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Virginia’s new 16th State Senate district encompasses parts of Chesterfield County and parts of Richmond City. With almost 141,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.
This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republican Senator Siobhan Dunnavant is facing a challenge from Democratic Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg in the general election for Virginia’s new 16th State Senate district. Senator Dunnavant has served in the State Senate since 2016. Delegate VanValkenburg has served in the House of Delegates since 2018.Democratic candidate Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg is a history and U.S. government teacher who has represented the 72nd District since 2018. He was born in New York and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond. He currently teaches history and US Government at Glen Allen High School in Henrico County and is the only active K-12 teacher serving in the General Assembly. He lives in Henrico and is the proud father of three children.
Delegate VanValkenburg is a strong advocate for Virginia’s public schools. He has fought for increased public school funding, teacher raises, and increased access to school counselors. If elected, he will continue to champion efforts to improve public education in the Commonwealth. He believes that investments should be made to increase support staff in school and lower the cost of higher education. In 2022, he introduced and passed a bill that created a workgroup to revise Standards of Learning tests to better assess student’s knowledge.
Delegate VanValkenburg understands the importance of accessible abortion care. He believes people should make their own healthcare decisions with their medical provider. VanValkenburg has promised to vote against abortion bans. He voted in favor of the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which removed medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion access. He is the only candidate in Senate District 16 who supports upholding Viginians’ access to abortion, and has said that abortion ban proposals are out of touch with constituents.
As a school teacher, gun violence prevention is top of mind for Delegate VanValkenburg. If elected, one of his goals is to reintroduce his bill for safe storage of firearms. He voted to pass extreme risk protection laws, which take guns out of the hands of people who are in imminent danger to themselves or others. He also voted to ban firearms from those convicted of domestic abuse. He supports universal background checks and sits on a committee that addresses preventing school shootings.
Delegate VanValkenburg believes that our democracy is stronger when more people participate. In 2020, he introduced and passed a bill that created a permanent absentee voter list, making it easier for people across the Commonwealth to vote. In 2021, he introduced and passed the Absentee Voting Omnibus that instituted dropboxes and pre-paid postage for mail-in ballots. If elected, he will continue to fight for better access to the ballots for Virginia voters.
Delegate VanValkenburg is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Siobhan Dunnavant. During the 2023 General Assembly, she introduced an abortion ban that quickly failed in the Senate committee. She has stated support of Governor Youngkin’s desire for a 15 week abortion ban. She also supported efforts to roll back protections for the Affordable Care Act.
Because of his commitment to supporting abortion access, gun violence prevention, voting rights, and public school investments, Delegate VanValkenburg is the progressive choice in this race
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Democratic candidate Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg is a history and U.S. government teacher who has represented the 72nd District since 2018. He was born in New York and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond. He currently teaches history and US Government at Glen Allen High School in Henrico County and is the only active K-12 teacher serving in the General Assembly. He lives in Henrico and is the proud father of three children.
Delegate VanValkenburg is a strong advocate for Virginia’s public schools. He has fought for increased public school funding, teacher raises, and increased access to school counselors. If elected, he will continue to champion efforts to improve public education in the Commonwealth. He believes that investments should be made to increase support staff in school and lower the cost of higher education. In 2022, he introduced and passed a bill that created a workgroup to revise Standards of Learning tests to better assess student’s knowledge.
Delegate VanValkenburg understands the importance of accessible abortion care. He believes people should make their own healthcare decisions with their medical provider. VanValkenburg has promised to vote against abortion bans. He voted in favor of the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which removed medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion access. He is the only candidate in Senate District 16 who supports upholding Viginians’ access to abortion, and has said that abortion ban proposals are out of touch with constituents.
As a school teacher, gun violence prevention is top of mind for Delegate VanValkenburg. If elected, one of his goals is to reintroduce his bill for safe storage of firearms. He voted to pass extreme risk protection laws, which take guns out of the hands of people who are in imminent danger to themselves or others. He also voted to ban firearms from those convicted of domestic abuse. He supports universal background checks and sits on a committee that addresses preventing school shootings.
Delegate VanValkenburg believes that our democracy is stronger when more people participate. In 2020, he introduced and passed a bill that created a permanent absentee voter list, making it easier for people across the Commonwealth to vote. In 2021, he introduced and passed the Absentee Voting Omnibus that instituted dropboxes and pre-paid postage for mail-in ballots. If elected, he will continue to fight for better access to the ballots for Virginia voters.
Delegate VanValkenburg is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Siobhan Dunnavant. During the 2023 General Assembly, she introduced an abortion ban that quickly failed in the Senate committee. She has stated support of Governor Youngkin’s desire for a 15 week abortion ban. She also supported efforts to roll back protections for the Affordable Care Act.
Because of his commitment to supporting abortion access, gun violence prevention, voting rights, and public school investments, Delegate VanValkenburg is the progressive choice in this raceLast updated: 2023-09-21
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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: 2023-10-27Rachel 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.
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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
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