Biden offers over a dozen endorsements in Virginia days before election
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced nearly two dozen endorsements for Virginia legislature seats on Saturday, just days before the state is set to vote in critical elections.
Every seat of the Virginia legislature is up for grabs in 2023, with Democrats hoping to hold onto their tight state Senate margin and Republicans aiming to keep the state House.
Biden and Harris announced a slate of 23 endorsements for swing-district Democrats.
“With so much on the line this year, we can’t afford to let this important election pass us by. So much hangs in the balance — not just for Virginia but for the direction of this country,” Biden and Harris said in a statement. “While our party continues to show steady leadership in Washington, these candidates are stepping up and campaigning in their communities for a brighter future for Virginia.”
The election is also seen as a referendum on the leadership of Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Va.), the popular governor who is rumored to be eying a future presidential campaign.
Youngkin has campaigned hard for Republicans across the state, but Democrats have attempted to focus the race on his controversial views on abortion and LGBTQ rights.
Virginia Democrats have also been critical of the national Democratic Party and the Biden administration for not putting enough focus on the state’s races. There are few other major competitive races across the country in 2023.
Focus is also on gubernatorial races in Kentucky and Mississippi, as well as key ballot measures in Ohio and other states.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the group organizing state legislature races for Democrats, was grateful for the endorsements.
“We’ve known all year that Virginia would be extremely competitive and we are all hands on deck to finish strong and win the state legislature majorities that Virginians deserve,” DLCC President Heather Williams said in a statement. “We are grateful for President Biden and Vice President Harris’ support and for their leadership in bringing attention to the stakes of the elections this year.”
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Below are the candidates Biden and Harris have endorsed.
State Senate
- Schuyler VanValkenburg (SD-16)
- Clint Jenkins (SD-17)
- Aaron Rouse (SD-22)
- Monty Mason (SD-24)
- Joel Griffin (SD-27)
- Danica Roem (SD-30)
- Russet Perry (SD-31)
State House
- Michele Maldonado (HD-20)
- Joshua Thomas (HD-21)
- Travis Nembhard (HD-22)
- Atoosa Reaser (HD-27)
- Marty Martinez (HD-29)
- Amy Laufer (HD-55)
- Rodney Willett (HD-58)
- Joshua Cole (HD-65)
- Shelly Simonds (HD-70)
- Stephen Miller-Pitts (HD-75)
- Kimberly Pope Adams (HD-82)
- Nadarius Clark (HD-84)
- Karen Jenkins (HD-89)
- Phil Hernandez (HD-94)
- Kelly Fowler (HD-96)
- Michael Feggans (HD-97)