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Former Democratic Delegate Lashresce Aird served in the House of Delegates from 2016 to 2022. Her election made her the youngest woman elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Aird earned her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from Virginia State University. She is a graduate of the Sorenson Political Leadership Program at the University of Virginia and the Minority Political Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a trusted community leader in Petersburg where she and her husband are raising two sons.
Aird is committed to criminal justice reform. She successfully carried legislation that bans the use and purchase of facial recognition technology by all local law enforcement agencies and campus police without explicit authorization from the state. Aird sponsored “Breonna’s Law,” which bans police from using no-knock warrants to enter and search a home without notifying the resident. She voted to abolish the death penalty and legalize marijuana in 2021 as well.
Aird also successfully sponsored historic legislation that recognizes racism as a public health crisis in Virginia. This bill will implement a series of policies geared towards addressing systemic racism in Virginia. She advocates for access to affordable, quality healthcare by working to lower drug costs and voting to cap the price of insulin in 2020. She voted to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians in 2018 and supported establishing a state-run health insurance marketplace, which helps uninsured or underinsured residents who aren’t covered by an employer-provided health plan to get affordable coverage.
Aird understands the urgency of the climate crisis and is focused on passing legislation to protect the environment. She advocates for equitable energy by successfully sponsoring legislation to make access to clean, affordable water a human right in 2021. She voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act in 2020, which commits the Commonwealth to 100% clean energy by 2050. The Virginia League of Conservation Voters awarded her a score of 100% for the 2020 session.
Aird supports Virginia’s public education system, voting for a 5% raises for teachers and additional funding to help schools reopen safely during the pandemic. She worked to pass legislation that would make higher education more equitable for applicants by banning public universities from asking criminal history questions on admissions applications. The delegate also co-sponsored the School Equity and Staffing Act, which would address spending discrepancies between schools in low income communities versus other communities. She was named one of the Legislators of the Year in 2021 by the Virginia Education Association.
Democratic candidate Lashrecse Aird and Republican candidate Eric Ditri will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 13th State Senate district. Ditri was born and raised in Prince George County and has a background in construction and finance. While his campaign website lists several priorities, no information could be found on his stances on progressive issues such as abortion and LGBTQ rights.
Due to her support of criminal justice reform, public education, affordable healthcare, and the environment, Lashrecse Aird is the progressive choice in this race.
Last updated: 2023-10-23Lashrecse Aird
Former Democratic Delegate Lashresce Aird served in the House of Delegates from 2016 to 2022. Her election made her the youngest woman elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Aird earned her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from Virginia State University.
Former Democratic Delegate Lashresce Aird served in the House of Delegates from 2016 to 2022. Her election made her the youngest woman elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Aird earned her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from Virginia State University. She is a graduate of the Sorenson Political Leadership Program at the University of Virginia and the Minority Political Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a trusted community leader in Petersburg where she and her husband are raising two sons.
Aird is committed to criminal justice reform. She successfully carried legislation that bans the use and purchase of facial recognition technology by all local law enforcement agencies and campus police without explicit authorization from the state. Aird sponsored “Breonna’s Law,” which bans police from using no-knock warrants to enter and search a home without notifying the resident. She voted to abolish the death penalty and legalize marijuana in 2021 as well.
Aird also successfully sponsored historic legislation that recognizes racism as a public health crisis in Virginia. This bill will implement a series of policies geared towards addressing systemic racism in Virginia. She advocates for access to affordable, quality healthcare by working to lower drug costs and voting to cap the price of insulin in 2020. She voted to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians in 2018 and supported establishing a state-run health insurance marketplace, which helps uninsured or underinsured residents who aren’t covered by an employer-provided health plan to get affordable coverage.
Aird understands the urgency of the climate crisis and is focused on passing legislation to protect the environment. She advocates for equitable energy by successfully sponsoring legislation to make access to clean, affordable water a human right in 2021. She voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act in 2020, which commits the Commonwealth to 100% clean energy by 2050. The Virginia League of Conservation Voters awarded her a score of 100% for the 2020 session.
Aird supports Virginia’s public education system, voting for a 5% raises for teachers and additional funding to help schools reopen safely during the pandemic. She worked to pass legislation that would make higher education more equitable for applicants by banning public universities from asking criminal history questions on admissions applications. The delegate also co-sponsored the School Equity and Staffing Act, which would address spending discrepancies between schools in low income communities versus other communities. She was named one of the Legislators of the Year in 2021 by the Virginia Education Association.
