election for Virginia’s new 72nd House of Delegates district. Delegate Ware has served in the House of Delegates since 1998.
    Bilal Raychouni is a filmmaker, educator, and self-described social media expert. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Media Arts: Film Production and Minor in Psychology from Emerson College and a Master of Arts in Film/Cinema/Video Studies from George Mason University. Since graduating, he has been deeply involved in multiple creative communities. He has been an educator for Powhatan County Public Schools for the last two years.

    Raychouni does not have a website with any listed positions, but he does list some positions and a host of endorsements across his social media accounts. He signed the 2023 Pledge to Refuse Dominion and Appalachian Power Contributions and earned himself an endorsement from Eric Holder and the National Resources Defense Council.

    His commitments to providing quality healthcare and ensuring equality for all Virginians earned him endorsements from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, the Committee to Protect Healthcare, and Equality Virginia. He has also been an outspoken supporter of Black Lives Matter.

    Raychouni pledges to be the candidate for working families. He’s stood with SAG-AFTRA striking workers, attending rallies alongside them, and has received an endorsement from the Virginia AFL-CIO for his advocacy. He also received an endorsement from Family Friendly Virginia for his pro-working family beliefs, including paid family and medical leave, quality child care, earned sick days, and affordable long-term care.

    Raychouni is challenging Incumbent Republican Delegate Lee Ware , a retired teacher who has represented the 65th District since 1998. Ware opposed expanding affordable health coverage in 2018. He also voted against raising the minimum wage, abolishing the death penalty, and legalizing marijuana. Additionally, Ware opposes abortion access and prohibiting voter discrimination in the Commonwealth.

    Because of his support for working families, his views on healthcare, and his positions on environmental protection, Raychouni is the progressive choice in this race.
  • Herb Walke was born and raised in Norfolk, VA. He studied engineering at the University of Virginia and worked in construction on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel between semesters. Walke married his wife Jackie and worked for Reynolds Metals in Richmond for several decades as a corporate staff industrial engineer, division planning manager, systems and financial analyst, division accounting manager, and division cost manager. Walke started Walke Business Solutions, Inc. in 1998 and has since helped Fortune 500 companies, government, and small businesses adopt “Lean Manufacturing” to improve production and processes. He has trained over 3,000 professionals in Lean Manufacturing systems. Walke has volunteered and has served as an officer in the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers local Richmond Chapter for over 40 years. He is also a passionate woodturner and has volunteered with the Richmond Woodturners.

    Walke will be a strong voice for commonsense gun violence prevention. He knows that innocent people are killed, hurt, maimed, or emotionally traumatized daily by gun violence. He argues that we need reasonable commonsense rules and laws that rein in the out-of-control use of deadly weapons by those who should not be allowed to have them. Prayers and thoughts are not the answer.

    Walke’s views on community safety extend to law enforcement as well. He believes that we should be at ease interacting with law enforcement. Law enforcement should be properly trained and monitored to ensure they have the necessary training and equipment to keep them safe while they protect us and our communities.

    Walke will be a voice for environmental protection. He wants us to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program, which puts a cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants that will get stricter over time. He speaks out against Governor Youngkin’s decision to remove us from it, arguing that “Virginia’s biggest air polluters just sent the Commonwealth another $71 million dollars to help pay down the Commonwealth’s exorbitant climate costs and spiking energy bills. Perversely, the very same week, Governor Youngkin proposed Virginia taxpayers instead shoulder the burden of paying for climate damage to our coastal real estate and inland communities.”

    Funding and protections for public schools are also a top issue for Walke. He believes that education is the fundamental reason that the US and Virginia have been leaders in innovation for our society. Virginia K-12 schools have consistently been ranked as number 4 or 6 among the 50 states. It is imperative that we properly fund our treasured public schools and universities and not attempt to micromanage the teaching at our excellent schools.

    Walke is facing Republican Mark Earley, an attorney. Earley supports Republican initiatives to police public schools and forcibly out trans kids. In the run-up to the election, he removed his positions on abortion from his website, which previously indicated that he was wholly against abortion. He will do nothing about gun violence and even supports putting armed guards in classrooms.

    Given Walke’s positions on environmental protection, common sense gun reform, and public education, he is the progressive choice in this race.
    Last updated: 2023-10-23

    Herb Walke

    Herb Walke was born and raised in Norfolk, VA. He studied engineering at the University of Virginia and worked in construction on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel between semesters.

