Incumbent Democratic Senator Barbara Favola has been a state senator since 2011. Prior to her election as a state Senator, she served on the Arlington County Board of Supervisors from 1997 to 2011, serving as chair three times. Senator Favola was the Board's leading advocate for children, youth and families, and her contributions to the community include establishing mental health services in the public schools during her service.

Favola’s prioritizes healthcare in her campaign. She passed legislation that bans medical providers and insurance companies from billing patients for out-of-network emergency care or surgery in excess of their deductible and/or co-payment. She also passed the Care Act, which allows patients to designate their own caretakers. Senator Favola supports access to abortion and reproductive health care for all. She sponsored legislation that requires that the pre-natal, delivery and postpartum care provided in our jails meet the standards set by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Favola also champions workforce training, believing in supporting workers in order to rebuild Virginia’s economy. When she served on the Arlington County Board, where she was able to issue county contracts to businesses who paid their employees livable wages. She also avidly supports wage protection laws and the right of workers to participate in collective bargaining. In an effort to support workers trying to re-enter the workforce, Senator Favola patroned legislation to introduce paid family and medical leave.

Senator Favola has made efforts to reduce the gun violence in our community. Favola has passed the protection order violation legislation which makes carrying a firearm a class six felony for abusers. Additionally, Favola helped to establish the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund. She also serves on the Virginia Advisory Committee on Sexual and Domestic Violence to implement policies to reduce the incidence of sexual and domestic violence.


Senator Favola is dedicated to criminal justice reform. She supports anti-racist policing and even played a large role in the implementation of universal bodycam use and encourages comminuty policing strategies. Favola has advocated for Citizen Police Review Boards, a measure to be taken to increase accountability in law enforcement as well as funding to enlist the help of mental health professionals to work alongside the police.

Favola is running against Reublican David Henshaw. Henshaw is running on transphobia. He wants to ban trans children from playing in school sports in schools. He also is against teaching accurate history in schools and doesn’t trust our teachers and educational professionals to do their job. Henshaw prioritizes increasing prosecution across the Commonwealth, a very dangerous policy to enact due to the current lack of accountability in law enforcement when it comes to increased violence and targeting Black people and communities of color. Henshaw also would repeal the Virginia Clean Economy Act and the Clean Car law, both of which were put in place to combat climate change and keep the Commonwealth moving towards a safer, cleaner environment. This candidate is a dangerous choice for the Commonwealth.

Senator Favola is the progressive choice because of her prioritization of economic growth, gun violence prevention, and access to affordable healthcare.

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