I'm a teacher, have been for nine years, and I love what I do. I can think of nothing better to do with a life than to help young minds grow. I never intended to be running for office. But nine years ago we lived in a different world. It was a world that felt like the norms and rules with how we governed still applied. It was a world that felt like it was getting kinder and safer and more just for everyone.
But then everything seemed to change in 2016. And, you could really feel it, you know? It was like some seismic shift where everything got rearranged. For me, this eruption was even greater because, soon thereafter, my wife and I welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world. If any of you are parents, you know that you start to worry about everything. So much makes you anxious, nervous. How will he hurt himself today? Why isn’t he eating? More than that, though, I began to worry about what kind of world I was leaving for my son. Then, though, I realized that that's a little selfish. It's not just about my son: it's about all our sons and daughters in the world we're leaving for them. But, even that seemed too narrow as the assault on our safety nets and environment concern all people and all ages.
So, my wife and I were driving in the car one day and we were listening to NPR. I started complaining about something. My wife, Josie, looked over at me and said, “Ron.” Now, I know when she calls me “Ron” I’m in trouble. Josie said, “Stop complaining and do something.”
”Jos,” I said. “What do you want me to do?”
”You’re running for office,” she said. I looked at her like she was crazy. Sure, people had been talking to me about running, but we have a three-month-old. This was nuts. but then she said something that I’ll never forget. She said, “When things get hard—and they definitely will—know that I’ll always have your back. And, when you think it’s too hard, you can always look in your son’s eyes and know why you’re doing this.”
And that's why I'm here today, writing this piece. I worry about Virginia, and I worry about the 27th Senate District. This is my home, and it is where I want to raise my family. I grew up in the Appalachia area of Ohio, and it did some wonderful things for me. It taught me the values of community, family, and hard work. But, the land has been decimated, and that will not happen my new home; I worry deeply about our land and water, and I will make sure they stay clean. I also worry about our teachers and our schools; they are not paid well enough, and they are not funded well enough. That must change. I worry about criminal justice reform, and I worry about voting rights, and I worry about our farms, and I worry about firearm safety, and the list goes on and on and on. There is so much to worry about. But that is why I am running.
I’ve also been asked to take on Jill Vogel, one of the toughest Republicans in the state. She is no friend to all that I have listed above, and she is especially bad for women’s healthcare. Moreover, she has unlimited money, coming from an extraordinarily wealthy family. But, the path to victory is clear. The last time we really challenged her, the election came down to 600 votes out of 50,000 cast, and, last year, there were 38,000 Kaine voters in the district. We can do this. We must.
Ronnie Ross
Democratic Candidate for Virginia Senate, District 27
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