    Herb Walke was born and raised in Norfolk, VA. He studied engineering at the University of Virginia and worked in construction on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel between semesters. Walke married his wife Jackie and worked for Reynolds Metals in Richmond for several decades as a corporate staff industrial engineer, division planning manager, systems and financial analyst, division accounting manager, and division cost manager. Walke started Walke Business Solutions, Inc. in 1998 and has since helped Fortune 500 companies, government, and small businesses adopt “Lean Manufacturing” to improve production and processes. He has trained over 3,000 professionals in Lean Manufacturing systems. Walke has volunteered and has served as an officer in the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers local Richmond Chapter for over 40 years. He is also a passionate woodturner and has volunteered with the Richmond Woodturners.

    Walke will be a strong voice for commonsense gun violence prevention. He knows that innocent people are killed, hurt, maimed, or emotionally traumatized daily by gun violence. He argues that we need reasonable commonsense rules and laws that rein in the out-of-control use of deadly weapons by those who should not be allowed to have them. Prayers and thoughts are not the answer.

    Walke’s views on community safety extend to law enforcement as well. He believes that we should be at ease interacting with law enforcement. Law enforcement should be properly trained and monitored to ensure they have the necessary training and equipment to keep them safe while they protect us and our communities.

    Walke will be a voice for environmental protection. He wants us to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program, which puts a cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants that will get stricter over time. He speaks out against Governor Youngkin’s decision to remove us from it, arguing that “Virginia’s biggest air polluters just sent the Commonwealth another $71 million dollars to help pay down the Commonwealth’s exorbitant climate costs and spiking energy bills. Perversely, the very same week, Governor Youngkin proposed Virginia taxpayers instead shoulder the burden of paying for climate damage to our coastal real estate and inland communities.”

    Funding and protections for public schools are also a top issue for Walke. He believes that education is the fundamental reason that the US and Virginia have been leaders in innovation for our society. Virginia K-12 schools have consistently been ranked as number 4 or 6 among the 50 states. It is imperative that we properly fund our treasured public schools and universities and not attempt to micromanage the teaching at our excellent schools.

    Walke is facing Republican Mark Earley, an attorney. Earley supports Republican initiatives to police public schools and forcibly out trans kids. In the run-up to the election, he removed his positions on abortion from his website, which previously indicated that he was wholly against abortion. He will do nothing about gun violence and even supports putting armed guards in classrooms.

    Given Walke’s positions on environmental protection, common sense gun reform, and public education, he is the progressive choice in this race.

    Herb Walke

    Herb Walke was born and raised in Norfolk, VA. He studied engineering at the University of Virginia and worked in construction on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel between semesters.

No Recommendation

Incumbent Republican Delegate Mike Cherry is running unopposed in this race. He has served in the House of Delegates since 2022. He has voted in favor of anti-trans bills, bills that put barriers between people and the ballot box, and bills aimed at limiting abortion access. Because the delegate consistently votes against progressive policies, we have no recommendation in this race. We encourage you to show up and vote by writing in a candidate. Remember, there are other races in this year’s election.

No Recommendation

Incumbent Republican Delegate Mike Cherry is running unopposed in this race. He has served in the House of Delegates since 2022. He has voted in favor of anti-trans bills, bills that put barriers between people and the ballot box, and bills aimed at limiting abortion access.

  • Virginia’s new 76th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Chesterfield County. With almost 67,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.
    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Democratic candidate Debra Gardner and Republican candidate Duc Truong will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 76th House of Delegates district. Gardner previously ran for the 2019 Clover Hill Chesterfield County Supervisor seat, as well as the 2021 District 27 House of Delegates seat. This is an open seat with no incumbent in the race.
    Debra Gardner is a former teacher, social worker, and public servant. She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from North Carolina Central University and a Master of Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. She worked as an adjunct professor at VCU and has held leadership positions at three state agencies: the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Human Services. She currently lives in North Chesterfield with her daughter.

    Gardner is dedicated to policies that support Virginia working families. When her elderly mother came to live with her, Gardner understood the needs of an aging society and immediately set to work on policies that would reduce the caregiving burden on families. She also received the “Family Friendly Seal of Approval” from the Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy for her dedication to paid family and medical leave, paid sick days, quality childcare and affordable eldercare. She is also dedicated to ensuring everyone in our communities earns a living wage and receives sufficient support during the economic recovery from COVID-19.