Democratic candidate Lashrecse Aird and Republican candidate Eric Ditri will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 13th State Senate district. Ditri was born and raised in Prince George County and has a background in construction and finance. While his campaign website lists several priorities, no information could be found on his stances on progressive issues such as abortion and LGBTQ rights.
Due to her support of criminal justice reform, public education, affordable healthcare, and the environment, Lashrecse Aird is the progressive choice in this race.
Lashrecse Aird
Former Democratic Delegate Lashresce Aird served in the House of Delegates from 2016 to 2022. Her election made her the youngest woman elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Aird earned her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from Virginia State University.
Dinwiddie County
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State Senate
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.
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Former Democratic Delegate Lashresce Aird served in the House of Delegates from 2016 to 2022. Her election made her the youngest woman elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. Aird earned her undergraduate and doctorate degrees from Virginia State University. She is a graduate of the Sorenson Political Leadership Program at the University of Virginia and the Minority Political Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a trusted community leader in Petersburg where she and her husband are raising two sons.
Aird is committed to criminal justice reform. She successfully carried legislation that bans the use and purchase of facial recognition technology by all local law enforcement agencies and campus police without explicit authorization from the state. Aird sponsored “Breonna’s Law,” which bans police from using no-knock warrants to enter and search a home without notifying the resident. She voted to abolish the death penalty and legalize marijuana in 2021 as well.
Aird also successfully sponsored historic legislation that recognizes racism as a public health crisis in Virginia. This bill will implement a series of policies geared towards addressing systemic racism in Virginia. She advocates for access to affordable, quality healthcare by working to lower drug costs and voting to cap the price of insulin in 2020. She voted to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians in 2018 and supported establishing a state-run health insurance marketplace, which helps uninsured or underinsured residents who aren’t covered by an employer-provided health plan to get affordable coverage.
Aird understands the urgency of the climate crisis and is focused on passing legislation to protect the environment. She advocates for equitable energy by successfully sponsoring legislation to make access to clean, affordable water a human right in 2021. She voted for the Virginia Clean Economy Act in 2020, which commits the Commonwealth to 100% clean energy by 2050. The Virginia League of Conservation Voters awarded her a score of 100% for the 2020 session.
Aird supports Virginia’s public education system, voting for a 5% raises for teachers and additional funding to help schools reopen safely during the pandemic. She worked to pass legislation that would make higher education more equitable for applicants by banning public universities from asking criminal history questions on admissions applications. The delegate also co-sponsored the School Equity and Staffing Act, which would address spending discrepancies between schools in low income communities versus other communities. She was named one of the Legislators of the Year in 2021 by the Virginia Education Association.
Democratic candidate Lashrecse Aird and Republican candidate Eric Ditri will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 13th State Senate district. Ditri was born and raised in Prince George County and has a background in construction and finance. While his campaign website lists several priorities, no information could be found on his stances on progressive issues such as abortion and LGBTQ rights.
Due to her support of criminal justice reform, public education, affordable healthcare, and the environment, Lashrecse Aird is the progressive choice in this race.
Last updated: 2023-10-23
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Virginia’s new 17th State Senate district encompasses Suffolk City, Isle of Wight County, parts of Portsmouth City, Southampton County, Brunswick County, Greensville County, Franklin City, parts of Dinwiddie County, Emporia City, and parts of Chesapeake City. With over 164,000 registered voters, this is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in one direction or another.
This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Democratic Delegate Clint Jenkins and Republican candidate Delegate Emily Brewer will face each other in the general election for Virginia’s new 17th State Senate district. Delegate Jenkins has served in the House of Delegates since 2020. Delegate Brewer has served in the House of Delegates since 2018.Delegate Clint Jenkins has served in the House of Delegates since 2020. He sits on the Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee, the Public Safety Committee, and the General Laws Committee. He was raised in Suffolk, graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, and served in the United States Army. Delegate Jenkins earned his Bachelor of Arts at Saint Leo University and went on to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for graduate studies. Currently, he runs a real estate company with his daughter.
Delegate Jenkins advocates for everyone’s right to make their own healthcare decisions with their doctors. If elected, he has stated he will fight to keep abortion access protected by law. He sees the impact that restrictions on abortion and other barriers to healthcare have had, especially on Black women. In 2019, he participated in a Men for Choice event hosted by REPRO Rising Virginia. Delegate Jenkins is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.
Delegate Jenkins believes that every child should have access to quality public education, regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code. He supports raising teacher pay and investing in public schools, so students have the resources they need to thrive. He considers broadband infrastructure imperative to the education of students in rural areas. Delegate Jenkins advocates for universal pre-kindergarten, noting these programs offer children a head start. He supports increasing overall education funding.
