Nelson County

Sam Soghor moved to Amherst, VA from New York, where he worked as an actor and producer. He attended the State University of New York at Purchase, where he received a bachelor's degree in political science. As a parent of a child who attends Amherst County Public Schools, he has an interest in the local public school system. He enjoys the community and the natural environment that the 53rd district offers, and has expressed an interest in protecting it if elected.

In his campaign, Soghor prioritizes public education, broadband accessibility, and support for farmers. Soghor supports marijuana legalization and wants to ensure the 53rd District receives all the benefits from legalization, including increased tax revenue for public spending and economic opportunities for local farmers and entrepreneurs. Additionally, he recognizes how marijuana legalization can support the creation of new businesses and result in higher wages, stronger economic systems, and increased home values.

As a father of a student attending a public school in the district, Soghor will prioritize education if elected. He will work to ensure the district’s often overlooked rural schools receive the same amount of resources so that location is not a barrier to education. He wants to increase funding for public schools to ensure schools and teachers have all the resources necessary to provide every student a high-quality education.

He also recognizes that access to education includes access to the internet and is actively involved in expanding broadband access in Amherst County. He wants to ensure rural schools and students, who don’t have access to the same internet resources as students in urban areas, are not left behind by the state legislature. He recognizes broadband access as an equity issue and is fighting to ensure economic status is not a barrier to education.

Soghor appreciates the district’s natural environment and enjoys exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains and the George Washington National Forest. He hopes to increase environmental protections in the area while also uplifting local farmers. He recognizes the importance of fresh, local food to both community health and the economy. He wants to make sustainable farming practices accessible and affordable for district farmers and give them the same resources industrial agriculture operations have.

Soghor’s opponent is Republican Tim Griffin. Griffin is a hard-right conservative who attacks the public school system as indoctrination and attacks trans children for simply existing. He casts doubts on the integrity of our election system and wants to eradicate the separation between church and state. There are also questions as to whether he even lives in the district.

Due to his support for the environment and for policies that will uplift public education and Virginia working families, Sam Soghor is the most progressive choice for Virginia’s 53rd District.
Close Window

Amy Laufer worked her way through school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and eventually graduated with a geology degree. She went on to work as a water analyst, as well as a volunteer in the Peace Corps. After leaving the Peace Corps, she attended Columbia University and graduated with a Master’s degree in Secondary Science Education. Eventually, she moved to Virginia, where she taught math and science at Louisa County Middle School and Tandem Friends School. There, she was appointed to the Commission of Children and Families. She was also elected to the Charlottesville City School Board in 2011 and she went on to be reelected. She was the board’s vice chair and chair from 2012–2016. In 2015, she executed the Equality Virginia non-discrimination policy as one of the only two counties in Virginia to approve it.

Laufer wants to codify Roe v. Wade to ensure that anyone who needs abortion care has access to it. She had a high risk pregnancy herself, so she understands the reality of having to make difficult choices during pregnancy. She believes that doctors should have the ability to help patients make those decisions without government interference.

Laufer promises to uplift needs of the community, which include affordable healthcare. She believes that Covid-19 exposed the weaknesses of the American healthcare system, which has left many without access to basic care. Laufer not only wants better care for those who need it, but she also wants to promote wellness care that focuses on prevention such as nutrition and mental health services.

Laufer believes the science that has strongly predicted the effects of climate change. She says that everyone can already feel the effects of climate change with floods, heat damage, unpredictable weather, and more. Laufer wants to take steps to combat climate change that include reducing carbon emissions, preserving land, and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

Joining the Peace Corps ignited Laufer’s passion for teaching children, and she believes that all children are worth investing in. She believes that education should be treated as an investment and not an expense. She says that children need adequate resources from early childhood into adulthood, because when children are set up for success, it makes the entire community successful. This also includes increased pay for teachers, counselors, and staff. Laufer wants to focus on workforce development from K-12 schools to community colleges.

Laufer says that “people are dying due to an overzealous deregulation of firearms.” She believes that guns that are not safely stored are hazardous to children and people suffering from mental distress. Laufer wants extreme risk protection orders laws to be enforced, and she wants gun owners to be registered with permits.

Laufer is running against Republican candidate Steve Harvey. Steve Harvey graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in Business, and he was an ROTC cadet during his time there. He went on to serve in the military as a Blackhawk pilot for the Army before receiving medical discharge due to a spinal injury. Harvey would defund public schools in favor of unregulated and unaccredited charter schools. He would vote against gun violence prevention legislation. He also would make it harder to vote by ending same-day voter registration and requiring difficult to obtain photo identification for voting. Harvey is anti-abortion and would vote to make it harder to access.

Amy Laufer is the progressive choice within this race, as she supports abortion access, along with legislation that promotes safety and access for members of the community.

Close Window