Our Endorsements, 2015

 

Once every four years, the entire General Assembly is elected. This is the year and the election is Tuesday, November 3.  All 100 delegates and all 40 state senators will be elected.  While many current delegates and senators are unopposed because of our gerrymandered districts, we still have opportunities to elect excellent newcomers and retain outstanding incumbents.

 We know we can count on the following candidates to stand up for women and the many attacks against her civil liberties during legislative sessions.

What can you do to get them elected?  Pick a candidate – from your district (click here to find your district and current legislators) or another district – and get involved.  Go to the candidate’s office and meet him/her, speak to voters on behalf of the candidate, make phone calls, work in the candidate’s office, contribute whatever you can (directly to candidates or to the VA NOW Political Action Committee), talk to your friends and neighbors.  That’s how we win.

 

Some races will be decided by a few votes.  You must be registered to vote (and if you’ve moved since the last election, you have to renew your registration). The last day to register for this election is October 13. Learn more at: elections.virginia.gov/registration/how-to-register

 

Note:  Virginia NOW endorses incumbents with whom we have worked; we base endorsements on their legislative record on Virginia NOW’s issues.  We endorse candidates who are not incumbents based on their positions with these issues:

• Reproductive freedom, choice, and justice
• Health care, health insurance, & retirement insurance
  •  Protect Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Affordable Healthcare (a.k.a. Obamacare)
  •  The right for equal coverage for the same cost
  •  Protect medical privacy in a digital age
• The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
• End violence against women – in the home, on the street, on campus, EVERYWHERE!
  •  Enforcement of anti-human trafficking laws
  •  Test ALL rape kits
• Employee rights and workplace fairness
  •  Paid sick days, family leave, etc.
• Update and improve the child support system and collection
• Ensure the continued right of voting be available for all registered citizens on election day
• Implement non-partisan redistricting
• A budget supportive of under-served population – women, children, persons with mental illness, lower-income persons and families and others
  •  Increase minimum wage
• Decriminalize/legalize sex work in Virginia
• LGBTQ Rights
• Protect the environment
• End NSA, government, internet, and corporate surveillance!

 

VA NOW – Endorsed Candidates for House of Delegates

* = incumbent

Joshua King, 2nd District – Prince William and Stafford counties
Sam Rasoul*, 11th District – Roanoke City
Laurie Buchwald, 12th District – Montgomery, Giles, and Pulaski Counties; Radford
Don Shaw, 13th District – Prince William County, Manassas Park City
Susan Hippen, 21st District – Virginia Beach City, Chesapeake City
Ellen Arthur, 24th District – Rockbridge, Amherst, August, Bath counties; Lexington City
Angela Lynn, 25th District – Augusta, Albemarle, Rockingham counties
Kandy Hilliard, 28th District – Stafford County, Fredericksburg City
Sara Townsend, 31st District – Fauquier and Prince William counties
Elizabeth Miller, 32nd District – Loudoun County
Kathleen Murphy*, 34th District – Loudoun and Fairfax counties
Kaye Kory*, 38th District – Fairfax County
Vivian Watts*, 39th District – Fairfax County
Eileen Filler-Corn*, 41st District – Fairfax County
Joana Garcia, 42nd district – Fairfax County
Mark Sickles*, 43rd District – Fairfax County
Charniele Herring*, 46th District – Alexandria City
Patrick Hope*, 47th District – Arlington County
Alfonso Lopez*, 49th District – Arlington and Fairfax counties
Toni Radler, 55th District – Hanover, Caroline, Spotsylvania counties
David Toscano*, 57th District – Charlottesville City, Albemarle County
Lashrecse Aird, 63rd District – Petersburg and Hopewell cities; Dinwiddie, Chesterfield, Prince George counties
Betsy Carr*, 69th District – Richmond City, Chesterfield County
Delores McQuinn*, 70th District – Henrico and Chesterfield cities, Richmond City
Jennifer McClellan*, 71st District – Richmond City, Henrico County
Roslyn Tyler*, 75th District – Brunswick, Southampton, Greensville, Dinwiddie, Sussex, Lunenberg, Isle of Wight, Surry counties; Emporia and Franklin cities
Lionel Spruill*, 77th District – Chesapeake and Suffolk cities
Jennifer Boysko, 86th District – Fairfax and Loudoun counties
John Bell, 87th District – Loudoun and Prince William counties
Daun Hester*, 89th District – Norfolk City
Jeion Ward*, 92nd District – Hampton City
Shelly Simonds, 94th District – Newport News City

 

VA NOW-Endorsed Candidates for Virginia State Senate

* = incumbent
Mamie Locke*, 2nd District – Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth cities; York County

Donald McEachin*, 9th District – Henrico, Hanover, Charles City counties; Richmond
Deborah Repp, 12th District – Henrico and Hanover counties
Jill McCabe, 13th District – Loudoun and Prince William counties
Rosalyn Dance*, 16th District – Chesterfield, Prince George, Dinwiddie counties; Richmond, Petersburg, Hopewell cities
Louise Lucas*, 18th District – Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Emporia, Franklin cities; Southampton, Sussex, Isle of Wight, Greensville, Surry, Brunswick counties
Kim Adkins, 20th District – Henry, Halifax, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Carroll, Franklin counties; Danville, Martinsville, Galax cities
April Moore, 26th District – Shenandoah, Rockingham, Warren, Page, Rappahannock counties; Harrisonburg City
Jeremy McPike, 29th District – Prince William County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City
Adam Ebbin*, 30th District – Alexandria City, Fairfax and Arlington counties
Barbara Favola*, 31st District – Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun counties
Janet Howell*, 32nd District – Fairfax and Arlington counties
Jennifer Wexton*, 33rd District – Loudoun and Fairfax counties
Scott Surovell, 36th District – Prince William, Fairfax, Stafford counties
George Barker*, 39th District – Fairfax and Prince William counties; Alexandria city