Delegate Jenkins advocates for sensible gun ownership and pledges to continue this advocacy if elected. He is endorsed by Giffords, an organization dedicated to gun violence prevention. He has fought against bills that aim to weaken commonsense gun violence prevention laws. He supports extreme risk protective orders and universal background checks. Delegate Jenkins sits on the public safety committee, where he voted against attempted rollbacks from Republican legislators. Previously he mentored youth as a way to serve his community and stop cycles of gun violence.
Delegate Jenkins believes every Virginian should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. He advocates for better transparency in pricing, as well as improved broadband access in rural communities for telehealth services. Previously, he worked as a crisis counselor for mental health, and he understands the need for policies that are trauma-informed. He supports Medicaid expansion, and if elected, he will fight against attempts to roll back on progress made in affordable healthcare access.
Democratic Delegate Clint Jenkins and Republican candidate Delegate Emily Brewer will face each other in this race. Delegate Brewer has served in the House of Delegates since 2018. During the 2023 General Assembly, she voted in favor of an anti-trans forced outing bill. She has stated support for abortion bans and has sponsored and voted for legislation that would weaken gun violence prevention laws.
Because of his commitment to healthcare access, gun violence prevention, and quality public education, Delegate Clint Jenkins is the progressive choice in this race.
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Delegate Clint Jenkins has served in the House of Delegates since 2020. He sits on the Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee, the Public Safety Committee, and the General Laws Committee. He was raised in Suffolk, graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, and served in the United States Army. Delegate Jenkins earned his Bachelor of Arts at Saint Leo University and went on to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for graduate studies. Currently, he runs a real estate company with his daughter.
Delegate Jenkins advocates for everyone’s right to make their own healthcare decisions with their doctors. If elected, he has stated he will fight to keep abortion access protected by law. He sees the impact that restrictions on abortion and other barriers to healthcare have had, especially on Black women. In 2019, he participated in a Men for Choice event hosted by REPRO Rising Virginia. Delegate Jenkins is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia.
Delegate Jenkins believes that every child should have access to quality public education, regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code. He supports raising teacher pay and investing in public schools, so students have the resources they need to thrive. He considers broadband infrastructure imperative to the education of students in rural areas. Delegate Jenkins advocates for universal pre-kindergarten, noting these programs offer children a head start. He supports increasing overall education funding.
Delegate Jenkins advocates for sensible gun ownership and pledges to continue this advocacy if elected. He is endorsed by Giffords, an organization dedicated to gun violence prevention. He has fought against bills that aim to weaken commonsense gun violence prevention laws. He supports extreme risk protective orders and universal background checks. Delegate Jenkins sits on the public safety committee, where he voted against attempted rollbacks from Republican legislators. Previously he mentored youth as a way to serve his community and stop cycles of gun violence.
Delegate Jenkins believes every Virginian should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. He advocates for better transparency in pricing, as well as improved broadband access in rural communities for telehealth services. Previously, he worked as a crisis counselor for mental health, and he understands the need for policies that are trauma-informed. He supports Medicaid expansion, and if elected, he will fight against attempts to roll back on progress made in affordable healthcare access.
Democratic Delegate Clint Jenkins and Republican candidate Delegate Emily Brewer will face each other in this race. Delegate Brewer has served in the House of Delegates since 2018. During the 2023 General Assembly, she voted in favor of an anti-trans forced outing bill. She has stated support for abortion bans and has sponsored and voted for legislation that would weaken gun violence prevention laws.
Because of his commitment to healthcare access, gun violence prevention, and quality public education, Delegate Clint Jenkins is the progressive choice in this race.Last updated: 2023-09-21
House of Delegates
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below House of Delegate races on your ballot.
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Virginia’s new 82nd House of Delegates district encompasses Petersburg City, parts of Dinwiddie County, parts of Prince George County, and Surry County. With almost 64,000 registered voters, this is a competitive district that doesn’t lean in one direction or another.
This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor is facing a challenge from Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams in the general election for Virginia’s new 82nd House of Delegates district. Delegate Taylor has served in the House of Delegates since 2022.Kimberly Pope Adams is an auditor who wants to bring accountability to the House of Delegates. She grew up in the "Five Forks" area of Hopewell and has a deep-rooted connection to the traditions and culture of the Tri-Cities. Adams is a mother who wants to be a voice for a district that Richmond has long ignored. She will stand with farmers, local businesses, and community leaders to make the district thrive.
