WASHINGTON, D.C.— Following Democrat Kelly Fowler’s reelection tonight in Virginia House District 21, PFAW Political Director and Director of the PFAW Latinos Vote! program Lizet Ocampo released the following statement:

“Kelly Fowler won tonight because she had a great message about the environment, supporting teachers, and health care, and because her constituents already know her as someone fighting for them in Richmond.  She won in spite of an egregious attack on her Latina heritage, in which her opponent photoshopped Fowler’s photo into an image depicting gang members.  We hope that sends a strong message to Republicans that hate is the wrong way to try to win elections. We’re proud to have supported Kelly through our PFAW Next Up Victory Fund and look forward to her continued great work in the House of Delegates.”

About Latinos Vote! 
PFAW’s Latinos Vote! program exposes and counters anti-immigrant, anti-Latino rhetoric and policies. Through electoral work, we hold groups, leaders and influencers accountable at the polls for the harm they do to immigrant and Latino communities.

About Next Up Victory Fund
People For the American Way’s Next Up Victory Fund helps young progressive candidates win races for state and local offices across the country. Our goal isn’t just to help make sure progressives win key offices in the short term: we want to build a deep bench of progressive candidates well positioned to control state legislatures, win statewide, and run for federal offices in the years and decades to come. We’re committed to winning the elections that will lead to progressive outcomes that reflect our true American values and the American Way.

About People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity.  Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.