Progressive Voters Guide

Senate District 019

State Senator

Democrat
Myra Payne

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Democrat Myra Payne is a nurse, veteran, and member of the United Way Committee on Diversity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She graduated from Gordonsville High School and began volunteering for the Red Cross. After, she worked as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. She holds several degrees including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Nursing Science in Adult Health Nursing, and Master of Business of Administration, and Master of Divinity.

Payne believes everyone deserves fair and livable wages in order to thrive. She also supports quality affordable healthcare and education. Payne advocates for everyone to have the right to make their own healthcare decisions without interference, especially when it comes to abortion access. She is a champion for LGBTQ rights. Payne advocates for environmental sustainability and conservation. She supports common-sense gun violence prevention laws for the safety of everyone. Payne advocates for increasing access to affordable housing programs.

Democratic candidate Myra Payne and Republican candidate Christie New Craig will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 19th State Senate district. Craig previously served on the Chesapeake City School Board. New Craig is in favor of Governor Youngkin’s 15-week abortion ban and the decision to repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Because of her support for progressive policy and commitment to reproductive justice and protecting the LGBTQ community, Myra Payne is the progressive candidate in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-23

Myra Payne

Democrat Myra Payne is a nurse, veteran, and member of the United Way Committee on Diversity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She graduated from Gordonsville High School and began volunteering for the Red Cross. After, she worked as a nursing assistant at a local hospital.

Democrat Myra Payne is a nurse, veteran, and member of the United Way Committee on Diversity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She graduated from Gordonsville High School and began volunteering for the Red Cross. After, she worked as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. She holds several degrees including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Nursing Science in Adult Health Nursing, and Master of Business of Administration, and Master of Divinity.

Payne believes everyone deserves fair and livable wages in order to thrive. She also supports quality affordable healthcare and education. Payne advocates for everyone to have the right to make their own healthcare decisions without interference, especially when it comes to abortion access. She is a champion for LGBTQ rights. Payne advocates for environmental sustainability and conservation. She supports common-sense gun violence prevention laws for the safety of everyone. Payne advocates for increasing access to affordable housing programs.

Democratic candidate Myra Payne and Republican candidate Christie New Craig will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 19th State Senate district. Craig previously served on the Chesapeake City School Board. New Craig is in favor of Governor Youngkin’s 15-week abortion ban and the decision to repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Because of her support for progressive policy and commitment to reproductive justice and protecting the LGBTQ community, Myra Payne is the progressive candidate in this race.

Myra Payne

Democrat Myra Payne is a nurse, veteran, and member of the United Way Committee on Diversity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She graduated from Gordonsville High School and began volunteering for the Red Cross. After, she worked as a nursing assistant at a local hospital.

House District 098

Delegate

Democrat
Zach Coltrain

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Virginia’s new 98th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Virginia Beach City. With over 64,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Republican.

This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republican Delegate Barry Knight is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 98th House of Delegates district. Delegate Knight has served in the House of Delegates since 2009.

Zachary Coltrain is a 20-year-old college student at Appalachian State University studying music therapy, where he also serves on the Speech and Debate leadership team. He was born in Virginia Beach and raised in this district over the past 19 years. Throughout high school and college, he learned how to articulate thoughts within political spaces and found his passion for speaking out against problems our community is facing.

Coltrain recognizes the importance of advocating for preserving and protecting wildlife and naturally occurring environments in Virginia Beach, particularly in the Pungo area. The district has miles of coastline, a national wildlife refuge, and hundreds of rural agricultural communities that make it lucky to have so much biodiversity. Coltrain understands that it is our responsibility to advocate for the interests of native flora and fauna. He also recognizes that the district relies heavily on the work of private and family farms that support our local community's economy. Therefore, we must balance these initiatives without disenfranchising the hundreds of farmers and preservationists doing their own important work for our ecological communities.

Coltrain recognizes that despite LGBTQIA+, AAPI, and BIPOC communities making their voices heard in the district and across the country, Virginia still lacks many statutory protections for historically marginalized groups. As a member of the queer community in Hampton Roads, Coltrain knows there is love for all individuals throughout the community, but we need to ensure this love and protection is preserved for future generations. He will fight tirelessly to ensure these groups are heard and advocate for additional protections to be codified into law, regardless of his status in the race.

Coltrain believes medical care and related services must be expanded throughout the Commonwealth, especially in rural areas. He understands the importance of expanding rehabilitation services by the state. However, simply defining these jobs in law is not providing equal access to those services. Therefore, Coltrain is committed to ensuring these services are equally accessible to all. He believes that your zip code should not determine your access to healthcare.

Coltrain supports access to abortion and recognizes the recent Supreme Court decision on abortion access to be a major wedge issue. He intends to be a voice for anyone wishing to make decisions regarding their reproductive health. Protecting these rights and allocating accessible resources to all in the Commonwealth should be a core function of the General Assembly. Coltrain wants to join the sitting delegates and expand their ideas until access to resources and reproductive care is universal.

His opponent is Incumbent Republican Delegate Barry Knight. Knight opposes keeping communities safe with common sense measures to prevent gun violence. In 2020, he voted against increasing the minimum wage and establishing the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice. This year, he voted for HB 212, which reintroduces mandatory waiting periods before a person can access abortion care. He voted NO on SB 1276, which repeals the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans.

