So it’s been a little while since I’ve written a diary on DailyKos, but today is certainly a special day to warrant the end to my hiatus! Vangie Williams — who is featured on 90for90 and is the 1st black woman to be nominated by a major party for a Congressional seat in Virginia — turns 50 today!
Before I dive too far into Vangie and why she’s awesome, let’s take a quick look back at the Republican incumbent she’s running against. Rob Wittman (R) has been a rubber stamp for Trump’s agenda, has a quid-pro-quo love affair with the shipbuilding industry, and usually remains completely silent when the KKK distributes flyers in parts of our congressional district. All the while, he plays himself up as a moderate, environmentally-minded conservative. Hint: it’s a lie.
Vangie, by contrast, has dedicated her life to helping others, professionally and otherwise. Currently, she works for as a Strategic Planner for a major government contractor where she strengthens national security and manages critical infrastructure projects. She’s raising her six daughters alongside her husband of 25 years, so she knows the challenges of working families. She’s volunteered with the League of Women Voters, NOW, LBGTQ Democrats, Sierra Club, NAACP and ACLU.
And now she’s running to be the very first African American Woman to serve in Congress for Virginia.
How can you help? By spreading the word, giving to her campaign, and of course making sure any of your friends who live in Virginia’s 1st District get out to vote for her this November!