Adams believes that every Virginian deserves to live in a safe community. She wants to address the crime and violence that have devastated families and neighborhoods in the 82nd District. As Delegate, Adams will work to achieve measurable results for the district by engaging stakeholders to promote a law enforcement workforce that reflects the community it serves, working with community leaders, individual citizens, and law enforcement to establish innovative crime prevention initiatives, and ensuring state funding exists to adequately staff Sheriff and Police departments.
Adams believes that the government should not interfere in a healthcare decision, and all decisions should be made between the person and their doctor. As Delegate, she will fight tirelessly to oppose any attempt to ban abortions in Virginia, including obstacles like mandatory waiting periods and limits on access to contraception.
Adams believes every working family deserves an opportunity to enjoy economic security and success. She believes that workers should have the right to unionize and collectively bargain. Employees should have paid sick leave to use for themselves or their children, and employers should invest in specialized training, making education and workforce development available to the community.
Food insecurity is an undeniable fact for many residents in our community. People in both urban and rural areas lack access to affordable fresh food. Most tragic is that food deserts exist in communities where agriculture is vital to the local economy. Adams believes broadband internet access is as necessary for Virginians as electricity and water. Educational opportunities, employment opportunities, and affordable healthcare are often dependent upon reliable internet access. In order to make counties more attractive to live, broadband access must be a unified priority for both State and local government.
Pope’s opponent is incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor, a Dinwiddie County resident who owns a small business with her husband. As Delegate, Taylor voted to require reinstatement of the mandatory 24-hour waiting period before a person can access abortion (HB 212). She opposes common-sense gun violence prevention legislation and voted to repeal the extreme risk protection law (HB 209). She also voted to reduce penalties for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit (HB 11).
Because of her stances on healthcare, economic security and development, and her commitment to the needs of her constituents, Kimberly Pope Adams is the progressive choice in this race.
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Kimberly Pope Adams is an auditor who wants to bring accountability to the House of Delegates. She grew up in the "Five Forks" area of Hopewell and has a deep-rooted connection to the traditions and culture of the Tri-Cities. Adams is a mother who wants to be a voice for a district that Richmond has long ignored. She will stand with farmers, local businesses, and community leaders to make the district thrive.
Adams believes that every Virginian deserves to live in a safe community. She wants to address the crime and violence that have devastated families and neighborhoods in the 82nd District. As Delegate, Adams will work to achieve measurable results for the district by engaging stakeholders to promote a law enforcement workforce that reflects the community it serves, working with community leaders, individual citizens, and law enforcement to establish innovative crime prevention initiatives, and ensuring state funding exists to adequately staff Sheriff and Police departments.
Adams believes that the government should not interfere in a healthcare decision, and all decisions should be made between the person and their doctor. As Delegate, she will fight tirelessly to oppose any attempt to ban abortions in Virginia, including obstacles like mandatory waiting periods and limits on access to contraception.
Adams believes every working family deserves an opportunity to enjoy economic security and success. She believes that workers should have the right to unionize and collectively bargain. Employees should have paid sick leave to use for themselves or their children, and employers should invest in specialized training, making education and workforce development available to the community.
Food insecurity is an undeniable fact for many residents in our community. People in both urban and rural areas lack access to affordable fresh food. Most tragic is that food deserts exist in communities where agriculture is vital to the local economy. Adams believes broadband internet access is as necessary for Virginians as electricity and water. Educational opportunities, employment opportunities, and affordable healthcare are often dependent upon reliable internet access. In order to make counties more attractive to live, broadband access must be a unified priority for both State and local government.
Pope’s opponent is incumbent Republican Delegate Kim Taylor, a Dinwiddie County resident who owns a small business with her husband. As Delegate, Taylor voted to require reinstatement of the mandatory 24-hour waiting period before a person can access abortion (HB 212). She opposes common-sense gun violence prevention legislation and voted to repeal the extreme risk protection law (HB 209). She also voted to reduce penalties for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit (HB 11).
Because of her stances on healthcare, economic security and development, and her commitment to the needs of her constituents, Kimberly Pope Adams is the progressive choice in this race.Last updated: 2023-09-21
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Virginia’s new 83rd House of Delegates district district encompasses parts of Isle of Wight County, Southampton County, Brunswick County, Sussex County, Greensville County, Emporia County, and parts of Dinwiddie County. With over 66,000 registered voters, this district leans Republican.This election will be held on November 7, 2023. Incumbent Republican Delegate Otto Wachsmann is facing a challenge from Democrat Mary Person in the general election for Virginia’s new 83rd House of Delegates district. Delegate Wachsmann has served in the House of Delegates since 2022.Mary Person is a native of Emporia, Virginia, who has served as an educator in her community for 26 years. She began her career as a teacher of children with autism and is now the Principal of Bellfield Elementary in Emporia. Person is an active member of the NAACP, a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greensville/Emporia, and a member of the Crater Regional Workforce Development Board. She has also served in various educational and political roles, including eight years as Mayor of Emporia. Person has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of her constituents, establish scholarships for graduating seniors, and attract more businesses and industry jobs to the area.
