Senate District 039

Northern Virginia native Adele McClure is a community activist with policy expertise in breaking down systemic barriers, expanding human rights, and improving access to services in Arlington and across Virginia. As the leader of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, she has been at the forefront of developing the caucus's legislative agenda and managing its operations. Adele's lived experiences and dedication to progress make her a strong advocate for the needs of the people in Arlington and a trailblazer as the first Black and Asian representative for the region in the Virginia General Assembly.

As Executive Director of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, Adele McClure has been at the forefront of expanding the legislative agenda to address environmental justice. She championed the establishment of Virginia's Environmental Justice Council and fought for greater oversight of utility monopolies to ensure fair electricity prices for all Virginians. McClure is dedicated to making Virginia's clean energy transition just and affordable, advocating for stronger energy efficiency standards, increased funding for low-income solar and energy efficiency programs, and necessary reforms in utility regulation. Her principled stance against accepting money from utility monopolies demonstrates her commitment to serving the interests of the people.

McClure's first-hand experience during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the disparities in healthcare, inspiring her to make quality healthcare more accessible and equitable for all. As a member of the Arlington Community Services Board, she advocated for increased services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and mental health challenges. McClure will use her valuable experience to contribute to the transformation of Virginia's mental health system. She is dedicated to expanding access and affordability of health insurance and primary care for vulnerable Virginians and will fight against powerful insurance interests to prioritize patient needs.

McClure is passionate about economic equality and workers' rights. She advocates for a living wage, affordable healthcare, paid family and medical leave, retirement security, and strong workplace protections for all working Arlingtonians and Virginians. Recognizing the power of collective bargaining in reducing economic inequality, she will work to ensure that every Virginian has the right to form a union with their co-workers. Her work with the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus led to raising the minimum wage, removing outdated exemptions, and expanding collective bargaining rights during the pandemic. As a Delegate, McClure will continue to champion worker rights by repealing the "Right To Work" law, removing minimum wage exemptions for farm workers, and advocating for guaranteed paid sick leave and paid family medical leave.

As someone who has struggled with poverty and homelessness in her youth, McClure is committed to ensuring that all Virginians have access to stable, safe, and affordable housing, which is crucial for their well-being and success in various aspects of life. She has been actively involved in protecting renters and homeowners from eviction and foreclosure, serving as a point person for eviction prevention at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. As a Delegate, McClure will work to create more affordable housing, prevent evictions, expand tenant rights, eliminate housing discrimination, and increase access to funds for homeownership, especially for historically marginalized communities. Her advocacy in the housing policy space includes developing a homeownership funding program to address historical disparities.

Adele is running unopposed and is a progressive choice in this race. Close Window

Delegate Lopez has represented the 49th District since 2012 and has advocated for progressive causes his entire career. The son of an undocumented father from Venezuela, Lopez attended Vassar College and Tulane University Law School. He served as an appointee in the Obama administration and in Senator Tim Kaine’s office. In the House of Delegates, he serves as the Minority Whip of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus. He currently lives with his wife and two sons in Arlington.

As the founder and co-chair of the Virginia Latino Caucus, Delegate Lopez is a dedicated advocate for immigrant rights. He was critical to the passage of a bill to expandin-state college tuition and financial aid to all Virginia students, regardless of immigration status. He also helped pass legislation allowing undocumented Virginians to receive IDs and driver privilege cards. During the 2021 legislative session, Lopez carried legislation to expand emergency Medicaid to undocumented immigrants so that they could receive testing, treatment, and vaccination for COVID-19.

Lopez also fights to ensure Virginia remains affordable for people to live in and a great place to work. He created the Virginia Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which has been critical to preventing evictions and providing rental assistance for families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He voted for legislation strengthening the rights of tenants and to increase Virginia’s minimum wage. He supports protecting workers’ rights by repealing Virginia’s right-to-work laws, which undermine the strength of unions, and voted for collective bargaining rights for Virginia public employees.

Lopez works to expand environmental protections and options for renewable energy in Virginia, serving as the founder and co-chair of the Virginia Environment and Renewable Energy Caucus. He helped pass the Virginia Clean Economy Act and the Solar Freedom Act, which are critical to moving the Commonwealth to 100% clean energy. He helped pass the Virginia Green Jobs Tax Credit, incentivizing job creation in renewable energy and electric vehicles. He worked to increase funding for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund and the Agricultural Best Management Practices program which work to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

Del. Lopez also advocates for making the promise of democracy real for us all by expanding voting access to all Virginia voters. He voted for the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, which prohibits discrimination at the polls. He helped expand access to absentee voting and passed legislation that allows 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. He voted to extend early voting in Virginia and remove the requirement for an excuse to cast an absentee ballot. He supports voting rights restoration for returning citizens.

Delegate Lopez is running against conservative Independent Mike Webb. Though not much is available on his actual stance on the issues, we were able to find out that Webb, is a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, graduated from Washington & Lee University in 1988. With experience as a conservative advocate, he served in the United States Army from 1990 to 2010. Webb is associated with organizations such as the Army and Navy Club and the 75th Ranger Regiment Association.

Due to his support of immigrants, working families, the environment, and voting rights, Delegate Lopez is the most progressive choice in this race. Close Window