Given Coltrain’s stances and record, he is the progressive choice in this race.

Zachary Coltrain is a 20-year-old college student at Appalachian State University studying music therapy, where he also serves on the Speech and Debate leadership team. He was born in Virginia Beach and raised in this district over the past 19 years. Throughout high school and college, he learned how to articulate thoughts within political spaces and found his passion for speaking out against problems our community is facing.

Coltrain recognizes the importance of advocating for preserving and protecting wildlife and naturally occurring environments in Virginia Beach, particularly in the Pungo area. The district has miles of coastline, a national wildlife refuge, and hundreds of rural agricultural communities that make it lucky to have so much biodiversity. Coltrain understands that it is our responsibility to advocate for the interests of native flora and fauna. He also recognizes that the district relies heavily on the work of private and family farms that support our local community's economy. Therefore, we must balance these initiatives without disenfranchising the hundreds of farmers and preservationists doing their own important work for our ecological communities.

Coltrain recognizes that despite LGBTQIA+, AAPI, and BIPOC communities making their voices heard in the district and across the country, Virginia still lacks many statutory protections for historically marginalized groups. As a member of the queer community in Hampton Roads, Coltrain knows there is love for all individuals throughout the community, but we need to ensure this love and protection is preserved for future generations. He will fight tirelessly to ensure these groups are heard and advocate for additional protections to be codified into law, regardless of his status in the race.

Coltrain believes medical care and related services must be expanded throughout the Commonwealth, especially in rural areas. He understands the importance of expanding rehabilitation services by the state. However, simply defining these jobs in law is not providing equal access to those services. Therefore, Coltrain is committed to ensuring these services are equally accessible to all. He believes that your zip code should not determine your access to healthcare.

Coltrain supports access to abortion and recognizes the recent Supreme Court decision on abortion access to be a major wedge issue. He intends to be a voice for anyone wishing to make decisions regarding their reproductive health. Protecting these rights and allocating accessible resources to all in the Commonwealth should be a core function of the General Assembly. Coltrain wants to join the sitting delegates and expand their ideas until access to resources and reproductive care is universal.

His opponent is Incumbent Republican Delegate Barry Knight. Knight opposes keeping communities safe with common sense measures to prevent gun violence. In 2020, he voted against increasing the minimum wage and establishing the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice. This year, he voted for HB 212, which reintroduces mandatory waiting periods before a person can access abortion care. He voted NO on SB 1276, which repeals the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans.

Given Coltrain’s stances and record, he is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-06

Democrat
Zach Coltrain

Website Facebook Twitter
Zachary Coltrain is a 20-year-old college student at Appalachian State University studying music therapy, where he also serves on the Speech and Debate leadership team. He was born in Virginia Beach and raised in this district over the past 19 years. Throughout high school and college, he learned how to articulate thoughts within political spaces and found his passion for speaking out against problems our community is facing.

Coltrain recognizes the importance of advocating for preserving and protecting wildlife and naturally occurring environments in Virginia Beach, particularly in the Pungo area. The district has miles of coastline, a national wildlife refuge, and hundreds of rural agricultural communities that make it lucky to have so much biodiversity. Coltrain understands that it is our responsibility to advocate for the interests of native flora and fauna. He also recognizes that the district relies heavily on the work of private and family farms that support our local community's economy. Therefore, we must balance these initiatives without disenfranchising the hundreds of farmers and preservationists doing their own important work for our ecological communities.

Coltrain recognizes that despite LGBTQIA+, AAPI, and BIPOC communities making their voices heard in the district and across the country, Virginia still lacks many statutory protections for historically marginalized groups. As a member of the queer community in Hampton Roads, Coltrain knows there is love for all individuals throughout the community, but we need to ensure this love and protection is preserved for future generations. He will fight tirelessly to ensure these groups are heard and advocate for additional protections to be codified into law, regardless of his status in the race.

Coltrain believes medical care and related services must be expanded throughout the Commonwealth, especially in rural areas. He understands the importance of expanding rehabilitation services by the state. However, simply defining these jobs in law is not providing equal access to those services. Therefore, Coltrain is committed to ensuring these services are equally accessible to all. He believes that your zip code should not determine your access to healthcare.

Coltrain supports access to abortion and recognizes the recent Supreme Court decision on abortion access to be a major wedge issue. He intends to be a voice for anyone wishing to make decisions regarding their reproductive health. Protecting these rights and allocating accessible resources to all in the Commonwealth should be a core function of the General Assembly. Coltrain wants to join the sitting delegates and expand their ideas until access to resources and reproductive care is universal.

His opponent is Incumbent Republican Delegate Barry Knight. Knight opposes keeping communities safe with common sense measures to prevent gun violence. In 2020, he voted against increasing the minimum wage and establishing the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice. This year, he voted for HB 212, which reintroduces mandatory waiting periods before a person can access abortion care. He voted NO on SB 1276, which repeals the abortion prohibition in Virginia health insurance plans.

Given Coltrain’s stances and record, he is the progressive choice in this race.

Last updated: 2023-10-06

Myra Payne

Zach Coltrain

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