City of Staunton

Democrat Kathy Beery has lived most of her life in Virginia. She grew up in a children’s home, eventually aging out of the system. Beery earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s of Education at James Madison University. She is a member of Virginia Educators United, Harrisonburg Education Association, and Virginia Education Association. Beery, a grassroots organizer, advocates for reproductive healthcare and education, citing her own experiences as her inspiration. Beery has 11 grandchildren and is a retired teacher.

As a retired teacher, Beery is a strong champion for quality public education. She believes the General Assembly has the responsibility to meet this need for all children in Virginia, regardless of zip code, and notes it is required by the Virginia Constitution. Beery advocates for universal preschool and investments in the Virginia Literacy Fund. She aims to focus on policies that prepare students for careers and pushes for fully funded schools.

Beery advocates for a living wage and also stresses the importance of safe physical and mental working conditions. She is a supporter of unions and is endorsed by AFL-CIO. As a supporter of workers' right to collective bargaining, she sees so-called “right to work” laws as exploitative. She expressed her pride and excitement when school workers in Harrisonburg urged the Harrisonburg School Board to recognize their right to collective bargaining.

Beery supports abortion access and called the end Roe v. Wade a form of government overreach. She believes that people should be able to make their own healthcare decisions for themselves with the guidance of their doctors. In addition to abortion, she supports sex education and affordable, reversible contraceptives.

Health care is a priority for Beery. She believes that everyone should have access to preventative medicine and recognizes the challenges this brings to rural communities, as well as small businesses and those who are self-employed. To combat those issues, Beery supports maximizing access to preventative care, sick leave, and reducing the costs of prescription medications.

Kathy Beery is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Mark Obenshain and Libertarian candidate Joshua Huffman. Senator Obenshain has served in the Virginia State Senate since 2004. Senator Obenshain consistently votes in favor of bills aimed at creating barriers to abortion access. In 2021, he voted against a bill establishing schools as a gun-free zone.

A longtime resident of the Shenandoah Valley, Libertarian Joshua Huffman is a former member of the Republican Party. As a Libertarian, he favors limited government. He expressed disappointment in the NRA not sending him a candidate survey. He is a William and Mary graduate and holds a Master’s of Arts from West Virginia University.

Because of her stances on abortion access, public education, and commitment to workers’ rights, Kathy Beery is the progressive choice in this race.

A Rockbridge County native, Democratic candidate Jade Harris, currently lives in Glasgow, Virginia. She traces her lineage back to enslaved individuals at Buffalo Forge. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in political science from Mary Baldwin University in 2020. Harris is a grassroots organizer who has lobbied at the state level, served as a member of Glasgow town council, and was the town’s first ever Vice-Mayor. Additionally, Harris is a novelist, having published her first book in March 2023.

Harris identifies as queer and advocates for LGBTQ+ protections. She supports enshrining same-sex marriage in the Virginia Constitution, removing the current ban. She has expressed her support of the transgender community, stating she would sponsor legislation to make the Commonwealth a safe harbor for those and their families who are fleeing anti-trans criminalization. In announcing her endorsement from Equality Virginia, she stated she would be a “bold fighter for equality.”

Harris supports raising teacher pay to at least the national average. She opposes voucher school systems and believes public money should stay in public schools. Harris believes tax payer dollars should fund our public schools, not private, unregulated, unaccredited, for-profit schools. To foster a strong workforce, she advocates for expanding technical education. She aims to prioritize students and faculty of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, noting that she wants Virginia to be in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Harris believes that gun violence is a public health issue in the Commonwealth, and will seek real bipartisan solutions to this problem. She proposes instating a gun education and safety course in public schools, advocating for safe storage practices, and expanding and enforcing extreme risk protection laws. She believes that combining early mental health intervention and removing the stigma, along with common sense laws can aid in preventing gun violence in the Commonwealth.

Harris has expressed the need to stand up against the attacks on abortion access. She believes the decision should be with individuals and their doctors. She supports enshrining the right to abortion in the Virginia Constitution. Additionally, she advocates for comprehensive sex education, accessible and affordable contraceptives, and expanded childcare services. During the 2023 House of Delegates District 24 Special Election, Harris was endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.

Harris is facing Delegate Chris Head. Delegate Head has served in the House of Delegates since 2012. He is anti-abortion and has pushed for legislation that creates barriers to access. He received a 100% rating from the National Rifle Association. In 2019, he supported Roanoke becoming a 2nd Amendment sanctuary. He is against making voting accessible and has supported bills to remove ballot boxes.

Because of her support for LGBTQ+ communities, abortion access, and public schools, Jade Harris is the progressive choice in this race.

Randall Wolf is the Democratic candidate for HD 36. He has worked as a journalist for over 40 years, and he has also worked as a photographer. Wolf is a very active member in the community, and he helped to found Bike Box of Blue Ridge, a nonprofit that teaches youth how to fix bikes and follow safety guidelines. Wolf loves hiking and biking, and he is also an adventurer who has climbed the mountains Denali and Kilimanjaro.

Wolf believes in personal autonomy for everyone, which includes the personal rights of trans people, women, and other marginalized communities. He recognizes that, although his needs are different from others, people need access to services such as abortion and healthcare. He also believes that medical decisions should be between patients and doctors.

Gun violence prevention is one of Wolf’s priorities, and he has said, “Virginians spend nearly $300 Million per year in response to gun violence, let's start spending millions to prevent it and save lives.” To combat this, he wants to impose a 30% tax on all guns and ammunition that are sold to those who do not work in law enforcement. He also believes that the prioritization of mental health and addiction care are vital to the health of communities.

Wolf promises to elevate the needs of voters and election staff and in order to protect democracy. He believes that democracy has been under attack by Republicans, which has caused staffing issues in rural areas. He promises to fight against voter suppression if elected.

Ellen Campbell is the Republican candidate for HD36, and she is currently the delegate for District 24. She has lived in Augusta and Rockbridge counties all of her life, and she graduated from Fort Defiance High School before going on to earn her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Averett University and The Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management at UVA-Darden. Campbell would vote against common sense gun violence prevention measures. She is also anti-abortion, and she would allow untrained parents instead of educated professionals make decisions about school curriculum.

Randall Wolf is the Progressive choice for this race, as he supports voter’s rights, abortion access, and public health.