Person believes that quality health care should be affordable for everyone. She is in favor of expanding mental health services for adults and children. She believes that prescription drugs should be affordable, saying that “no one should have to choose between getting a prescription filled or eating.” She pledges to advocate for legislation to combat health care inequity.
Educational infrastructure is a top priority for her. She wants to ensure the future of public education and make sure all children succeed. She wants to make sure kids have the social and emotional skills necessary to be successful in school and have qualified teachers in the classroom, especially in rural areas such as the 83rd district. Incentives must be offered to college students to go into the field of education to increase the number of qualified teachers in the field.
She also lists economic development as a top priority. She wants to provide opportunities for our communities to have jobs. She believes that a qualified workforce is essential to economic development, so specialized training for skilled positions is a must. To accomplish this, she pledges to actively recruit prospective companies by meeting with them and explaining the benefits of investing in our district. She pledges to always be the number one advocate for obtaining good paying jobs in our communities.
Of equal importance is public safety. She argues that our communities must be a safe place to live, work, and go to school. She advocates for community policing to allow officers to develop relationships with the community and the community to develop relationships with the officers. She also wants to ensure that officers are properly trained in dealing with mental health issues. She pledges to promote legislation to ensure community safety remains a priority and will also work with local government and police departments to fight for safe communities.
Person’s opponent is incumbent Republican Otto Wachsmann, a Sussex County pharmacist and small business owner. Wachsmann has consistently voted against trans youth, having voted for HB 1387, which limits participation in sports on the basis of sex assigned at birth, and voted for HB 2432, which requires schools to inform parents of students experiencing "gender incongruence". He wants to deny abortion access and voted for HB 212, which would have reinstated the mandatory 24 hour waiting period for individuals seeking an abortion.
Given Person’s commitment to building an equitable society and ensuring the basic needs of all are met, she is the progressive choice in this race.
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Mary Person is a native of Emporia, Virginia, who has served as an educator in her community for 26 years. She began her career as a teacher of children with autism and is now the Principal of Bellfield Elementary in Emporia. Person is an active member of the NAACP, a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greensville/Emporia, and a member of the Crater Regional Workforce Development Board. She has also served in various educational and political roles, including eight years as Mayor of Emporia. Person has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of her constituents, establish scholarships for graduating seniors, and attract more businesses and industry jobs to the area.
Person believes that quality health care should be affordable for everyone. She is in favor of expanding mental health services for adults and children. She believes that prescription drugs should be affordable, saying that “no one should have to choose between getting a prescription filled or eating.” She pledges to advocate for legislation to combat health care inequity.
Educational infrastructure is a top priority for her. She wants to ensure the future of public education and make sure all children succeed. She wants to make sure kids have the social and emotional skills necessary to be successful in school and have qualified teachers in the classroom, especially in rural areas such as the 83rd district. Incentives must be offered to college students to go into the field of education to increase the number of qualified teachers in the field.
She also lists economic development as a top priority. She wants to provide opportunities for our communities to have jobs. She believes that a qualified workforce is essential to economic development, so specialized training for skilled positions is a must. To accomplish this, she pledges to actively recruit prospective companies by meeting with them and explaining the benefits of investing in our district. She pledges to always be the number one advocate for obtaining good paying jobs in our communities.
Of equal importance is public safety. She argues that our communities must be a safe place to live, work, and go to school. She advocates for community policing to allow officers to develop relationships with the community and the community to develop relationships with the officers. She also wants to ensure that officers are properly trained in dealing with mental health issues. She pledges to promote legislation to ensure community safety remains a priority and will also work with local government and police departments to fight for safe communities.
Person’s opponent is incumbent Republican Otto Wachsmann, a Sussex County pharmacist and small business owner. Wachsmann has consistently voted against trans youth, having voted for HB 1387, which limits participation in sports on the basis of sex assigned at birth, and voted for HB 2432, which requires schools to inform parents of students experiencing "gender incongruence". He wants to deny abortion access and voted for HB 212, which would have reinstated the mandatory 24 hour waiting period for individuals seeking an abortion.
Given Person’s commitment to building an equitable society and ensuring the basic needs of all are met, she is the progressive choice in this race.Last updated: 2023-10-06
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