    Gardner will also prioritize access to affordable healthcare. She especially supports expanding insurance options for people who are unemployed so that access to healthcare is no longer tied to employment. Additionally, she will work to increase funding for mental health care and addiction recovery to ensure these critical services are accessible to all who need them. She will fight to decrease the price of prescriptions to make sure everyone is able to afford their necessary medications.

    With her background in criminal justice and corrections, Gardner has proven her dedication to public safety. Additionally, Gardner served on the Commonwealth Domestic Violence Prevention Response Advisory Board. She will implement evidence-based and community-based programs to increase community safety. She will require updated training for all police officers and work to improve relationships between officers and communities. She sees common-sense gun violence prevention legislation as critical to ensuring community safety.

    Gardner will also work to tackle the climate crisis in Virginia. She sees protecting the planet as beneficial both environmentally and economically and knows investing in clean energy will help bring jobs to the 27th District. She will fight to ensure economic growth is responsibly planned and sustainable. She also sees how public health is tied to environmental protections and will work to ensure all of her constituents, regardless of economic status, have access to clean water and healthy food.

    Republican Duc Truong, a small business owner, is Gardner’s opponent in this race. Truong wants to leave the fate of healthcare in the hands of employers. He wants to help Republicans cut regulations, making us less safe. His favored solution for fostering success beyond K-12 education is to traffic graduates directly to the military.

    Due to her support for the environment, affordable healthcare, and Virginia working families, Gardner is the most progressive choice for Virginia’s 76th district.
  • Virginia’s new 77th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Richmond City and parts of Chesterfield County. With almost 55,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.
    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Democratic candidate Michael Jones is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 77th House of Delegates district. He previously served in the Richmond City Council District 9 seat.
    Richmond City Councilman Mike Jones is the son of a Navy SEAL and proud Richmonders who taught him to overcome any obstacles that life can throw your way. He graduated from Maggie Walker Governor’s School. His parents taught him to never judge someone based on the superficial aspects because of what they witnessed growing up in a segregated Richmond. For most of his life, Jones has channeled the values taught to him to fight for the rights of others. He has been about the people.

    Jones knows that climate change is real and that we must take action to reduce emissions and protect the public health of Richmond citizens. He believes that it is unacceptable that Richmond has some of the highest rates of asthma in the country and flooding in our neighborhoods. He also understands the need for environmental justice, as some parts of the 77th district are 10% hotter than others. He believes that we need to fight at the state level for tree canopies, greenspace, and improvements to the James River Park System. Jones has taken a pledge not to take any campaign contributions from Dominion Energy and has been endorsed by Sierra Club.

    Jones has garnered a reputation of fighting for the streets. Black, White or Brown, he has sought to amplify the voices of those that are too often overlooked. In a part of the City that has been left out of so many conversations, Jones has a way of matching problems with legislation. He has shown his ability to lead during tough times by chairing the Council’s Finance Committee, calling for more fiscal responsibility. He is willing to say what so many are afraid to say in a tone of empathy and compassion. Jones tries to educate and inform while others might seek to alienate.

    As a Black man, Jones knows people of color are over-represented in the criminal justice system and underrepresented in elected office. We need to rectify some of the wrongs of the past, but more importantly, stop the next generation from being pulled into the system. Jones wants to slow the school-to-prison pipeline, reform policing, help returning citizens get into the workforce, and eliminate mandatory minimum sentences. On the city council, Jones led the fight to gain local control of the Confederate Monuments in the City of Richmond. Standing alone, he endured backlash and death threats. That did not stop him. He is leading the charge for more accountability with Law Enforcement seeking to move to a true form of public safety.

    Jones also supports access to abortion and feels strongly that the government should never limit access to or prevent someone from making their own reproductive choices. He also wants to give kids a pathway to the middle class by providing jobs with good benefits, a $15/hr minimum wage, and creating a great economy that works for everyone.

    Councilman Jones is running unopposed, but given his stance on criminal justice reform, climate change, and racial justice, he is decidedly the progressive choice in this race.
  • Virginia’s new 80th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Henrico City. With over 61,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.
    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Democratic candidate Destiny LeVere Bolling is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 80th House of Delegates district. This is her first general election.
    Destiny LeVere Bolling is the Communications Director at Virginia AFL-CIO and chairs the Virginia Conference NAACP's Labor and Industry Committee. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Relations, and Latin American Iberian Studies, and a Master of Arts in International Affairs. She has completed the Emerge Virginia program and serves on Virginia's Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Commission. She is also the Secretary of the board of The Commonwealth Institute and directs her mentorship program "Destined to Be Mentorship Program."

