Andrew Gillum, Dolores Huerta, and Terry McAuliffe headline event with state and local candidates

WASHINGTON, D.C.—People For the American Way’s Next Up Victory Fund  held a Virginia campaign kick-off event in Fairfax Station, Virginia, today with 2018 Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee and PFAW Senior Fellow Andrew Gillum, PFAW board member and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, former DNC Chair and former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and state and local candidates in top 2019 Virginia races.

The event took place as the significance of Virginia’s statewide elections is coming more and more into focus.  The outcome of this November’s election will determine whether the state’s legislature tips from Republican to Democratic control for the first time in nearly 30 years.  And just one year before the nation’s voters render a verdict on Donald Trump, results in Virginia will send a strong message about which way the country’s electorate is leaning. People For the American Way has played a pivotal role in Virginia state politics since 2012, and launched its Next Up Victory Fund program in the state in 2017 – when our endorsed candidates flipped eight seats in the statehouse.

You can watch video of the event here: https://www.facebook.com/peoplefor/videos  

Kicking off the event was PFAW Political Director and Director of the Latinos Vote! program Lizet Ocampo. “I’m standing with the people who are going to turn Virginia blue this November,” Ocampo said, “at the same time we show the world that the days are numbered for Donald Trump’s Republican Party here in Virginia — and across the country.”

“When it comes to Virginia, we’re in it quite simply to win it,” said Michael Keegan. “Today, Republican control of both chambers is hanging by a thread.  And this November we’re going to complete the job.” Keegan explained that PFAW would commit a mix of “money, members and media” to helping candidates to victory.

Gov. McAuliffe thanked PFAW for its support in Virginia. “Consistently, they’ve been with us every step of the way,” he said.  He went on to say “we’re going to make history” in Virginia this year, and that if Democrats retake the state government, raising the minimum wage and background checks for gun purchases will happen in the first month.  McAuliffe also emphasized Virginia’s bellwether status ahead of 2020. “Donald Trump is going down because of Virginia,” he added.

“Virginia sits at the tip of the spear,” agreed Andrew Gillum. Gillum praised the candidates, saying young elected officials are ready to enter the halls of power and bend power “to the will of the people.” “This election isn’t just about the people standing behind me. It’s about the people who lose when they lose elections,” Gillum said, emphasizing the needs of Virginians for a living wage and elected officials who will address quality of life issues.

“Everywhere I go around the country I run into young elected officials who have come out of PFAW,” Dolores Huerta said after candidates introduced themselves. “We have to create a society of justice, and we have the people in this room who are going to do that.”  She noted that PFAW has emphasized the power of Latinx voters in the state, running Spanish-language ads for candidates.

Candidates endorsed by the Next Up Victory Fund who appeared at the event were:

• Amanda Pohl, candidate for Virginia Senate District 11
• Qasim Rashid, candidate for Virginia Senate District 28
• Danica Roem, candidate for Virginia House District 13
• Eric Stamps, candidate for Virginia House District 14
• Joshua Cole, candidate for Virginia House District 28
• Dan Helmer, candidate for Virginia House District 40
• Kathy Tran, candidate for Virginia House District 42
• Lee Carter, candidate for Virginia House District 50
• Morgan Goodman, candidate for Virginia House District 55
• Sally Hudson, candidate for Virginia House District 57
• Ibraheem Samirah, candidate for Virginia House District 86
• Suhas Subramanyam, candidate for Virginia House District 87
• Jess Foster, candidate for Virginia House District 88
• Phil Hernandez, candidate for Virginia House District 100
• Koran Saines, candidate for Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Sterling District
• Steve Descano, candidate for Commonwealth’s Attorney, Fairfax County

All Virginia candidates endorsed by the Next Up Victory Fund are:

Virginia House Candidates:

• Jennifer Caroll Foy, candidate for Virginia House District 2
• Sam Rasoul, candidate for House District 11, VA Chris Hurst, candidate for Virginia House District 12
• Danica Roem, candidate for Virginia House District 13
• Eric Stamps, candidate for Virginia House District 14
• Laura Galante, candidate for Virginia House District 18
• Jennifer Lewis, candidate for Virginia House District 20
• Kelly Fowler, candidate for Virginia House District 21
• Jennifer Kitchen, candidate for Virginia House District 25
• Brent Finnegan, candidate for Virginia House District 26
• Joshua Cole, candidate for Virginia House District 28
• Dan Helmer, candidate for Virginia House District 40
• Kathy Tran, candidate for Virginia House District 42
• Lee Carter, candidate for Virginia House District 50
• Morgan Goodman, candidate for Virginia House District 55
• Sally Hudson, candidate for Virginia House District 57
• Lindsey Dougherty, candidate for Virginia House District 62
• Lashrecse Aird, candidate for Virginia House District 63
• Karrie Delaney, candidate for Virginia House District 67
• Schuyler VanValkenburg, candidate for Virginia House District 72
• Alex Askew, candidate for Virginia House District 85
• Ibraheem Samirah, candidate for Virginia House District 86
• Suhas Subramanyam, candidate for Virginia House District 87
• Jess Foster, candidate for Virginia House District 88
• Jay Jones, candidate for Virginia House District 89
• Michael Mullin, candidate for Virginia House District 93
• Marcia Price, candidate for Virginia House District 95
• Phil Hernandez, candidate for Virginia House District 100
• Virginia Senate Candidates:
• Amanda Pohl, candidate for Virginia Senate District 11
• Flo Ketner, candidate for Virginia Senate District 19
• Dakota Claytor, candidate for Virginia Senate District 22
• Ronnie Ross, candidate for Virginia Senate District 27
• Qasim Rashid, candidate for Virginia Senate District 28

Local:

• Karl Frisch, candidate for Fairfax County School Board Providence District, VA
• Joshua King, candidate for Prince William County Sheriff, VA
• Justin Hannah, candidate for Loudoun County Sheriff, VA
• Steve Descano, candidate for Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney, VA
• Michael Payne, candidate for Charlottesville City Council At-Large, VA
• Tia Walbridge, candidate for Board of Supervisors Blue Ridge District, VA
• Koran Saines, candidate for Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Sterling District, VA

 About Next Up

PFAW’s Next Up Victory Fund helps young progressive candidates win races for state and local offices across the country. In 2018 alone, Next Up helped elect 117 candidates across the country at all levels of government. Learn more about Next Up: www.pfaw.org/next-up-victory-fund

About PFAW

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 at www.pfaw.org.

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