Virginia Dems Select Northam and Herring

Virginia Democrats selected Sen. Ralph Northam as their candidate for Lieutenant Governor and Sen. Mark Herring for Attorney General. Accompanying Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, the two senators round out the Democratic ticket for November’s general election.

DPVA Chair Delegate Charniele Herring’s Statement on today’s Primary Election results and the newly elected Democratic ticket:

“Virginians are lucky to have Terry McAuliffe, Senator Ralph Northam, and Senator Mark Herring to elect this November,” said DPVA Chair Delegate Charniele Herring. “Their focus on expanding jobs and the economy, fixing Virginia’s transportation crisis, and increased access to affordable education couldn’t be more opposite of the extreme ideological agenda and rhetoric of the Cuccinelli, Jackson, Obenshain ticket.

“Virginians had a difficult decision to make today with four exceptional candidates on the ballot. Senator Ralph Northam and Senator Mark Herring ran strong campaigns based on the values we all share. Both of them have bright futures as leaders in our party and our Commonwealth; they deserve our thanks for their commitment to the Virginia families we all serve.

“We look forward to November and will work day in and day out to ensure a Democratic victory.”

Primary Day!

This Tuesday, June 11th, polls will be open from 6am to 7pm. Will you be there? Virginia’s Democrats head to the polls today to choose their nominees for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.

Still undecided? Read on for statements from each candidate.

Need to find your polling place? Check out Virginia’s Polling Place Lookup tool.

Lieutenant Governor

Candidates listed in ballot order

Ralph Northam

Ralph Northam has served in the Virginia State Senate for six years and is respected as a straight talker and tenacious policymaker. As a US Army doctor who cared for our troops during Operation Desert Storm, Ralph Northam has seen what military-style assault weapons do to the human body. As a pediatric neurologist, he has sat at the bedside of children who have been shot and told parents that their children will not survive. He is the only candidate for statewide office talking about these issues because he knows it is time to get assault weapons off our streets.

As a tireless advocate for women’s rights and the only doctor in the Senate, Ralph Northam earned the friendship and endorsement of Senator Barbara Favola. Ralph has stood up to Ken Cuccinelli and the radical Republicans efforts to curtail women’s access to healthcare and he is the chief patron of the bill to repeal the mandatory ultrasound law. He has a proven record of navigating Virginia’s legislative process and has the experience necessary to protect Virginians’ values as Lieutenant Governor.

http://www.northamforlg.com

Aneesh Chopra

I’m running for Lt. Governor because I believe that Virginia’s best days are ahead of us. I’m running because I believe that we can turn the page on the extreme politics of the last four years and build a more inclusive and prosperous Commonwealth.

As Lt. Governor, I will use every tool available to stop the radical Republican agenda that attacks women and minorities. I will use the tie-breaking vote to advance our Democratic principals. I commit to being a full-time Lt. Governor, and I will be a champion for new ideas. I will work tirelessly to bring new jobs to every part of Virginia, and ensure that workers are prepared for those jobs with affordable and accessible job training and education programs.

My experience serving in Governor Tim Kaine’s cabinet, and serving as the first Chief Technology Officer of the United States for President Barack Obama have prepared me to make a real difference on day one. I know that we can return Virginia to the path to prosperity — where we make good on the promise that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can succeed. We’ve done it before with Governors Warner and Kaine, and we will do it again.

If you believe, like I do, that we need new energy and new ideas in Richmond, I ask for your vote on Tuesday. If you believe, like I do, that we must be a more inclusive Commonwealth, I ask for your vote. Together, we will move Virginia forward.

http://www.teamchopra.org

Attorney General

Candidates listed in ballot order

Mark Herring

Throughout this campaign, I have laid out a vision for the Attorney General’s office that is far different than what we’ve seen from Ken Cuccinelli over the last four years. I’m asking for your support on June 11th because I can beat Republican Attorney General candidate Mark Obenshain in the Fall and I can turn around the Attorney General’s office starting on day one. I have a record of fighting for our shared Democratic values in the State Senate. As your Attorney General you can trust that I will focus on protecting all Virginians and put the law first.

