Virginia is holding a number of primaries across the state today to pick nominees for state legislative districts to run in the general election this fall.
The fight this fall is for control of the state senate, which in under GOP contol by one seat. Dems need to pick up one seat and they control the state senate, where the Tea Party crazies have passed bills like voter ID bills disenfranchising minority voters, the elderly and the urban poor, or the ultrasound bill. But it's also about what they won't do - like passing medicare.
In Virginia, the state is so split in the state senate because even in the older suburbs of northern Virginia and Richmond, which have either shifted and voting Democratic or are trending Democratic, the GOP still retains some of these seats they should not.
In order to re-capture the state senate, Senate district 10, which takes in part of the city of Richmond, part of Chesterfield, and all of Powhatan, Democrats need to capture this seat. The current GOP senator is retiring - he probably couldn't have survived a primary challenge as he is more moderate than the GOP on a number of issues.
This seat is ripe for winning - in the last presidential race in 2012, as well as the attorney generals race in 2013, and the U. S. Senate race in 2014, Democrats have won this district, but we need a strong progressive running to pump up turnout in the general election to win this seat - and that progressive is named Emily Francis.
As one of Virginia’s leading conservationists, she worked with scientists to devise plans to protect the Chesapeake Bay — then worked with farmers, watermen and others to implement it. She has worked extensively with non-profit organizations to preserve our treasured landscapes, strengthen public health standards and protect consumers’ rights. Emily has navigated solutions at the state and local levels and has helped pave a common-sense path forward. She currently advises non-profit organizations in Virginia to advance public policy victories that are good for all Virginians.
Emily Francis will bring a fresh perspective and an unflagging commitment to public service to the Senate of Virginia. She’s a seasoned strategist, a skilled organizer and a trusted advocate. Her work with organizations across the country most recently has included the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. Emily has spent the last eight years in and around public policy in Virginia, as such she has worked on both sides of the aisle, and knows what it takes to get things done at our Capitol.
As an active community leader, Emily has engaged in projects that bring people together, listen to their needs, encourage collaboration and increase civic engagement.
Francis is a strong progressive, and supports raising the minimum wage and she will continue to fight to make sure Virginia’s economy works for everyone, not just the wealthy.
Education
To prepare Virginians for the jobs of the future, every child should have EQUAL access to a quality, affordable education.
Healthcare
Emily believes that access to affordable healthcare is fundamental to Virginia families and will fight against Republican attacks to limit access to quality healthcare.
Protecting Women
As the daughter of a nurse, Emily knows how important it is for women to make their own health care decisions, not politicians. She’ll always protect a woman’s access to reproductive health care, including affordable birth control.
Emil Francis has won endorsements from a number of progressive organizations, including Democracy for America, EMILY's List, Sierra Club, VA NOW - Virginia National Organization for Women, WUFPAC ~ Electing Young Women Leaders, and others. These progressive groups know how important this race is - even Jim Dean, who heads up Democracy for America, was in Richmond this past Sunday participating in a canvas on behalf of Emily Francis.
Emily Francis is the type of progressive, running in the right type of district that our party needs to win in order to take back a number of state legislatures the party lost in 2010 and 2014.
Now, the bad news about this race - her opponent is Chesterfield County Supervisor, the attorney who represented Kathleen Willey, who had accused former President Bill Clinton of groping her in the White House. Gecker, who is also a developer who sits on the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, but ran as an Independent, has a slippery past with Kathleen Willey and another shady character, Richmond developer Lou Salomonsky. Read the Salon story - it's shocking.
http://www.salon.com/...
But what is even more shocking is that Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has endorsed Gecker of all people. It would be interesting to see if Gecker would support Hillary Clinton in she becomes our nominee. But how the governor thinks all of this would be a good thing - the optics would look terrible.
And did I tell you that Dan Gecker's political hero hero is Ronald Reagan - yup, his own words"
http://www.styleweekly.com/...
Check out Emily's mailers exposing Gecker as DINO and help get out the vote today for Emily!
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/...
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/...
So, if you live in this district, please get out and vote today. If you know friends and family that live in the district, please contact them and urge them to vote. This primary will be a low turnout affair and every single vote can make the difference.
Here is Emily Francis' Facebook page and campaign website:
https://www.facebook.com/...
http://francisforsenate.com/
If you are unsure if you are in the district, or don't know where your voting precinct is, here is a link to the Virginia State Board of Elections website that can help:
https://www.vote.virginia.gov/...