Mecklenburg County
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Ballot Drop Boxes
Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th
The Virginia Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. All research in this guide was conducted July through September of 2023. Please share this guide with your friends and family.
Senate District 009
Incumbent Republican Senator Frank Ruff has voted against immigrant communities at every opportunity and has an anti-choice record. He also opposes commonsense gun violence prevention measures. He voted against raising the minimum wage. He vocally opposed Medicaid expansion in Virginia and drew vocal condemnation for racist remarks about the proposal in 2014. In the 2023 General Assembly, he co-patroned anti-trans legislation that would impact trans athletes. He also co-patroned several bills that would make voting less accessible.
Because Senator Ruff is running unopposed, there is no recommendation in this race. We encourage you to show up and vote by writing in a candidate. Remember, there are other races in this year’s elections.
Incumbent Republican Senator Frank Ruff has voted against immigrant communities at every opportunity and has an anti-choice record. He also opposes commonsense gun violence prevention measures. He voted against raising the minimum wage. He vocally opposed Medicaid expansion in Virginia and drew vocal condemnation for racist remarks about the proposal in 2014. In the 2023 General Assembly, he co-patroned anti-trans legislation that would impact trans athletes. He also co-patroned several bills that would make voting less accessible.
Because Senator Ruff is running unopposed, there is no recommendation in this race. We encourage you to show up and vote by writing in a candidate. Remember, there are other races in this year’s elections.
House District 050
Josh Blakely holds a bachelor's degree from Christopher Newport University, a graduate degree from Old Dominion University, and a graduate degree from Duke University. Blakely has lived in Virginia for over 30 years, and during that time, he has worked as a minister, educator, and public speaker. As a Delegate, he wants to apply his experience to improve the conditions of the rural communities of Virginia.
Blakely believes that community and individual worth are more important than partisan politics. He believes that each person should be empowered to determine their own future, and that they should be treated with respect and dignity. Specifically, he has said that his campaign has three main components which are “dignity over division, neighbors over negativity, and community over controversy”. Blakely wants to focus on these components to inspire a greater sense of connection in community.
Blakely pledges to improve K-12 education by demanding adequate funding to upgrade our schools, pay our teachers, and address unfunded mandates. He wants to expand rural broadband access and develop affordable programs for community members at all income levels to access high-speed, broadband internet. He pledges to protect all our neighbors and combat the oppression LGBTQ+ Virginians experience through strengthened anti-discrimination laws. He supports common-sense gun violence prevention measures. He supports abortion access and wants to ensure that reproductive healthcare decisions remain between people, their doctors, and their support systems.
Blakely is challenging incumbent Republican Delegate Tommy Wright. He has served as Delegate for District 61 since 2001. In recent years, he has supported multiple anti-trans and anti-public education bills aimed at harming LGBTQ+ youth, including co-sponsoring a bill to exclude trans girls from participating in school sports. He has also supported initiatives to weaken election protections and make it harder to vote.
Blakely is the most progressive choice for this race, as he is focused on building community and individual power.
Last updated: 2023-10-27
Josh Blakely holds a bachelor's degree from Christopher Newport University, a graduate degree from Old Dominion University, and a graduate degree from Duke University. Blakely has lived in Virginia for over 30 years, and during that time, he has worked as a minister, educator, and public speaker. As a Delegate, he wants to apply his experience to improve the conditions of the rural communities of Virginia.
Blakely believes that community and individual worth are more important than partisan politics. He believes that each person should be empowered to determine their own future, and that they should be treated with respect and dignity. Specifically, he has said that his campaign has three main components which are “dignity over division, neighbors over negativity, and community over controversy”. Blakely wants to focus on these components to inspire a greater sense of connection in community.
Blakely pledges to improve K-12 education by demanding adequate funding to upgrade our schools, pay our teachers, and address unfunded mandates. He wants to expand rural broadband access and develop affordable programs for community members at all income levels to access high-speed, broadband internet. He pledges to protect all our neighbors and combat the oppression LGBTQ+ Virginians experience through strengthened anti-discrimination laws. He supports common-sense gun violence prevention measures. He supports abortion access and wants to ensure that reproductive healthcare decisions remain between people, their doctors, and their support systems.
Blakely is challenging incumbent Republican Delegate Tommy Wright. He has served as Delegate for District 61 since 2001. In recent years, he has supported multiple anti-trans and anti-public education bills aimed at harming LGBTQ+ youth, including co-sponsoring a bill to exclude trans girls from participating in school sports. He has also supported initiatives to weaken election protections and make it harder to vote.
Blakely is the most progressive choice for this race, as he is focused on building community and individual power.
Last updated: 2023-10-27
Josh Blakely holds a bachelor's degree from Christopher Newport University, a graduate degree from Old Dominion University, and a graduate degree from Duke University. Blakely has lived in Virginia for over 30 years, and during that time, he has worked as a minister, educator, and public speaker. As a Delegate, he wants to apply his experience to improve the conditions of the rural communities of Virginia.
Blakely believes that community and individual worth are more important than partisan politics. He believes that each person should be empowered to determine their own future, and that they should be treated with respect and dignity. Specifically, he has said that his campaign has three main components which are “dignity over division, neighbors over negativity, and community over controversy”. Blakely wants to focus on these components to inspire a greater sense of connection in community.
Blakely pledges to improve K-12 education by demanding adequate funding to upgrade our schools, pay our teachers, and address unfunded mandates. He wants to expand rural broadband access and develop affordable programs for community members at all income levels to access high-speed, broadband internet. He pledges to protect all our neighbors and combat the oppression LGBTQ+ Virginians experience through strengthened anti-discrimination laws. He supports common-sense gun violence prevention measures. He supports abortion access and wants to ensure that reproductive healthcare decisions remain between people, their doctors, and their support systems.
Blakely is challenging incumbent Republican Delegate Tommy Wright. He has served as Delegate for District 61 since 2001. In recent years, he has supported multiple anti-trans and anti-public education bills aimed at harming LGBTQ+ youth, including co-sponsoring a bill to exclude trans girls from participating in school sports. He has also supported initiatives to weaken election protections and make it harder to vote.
Blakely is the most progressive choice for this race, as he is focused on building community and individual power.
Last updated: 2023-10-27