I will defend a woman’s right to make her own personal decisions about her health care and I am proud to have been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC. I will work to prevent gun violence by pushing for universal background checks for gun purchases, protect the right to vote by working to repeal unfair voter ID laws and I will use the powers of the office to promote equality for all Virginians.

I have received tremendous support in Arlington from current and former elected officials like Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, Sen. Barbara Favola, Del. Bob Brink, Del. Patrick Hope, Del. Alfonso Lopez, Board Member Jay Fisette, Board Member Walter Tejada, Clerk of Court Paul Ferguson, Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy and School Board Member Noah Simon.

I am honored to have their support and I hope I can earn yours in the Democratic primary on June 11.

http://www.herringforag.com

Justin Fairfax

Virginia needs a new kind of Attorney General who will fight for security and opportunity for all Virginians and who will protect our constitutional rights. I will be that Attorney General. That’s why I have been endorsed by the Washington Post, which noted my “agile and impressive command of the issues” and “prosecutor’s passion for justice.”

As the only prosecutor in the race, I have the high-level legal experience that equips me to protect Virginia’s families, businesses and government. I served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, prosecuting federal crimes in the Major Crimes and Narcotics Unit and serving as Deputy of the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force. I have prosecuted violent and financial crimes against our citizens and fraud against our government.

As the next Attorney General, I will protect the rights of all Virginians. I will conduct constitutional reviews of the TRAP regulations and of the photo voter ID bill. I will also fight to protect homeowners from mortgage market abuses and protect students seeking higher education loans.

Virginia’s families deserve a champion. As the next Attorney General, I will fight to ensure that we have more economic security and opportunity for our families and that all of our citizens are treated equally under the law, no matter where they’re born, what their last name is, or who they love. Stand with me on June 11 and let’s welcome a new day in Virginia.

http://www.justinfairfax.com

Delegate Krupicka’s Awesome Speech

At last night’s ACDC meeting, Delegate Rob Krupicka summed up (in less than five minutes) what it means to be a Democrat, and why the election this year is so important. Give it a watch!

Chopra, Northam to Debate 6/5 @ ACDC

Join ACDC for a debate between our two Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Aneesh Chopra and Ralph Northam. The debate will take place as part of our monthly ACDC meeting, which will be held at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 5, at Founders Hall (Room 134) at the George Mason Arlington Campus (3351 Fairfax Dr., 22201) in Clarendon. Learn all about the candidates just six days before you have to cast your vote!

The Listener

Meet Steve Baker.

Steve Baker is a lifelong Democrat, a native Virginian raised in Winchester, VA. That’s Byrd Country. But Steve was never a Byrd Democrat.

Continue reading…

An Hour Today Can Mean Victory in the Fall

Report from Chairman Mike Lieberman

Our work in the Arlington Democrats is never done. We are faced in Arlington with elections every year. We have an educated electorate that requires regular engagement with our candidates in order to earn their vote. And we are challenged by a transience that turns over nearly one-fifth of our voters every four years.

To answer these challenges, it is not enough for us simply to engage every fall as our voters head to the polls. We must run a year-round operation to be effective. For the last several years, that is what we have done, and the results speak for themselves. Indeed, at a time when Democratic results across the state have flagged, Arlington’s turnout and Democratic performance numbers have stayed strong. But why?

Continue reading…

Terry McAuliffe – On Issues Important to VA Women

There is a clear difference:

Read More at http://terrymcauliffe.com/on-the-issues/women/on-issues-important-to-virginia-women/

James Lander Wins Democratic Endorsement for Arlington School Board

Arlington, VA – Earlier this evening, by a vote of 1144 to 1097, School Board Member James Lander was selected as the 2013 Democratic endorsee for the Arlington School Board. The vote was held over a two-day caucus on May 9 and May 11. Lander will run for re-election to the Arlington School Board as the Democratic Party’s endorsee in November.

