Here is a bit of an update in the ongoing saga of will the Virginia Democratic Party put a democratic candidate on the ballot in HD-49 or will they give the race away to the Republican candidate?
The Virginia Mercury ran a piece on it, Why Democratic officials won’t let a would-be candidate run for the Virginia House.
It’s a pretty good piece, I thought it explained at least part of the situation pretty well. It’s a confusing story because each state has different rules for getting on the ballot. The part the author, Graham Moomaw, left out that I think is important was that yes, Virginia has different rules for getting candidates on the ballot, but this local Virginia Democratic Party has different rules for different candidates.
Mr. Moomaw could have included the fact that some candidates paid nothing. Some paid anywhere from $50 to $250 but it was refundable.
I love the fact that he included information about both Dr. Fergie Reid’s in the story. Some background on Dr. William Ferguson Reid Sr., as well as his philosophy of running a Democratic candidate in every race, every time.
The controversy is also spotlighting a divide among Democrats over whether it helps to run candidates in as many districts as possible even in places where they have little chance of winning. Some see having Democrats on the ballot as crucial, keeping rural Democrats engaged and forcing Republicans to play defense. Others see longshot campaigns as a potential drain on resources to accommodate candidates with unrealistic expectations.
I would argue that #1 This is an R+6 district, not a long shot at all. #2, as our own Brainwrap says:
Lynlee Thorne, Rural Ground Game’s political director, sent an email to Jasmine and “advised strongly against taking guidance from an individual in another state.”
Another state?!? Some of the biggest political consultants in the US regularly consult in states outside their own. The biggest campaigns usually hire these gigantic consulting firms that are in either New York or California. What are they talking about anyway, out of state? We live in the internet age and as our own Ms. Spent Youth says:
We are the United States of America.
Lipscomb has been in communication with Fergie Reid Jr., a California-based voting rights activist who is the son of Virginia civil rights pioneer William Ferguson “Fergie” Reid Sr., who helped organize Black voters during Massive Resistance and in 1967 became the first Black person elected to the Virginia General Assembly since Reconstruction.
The junior Reid sees helping recruit and advise Virginia Democrats running in less-prioritized districts as part of carrying on his father’s work, but he occasionally clashes with party officials over the rigidity of rules like filing fees. Reid said he questions what message state Democratic leaders are sending to the Danville area’s substantial Black population by blocking a Black woman from running.
“Why is she being denied for her inability to pay $500?” he said.
If I was going to take advice from anyone on how to win an election I would for damn sure get that advice from the Dr’s. Fergie Reid!
It's easy to get sidetracked with the process and how dumb this local Democratic Party is being, but the big thing here is Jasmine Lipscomb.
Lipscomb, a former US marine, served as a legal service specialist — similar to a paralegal — and was selected to guard the U.S. embassy in Paris for a time.
In Virginia she stepped up when nobody else would and wants to provide the voters in her district a chance to participate in “small d” democracy. To have more than one person on the ballot. To have an actual “capital D” Democrat on the ballot.
It’s not too late. We can still help her get on the ballot. We can push. These asshats in charge seem so focused on money, let’s show them some. We’re good at that. Please push the DONATE button and give what you can.
I’m a $2 donor. There are some here who do $20, some do $200, hell some of you may be $2,000 donors. Don’t hold back on my account. They can’t see what a superstar Jasmine is. Let’s give her some shiny coin so they can see her better.