Richmond, VA - Today, New Virginia Majority announced a first round of endorsements for the 2021 electoral cycle, including endorsements for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and House of Delegates. Endorsements include Terry McAuliffe for governor, Hala Ayala for lieutenant governor, Mark Herring for attorney general. The endorsements for the House of Delegates are Alex Askew (House District 85), Dan Helmer (House District 40), Rodney Willett (House District 73), Kelly Convirs Fowler (House District 21), and Kathy Tran (House District 42), and the challengers that are endorsed are Michelle Maldonado (House District 50), Briana Sewell (House District 51), Katie Sponsler (House District 66), and Debra Gardner (House District 27).

Virginia is leading the South, and the nation, on many fronts, including the expansion of voting rights, significant changes to our criminal legal system, and ensuring all Virginians can live free from discrimination as we work toward a Virginia that values all of us. However, there is still work to do to ensure the protection of these accomplishments and to continue to build a more inclusive state that continues to transform the lives of working-class communities of color through policy victories. 

This year, New Virginia Majority plans on investing $3.2 million on direct voter outreach, mobilizing, and education for Black, Latinx, and AAPI voters, to ensure their voices and votes are counted. 

​​”Change doesn’t happen on its own. We have made generational progress in Virginia these past several years not only because Black and brown voters have turned out in record numbers, but because they have also organized around issues that most directly impact their lives. As a result, we are seeing firsthand the progress that can be made when working-class communities of color come together, organize and vote. To continue our transformational progress, it is imperative that we elect candidates who have a history of engaging with our communities. We are excited to work alongside our community members and partners to elect champions and allies who will fight with us to keep Virginia moving forward,” said Tram Nguyen, co-executive director of New Virginia Majority.

We look forward to working to get our endorsed candidates elected and will work with other organizations to ensure a more just Virginia for all of us.

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New Virginia Majority builds power in working-class communities of color, in immigrant communities, among LGBTQ people, women, youth, and progressives across the Commonwealth. We organize for racial and economic justice through large-scale political education, mobilization and advocacy around dozens of issues. We fight for a Virginia that is just, democratic and environmentally sustainable. For more information, visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook at @NewVAMajority.