Lander and Arlington County Democratic Chair Mike Lieberman issued the following statements regarding the vote:

James Lander: “This campaign has been a tremendous opportunity to re-connect with Arlington voters. I appreciate Barbara Kanninen’s spirited and well run campaign, and I thank her for her work to engage the voters of Arlington on the important issues facing our schools. I am humbled to have another opportunity to be the Democratic endorsee for the School Board, and I hope to continue my service to the students and families of Arlington.”

Mike Lieberman: “James Lander has been a strong voice for Arlington’s students in his four years on the board, and today’s vote is an affirmation of his record. We are proud to again have James representing us as our Democratic endorsee in November, and we will be working hard to ensure he has four more years on the School Board. I also want to thank Barbara Kanninen for running a thoughtful and energetic campaign, and giving Arlington voters a choice between two superb leaders.”

Update: Per the counting of provisional ballots, the final tally has been updated to Lander: 1144, Kanninen: 1098.

School Board Endorsement Caucus – May 9 & 11

Arlington democrats will hold a “firehouse primary” style caucus at two different locations on May 9th and 11th to choose an endorsee for November’s School Board race. Any registered Arlington voter may participate after signing an affidavit to support the winning candidate in the general election.

More details on times, locations, and voting are here and here. We hope to see you there.

And if you need more info on the candidates, you can find it on their respective websites:

Candidate Statements for School Board Caucus

Barbara Kanninen

We have great public schools in Arlington, but we currently face tight budgets, a rapidly growing student population, and other challenges. I am running for School Board because I’m ready to take on these challenges to help make our schools even better.

As a Ph.D. economist, I have 25 years of experience digging into data and budgets. As a children’s book author, I have worked with kids of all ages and backgrounds, skill levels, and needs. I co-chaired the School Board’s Early Childhood Advisory Committee and served on the Math Advisory Committee, as well as the Advisory Council on Instruction. I coached elementary and middle school Odyssey of the Mind, a program that promotes “thinking outside the box.” I’m a founding board member of the Youth Ultimate League of Arlington and founder and chair of Arlington/Alexandria Women for Obama, an activist, grassroots network of 600 women.

Here are a few ways I think we can improve our schools: I’d like to see us strengthen our science, technology, engineering, and math programs, as well as the arts and foreign languages. I’d like to make alternative programs—such as the Arlington Career Center—more accessible to more students. And I would like to see us make adult mentoring of students a priority. For more on my positions, go to http://www.barbarakforschoolboard.com/issues.php.

I would love to have your vote in the Democratic caucus, so that together we can strengthen our schools for the 21st century.

http://www.barbarakforschoolboard.com

James Lander

I’ve been honored to be an Arlington School Board member since 2010. My mission has been to find more ways to inspire, support, and empower our young people. My goal is to ensure all students fulfill their potential, work toward their dreams, and become successful, caring adults.

Along with my board colleagues, I’ve worked to enhance the student experience without breaking the budget, a big challenge with dramatically increasing enrollment. My initiatives include expanding elementary student access to science, technology, engineering, and math; developing minority student mentoring programs that engage families and the community during critical middle-school years; improving the Arlington Career Center curriculum; and ensuring the hiring and retention of the best and brightest educators for our students.

I helped ensure Wakefield High School was renovated as a 21st Century education center while ensuring each dollar was spent wisely. I am proud to help Arlington maintain its outstanding reputation as a top school system in our nation.

I seek a 2nd term because there is still more work to be done. I bring an important perspective to the School Board’s work and collaborations, enhancing the decision-making process and providing insights about our diverse student body. My second term agenda includes continued expansion of critical programs that raise individual academic learning and achievement, empowering parents to be active participants in their children’s education, and engaging our community to support our students.

I ask for your support and vote for another term to carry on these efforts.

http://www.jameslander.org