    Bolling's top priority if elected to the Virginia House of Delegates is to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare, especially for children and older adults. She aims to lower the cost of prescription drugs, expand notice and education on available care resources, streamline the process for obtaining proper certifications for home healthcare providers, enhance access to incentives for caregivers, increase funding for grants and expand access to resources for older adults, and leverage community partnerships to improve access to services for individuals in need.

    Since she works at the Virginia AFL-CIO, Bolling deeply understands the struggles of working families. She has fought for equal, equitable, and safe worker rights and protections for all Virginians. She aims to improve the lives of her community by fighting for higher wages, better working conditions, comprehensive benefits, and access to opportunity. Bolling plans to protect minimum wage increases, expand unemployment insurance, ensure equitable safety and health protections on the job, increase funding for worker training programs, and build on Virginia's collective bargaining law to ensure everyone has a fair shot.

    Bolling believes in building an equitable, restorative justice system where every person affected by the actions of people in the position she seeks must have a voice, including those who have paid their debts to society after being convicted of a crime. She aims to hold Governor Youngkin accountable for rolling back the restoration of rights process, assist constituents in their efforts to get their rights restored, and work with her colleagues to pass a resolution allowing for voters to consider a constitutional amendment to guarantee the automatic restoration of voting rights.

    Bolling aims to build the strongest public schools in the nation and provide every child access to a top-notch public education. She plans to raise teacher pay, improve staffing ratios, increase access to reading and math volunteers and specialists, end the school-to-prison pipeline, ensure access to pre-K, increase funding for apprenticeship programs, expand vocational and technical education curricula, engage students and parents about career pathways and college funding opportunities, offer diverse career fair opportunities, and invest in incentives for individuals interested in becoming an educator in the Commonwealth.

    Bolling’s only opponent in the race is Independent Michael Harned. At the time of research, we could find no information on his positions.

    Because of her commitments to providing healthcare, advocating for workers’ rights, and building an equitable justice system, Bolling is the progressive choice in this race.
  • Virginia’s new 86th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Hampton City, parts of York County, and Poquoson City. With almost 60,000 registered voters, this district leans Republican.
    This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republican Delegate A.C. Cordoza is facing a challenge from Democrat Jarris Taylor in the general election for Virginia’s new 86th House of Delegates district. Delegate Cordoza has served in the House of Delegates since 2022.
    Dr. Jarris Louis Taylor Jr. is running for the 86th District with the theme of "Service Before Self." His vision for the district is to provide world-renowned representation in the General Assembly for all members of the district with an emphasis on five key priorities: education, healthcare, veterans, environment, and transportation. Dr. Taylor is a veteran, educator, and leader who has held numerous executive leadership positions while serving the nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is committed and dedicated to community service and is a member of National Security Leaders for America and a Board of Trustees member of the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation.

    Dr. Taylor does not have any positions or issues listed on his website, but he does have a few endorsements. He received a nod from Eric Holder and the National Resource Defense Council, the Virginia Education Association, LiUNA!, the Virginia AFL-CIO, Giffords PAC, VoteVets, Moms Demand Action, and Planned Parenthood of Virginia.

    Giffords PAC endorsed Dr. Taylor because he is “continuing his mission to keep Americans safe at home by working to end gun violence throughout Virginia. Having experienced the power of assault weapons in his military service, Dr. Taylor knows that there is no use for this type of weaponry on the Commonwealth’s streets or in its schools. If elected, he’ll advocate for legislation to ban assault weapons, strengthen Virginia’s background check laws, fund community violence intervention programs, and make sure that responsible gun owners like himself safely store their weapons. With so much on the line this fall, voters must mobilize like never before to send gun safety champions like Jarris Taylor to Richmond—lives depend on it.” Dr. Taylor pledges to be the kind of leader that will fight to make us all safer.

    Dr. Taylor’s opponent is incumbent Republican A.C. Cordoza, an Air Force veteran who works in cybersecurity and serves as vice-chairman of the Hampton Republican Party. He opposes common-sense gun safety legislation, and supports using taxpayer money to fund private education through school voucher programs. Cordoza does not believe that the rich and wealthy corporations that have benefitted from our communities should have to pay their fair share in taxes.

    Based on the limited information we were able to find on Dr. Taylor's stances and Delegate Cordoza's voting record, Dr. Taylor is the more progressive choice in this race.