Prince Edward 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.

Senate District 009

State Senator

No Recommendation

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.

No Recommendation

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.

Senate District 010

State Senator

No Recommendation

Republican Delegate John McGuire is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 10th State Senate district. Delegate McGuire has served in the House of Delegates since 2018. He is anti-abortion and received a 100% score from the Family Foundation. In the 2023 General Assembly, he introduced legislation to prohibit public funds from going towards abortion services for low-income people. He also patroned a bill aimed at removing ballot drop boxes, one of several attempts of his to make voting less accessible. Delegate McGuire co-patroned a bill that would require the forced outing of students by principals or their designees.

Because McGuire 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 still other races in this year’s elections.

No Recommendation

Republican Delegate John McGuire is running unopposed in the general election for Virginia’s new 10th State Senate district. Delegate McGuire has served in the House of Delegates since 2018. He is anti-abortion and received a 100% score from the Family Foundation.

House of Delegates

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below House of Delegate races on your ballot.

House District 050

Delegate

  • Josh Blakely photo
    Democrat

    Josh Blakely

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  • 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

    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.

    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.

    Josh Blakely

    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.

House District 056

Delegate

No Recommendation

Former Congressman Thomas Garrett is a Republican, and he is the sole candidate for this race. He served in the House of Representatives from 2017-2019, representing Congressional District 5. He left Congress after campaign finance violations and other allegations. Garrett does not support common sense gun legislation, and he is endorsed by the NRA. His campaign site refers to him as 100% pro-gun. He is also anti-abortion, and he promises to support any legislation that restricts the reproductive right to abortion.

There is no progressive recommendation for this race. We encourage you to write-in a candidate of your choice. Remember, there are other races this election.

No Recommendation

Former Congressman Thomas Garrett is a Republican, and he is the sole candidate for this race. He served in the House of Representatives from 2017-2019, representing Congressional District 5. He left Congress after campaign finance violations and other allegations.