Incumbent Democratic Delegate Shelly Simonds is an activist and educator who has represented the 94th District since 2019. She attended Bucknell University to earn her undergraduate degree and Stanford University to earn her master’s degree in communications. After college she settled down in Newport News with her husband to raise her two daughters. She became a Spanish teacher at her daughters’ elementary school and was elected to the Newport News School Board in 2012.

Delegate Simonds has been an advocate for the environment by supporting multiple bills that have been important for addressing climate change and protecting the state’s natural resources. She was a patron of the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which will transition Virginia’s power grid to rely on 100% renewable energy by 2050. She also supported the creation of a major offshore wind energy facility and a rebate for individuals who purchase or drive low-emission vehicles. She supports increased funding for land conservation as well as community parks and green spaces. She opposes fracking and uranium mining.

Delegate Simonds has also worked to ensure women are able to receive equal treatment in the workplace. She supported the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. Additionally, she’s worked to expand child care programs, knowing how access and affordability are critical to letting parents participate in the labor force. She served as a patron of a bill that greatly expanded subsidies for childcare. She also supported the passage of the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, which added critical worker protections to a previously overlooked workforce comprising primarily women of color.

As a former teacher, Delegate Simonds has worked to ensure that Virginia’s schools are well-funded and equitable. She voted in favor of raises for teachers, which will help address the state’s shortage of teachers and help the state retain and recruit high-quality educators. Del. Simonds also supports actions to address the achievement gap in her district. As a member of the Virginia School Board Association’s Challenged Schools Taskforce, Simonds helped secure $2,000,000 of funding for low-income students to attend educational support programs.

Delegate Simonds has also expanded access to affordable healthcare. She supported a successful bill to end surprise medical billing so that insurance companies have to be transparent about what a patient will be charged. Simonds also worked to decrease prescription drug prices, voting to implement a $50 monthly price cap on insulin. She expanded access to critical reproductive healthcare, voting to require insurance companies to cover abortions.

Delegate Simonds has two opponents in this race: Libertarian Michael Bartley and Republican Matt Waters. Bartley does not have a website or social media and we could find no policy positions at the time of research. Waters would do nothing to prevent gun violence and actively work to repeal what little protections are already written into law. He aligns himself with Republican attacks on public education.

Due to her support of the environment, public education, working families, and access to affordable healthcare, Delegate Shelly Simonds is the most progressive choice in this race.
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