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For equality,

Marj Signer
VA NOW PAC Co-Chair

Virginia NOW ENDORSED Candidates 2015

Virginia NOW rarely endorses candidates in a primary election but this year is different. There are two outstanding women running for the General Assembly who deserve your support – and they need it now:

Julie Jakopic

  Delegate, 45th Delegate District
(Alexandria and part of Arlington)

 

Emily Francis
State Senate, 10th Senate District
(portions of Richmond and Chesterfield County along with Powhatan County)

 

Only 13% of the Virginia legislature is comprised of pro-choice women. No wonder the mandatory ultrasound bill sailed through and the ERA gets killed in committee. We need a legislature that represents US – more pro-choice, pro-ERA, pro-equality women.

Both Jakopic and Francis face well-funded opponents in their Democratic primaries. Elections are June 9th – so delaying is not an option. Go to their websites to learn why they deserve your support: www.juliefordelegate.com and www.francisforsenate.com. And then make a contribution to the VA NOW Political Action Committee and ask your friends to do the same.

 

Julie Jakopic

Julie Jakopic works tirelessly for women’s rights, mental health reform, quality education, and economic opportunity. She’s a leader with a clear vision who gets things done. She built a business. She’s led commissions and non-profit boards fighting for early childhood education, economic opportunity, social services, and housing. She’s forged coalitions by focusing on real needs. She has been endorsed by Delegate Rob Krupicka, the incumbent.

Emily Francis

Emily Francis has built her career fighting for what’s right. As one of Virginia’s leading conservationists, she worked with scientists to devise plans to protect the Chesapeake Bay and with non-profit organizations to preserve our treasured landscapes, strengthen public health standards and protect consumers’ rights. The daughter of a nurse, she is firmly committed to protecting women’s access to reproductive health care and has earned the endorsement of Emily’s List.

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Special Election: Tomorrow, January 6th!

Don’t forget tomorrow’s special election, Tuesday January 6th:

Virginia NOW has endorsed Kathleen Murphy to represent your delegate district, the 34th, in the General Assembly. The election is Tuesday, January 6th. Polls are open from 6 am to 7 pm at your regular voting place.

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Use the 19th!

Paradise Kendra
Communications VP
Virginia NOW

 

Virginia NOW Endorses Alan Howze, Democratic Candidate for Arlington County Board

 

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Bharat Krishnan, Campaign Manager, 202-805-0911

 

Arlington, Va. – March 3, 2014 – The Virginia Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) has voted to endorse Alan Howze for election to the Arlington County Board.  “Alan Howze is committed to the social justice values of the women’s rights movement – and these values are as important at the county level as at the national level,” said Marj Signer of Arlington, co-chair of the Virginia NOW political action committee.

“We are impressed by Howze’s grasp of issues that are important to women in Arlington as well as throughout the state,” she said and listed four of Howze’s specific focus areas.

• Reproductive Choice – He will oppose Republican efforts to restrict women’s reproductive choice options and remove or limit women’s access to affordable reproductive health care services.”
• Healthcare Coverage – He supports expanding Medicaid healthcare coverage, which will improve the lives of women in Arlington – and their families – and increase their financial security. Howze will work with the Arlington Department of Human Services to enroll eligible people. 
• Economic Inequality – Howze understands that wage stagnation and income inequality have created significant challenges for women and made closing the gender wage gap more difficult. He supports efforts to increase wages for low and middle income workers.
• Affordable housing – The high cost of housing in Arlington can create significant burdens for women and families. Howze supports  increasing the availability of affordable housing in Arlington.

“Based on Howze’s understanding of these issues, Virginia NOW wholeheartedly endorses him for Arlington County Board,” said Signer.

Howze said, “I’m honored that the Virginia NOW political action committee has endorsed my candidacy, and I will continue to advocate for social justice.”

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Paid for by the Committee to Elect Alan Howse

March 8th, Herring for the 8th, Fundraiser!!

Please join The Women of the Alexandria, Arlington, NOVA, and Vienna Chapters of NOW

in support of Charniele Herring 

in her campaign as a candidate from the 8th Congressional District

to become the first African American woman to represent

Virginia in the United States Congress.

Let’s make history together—bring a check to the event or donate online at www.HerringforCongress.com!

She’s progressive. She’s feminist. And she’s ready to represent.

WHEN & WHERE

Saturday, March 8 • 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. 

7221 Beechwood Road, Alexandria, VA 22307

SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTION LEVELS:

Ally $1,000  * Benefactor $500  * Patron $250

Friend $150  * Sponsor $100  * Guest $50

PLEASE RSVP TO
Jere Gibber: 703.768.6987 • jgibber@aol.com

     Federal Campaign Finance Advice: 

• Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and
• name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle.
• Federal law prohibits contributions to the campaign from corporations, labor organizations and national banks; from any person contributing another person’s funds; from foreign nationals who lack permanent resident status; and from federal government contractors.
• Contribution Limits:  Herring for Congress may accept contributions from an individual totaling up to $5,200: $2,600 for the primary election and $2,600 for the general election.