In Virginia, there is a a real battle for the Democratic nomination for Governor. On one hand, there is former Congressman Tom Perriello, a progressive who depends on people power. On the other hand, there is Virginia Lt. Governor Ralph Northam, who voted for George W. Bush for President in 2000 and 2004.
Ralph Northam, Virginia’s lieutenant governor, was handpicked by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to run as his successor and was the likely nominee until former Rep. Tom Perriello, a populist-progressive from the Charlottesville area, jumped into the race.
Northam’s admission comes at an inopportune time politically, as the race is increasingly becoming a contest over which candidate is better suited to resist the Trump administration. Perriello has made his opposition to President Donald Trump the cornerstone of his candidacy, combined with an economic populism that seeks to challenge Trump’s ethnically charged version.
HuffPo: Democratic Candidate For Virginia Governor Says He Voted For George W. Bush. Twice.
But the lieutenant governor has blemishes of his own in a Democratic primary race. He conceded that he had voted for George W. Bush in each of his presidential campaigns, explaining that he was an apolitical doctor at the time and now viewed his decision as “wrong.”
New York Times
It is not “apolitical” to vote for George W. Bush twice.
Here are some recent tweets by Perriello:
Perriello was a one-term Congressman defeated in the 2010 wave.
Learn more here: Tom Perriello for Governor
But it’s not enough to just talk about more jobs, because we know that not all jobs are created equal. As governor, I will fight for every Virginian to have not just a job but a good job, with good wages, a sense of security, and the flexibility and support they need to balance work with family - at every skill level. I will work with our companies, universities and vocational schools to close the skills gap and equip Virginians for the middle-class jobs of the 21st century.
I also believe that working Virginians deserve a raise. Our current minimum wage of $7.25 hasn’t been raised since 2009; we lag behind our neighbors in Maryland and West Virginia, both of which have higher wage rates. As Governor, I will fight to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. In addition, as Governor I will push to make the state Earned Income Tax Credit refundable, to help ensure that families working full-time are not living in poverty.
Virginians also should have the ability to balance their jobs with their family lives. As Governor, I will support paid medical and family leave so that Virginian families have the flexibility to raise families and take care of themselves in times of hardship.
Growing the Economy for all Virginians
A Bush voter or a progressive. Seems like an easy choice.
