Elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and House of Representatives will be held in Virginia on November 4th. In particular, “moral objections” to marriage equality and anti-transgender advertising are shaping current turnout numbers and the election’s relevance to LGBTQ voters.
Given former state Rep. Jay Jones’ texting scandal that rocked the attorney general race, Democrats could end up with a split vote with just a week left until Election Day.
Governor: Abigail Spanberger vs. Winsome Earl Sears
Former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears are vying for governor. One poll shows Mr. Spanberger leading Earl Sears by 7 points among likely Virginia voters. Voting on October 27th Written by Christian Newport University.
Earl Sears asserted during the gubernatorial debate that opposing marriage equality and employment protections for the LGBTQ community is “not discrimination.” The candidate is also “morally opposed” to marriage equality.
Spanberger, backed by former President Barack Obama and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, has a track record of supporting LGBTQ rights, including co-sponsoring the Equality Act, which enshrined nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people in federal law.
An ad from the Restoration of America PAC, a conservative group, describes Spanberger’s stance on transgender rights as “the most extreme.”
Lieutenant Governor: Ghazala Hashmi vs. John Reid
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi holds a 2-point lead over Republican John Reed, according to a CNU poll. The Democratic Party’s lead has shrunk from its previous lead of 48-39%.
Mr. Reid, a conservative talk show host, was the first openly gay person to be appointed to a statewide office in Virginia. But on his campaign website, the candidate denies the existence of transgender people and promises to vote against a constitutional amendment that would protect marriage equality in Virginia.
Early in his campaign, Reed faced calls for his resignation from Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is barred by Virginia law from holding consecutive elections, after pornographic images he allegedly posted on social media circulated.
Mr. Hashmi’s career includes supporting marriage equality protections and sponsoring a bill that would protect doctors who provide gender-affirming medical care to patients who do not live in Virginia.
Attorney General: Jay Jones vs. Jason Miyares
Incumbent Republican Rep. Jason Miyares has a one-point lead over Jones, according to a CNU poll conducted after the texting scandal. Earlier this month, National Review published a screenshot of Jones texting a colleague about a scenario in which he would shoot and kill former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert.
The release of the August 2022 conversation led President Donald Trump to call on Jones to withdraw from the race, Spanberger to express his “disgust” to Jones, and Earl Sears to encourage voters to “reject the insanity.”
Jones still maintains 91% support among Democrats, but that number is down from the last CNU poll, which found 96% of Democrats supported him.
House of Representatives
All 100 seats in Virginia’s House of Representatives are on the ballot. The CNU poll asked voters which party they planned to vote for and found that Democrats had an eight-point lead over Republican candidates.
The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is a political action committee that aims to advance LGBTQ political power and supports eight House candidates in the state. Rosia Henson (D-Prince William County), Laura Jane Cohen (D-Fairfax County), Joshua Cole (D-Fredericksburg), Marcia Price (D-Newport News), Adele McClure (D-Arlington County), Mark Sickles (D-Fairfax County), Lindsay Dougherty and Lise Hayes.
Dougherty and Hayes are running against Republican incumbents in the 75th and 52nd Districts, respectively.
Victory Fund President Evan Lo said LGBTQ representation is about “improving lives and sharing important lived experiences.”
“At a time when LGBTQ+ identities are under attack, we are proud to have a strong and robust coalition of delegates on the ballot this November,” Lowe said.
Daniel Hernandez, the group’s vice president for political programs, added that state legislatures offer a more “direct and concrete” path to change.
“Knowing that the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is working with these amazing candidates, with several incumbents up for re-election and working to expand the LGBTQ+ caucus in the Virginia House of Delegates, shows the power and influence of LGBTQ+ representation and how it works for Virginians,” said Hernandez.
Narissa Rahman is the executive director of Equality Virginia Advocates, the advocacy arm of Equality Virginia, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group.
Rahman said the candidates chosen Nov. 4 will influence the advancement of LGBTQ rights and changes to the state constitution to protect marriage equality, reproductive freedom and voting rights.
“As the National Guard is mobilized in neighboring states and cities, increasingly radicalized ICE raids disrupt communities, and federal funds are used to intimidate public education and health care institutions into submission, Virginia’s best hope for fighting back in the coming years is to ensure we elect pro-equality candidates to the House of Delegates and to offices across the state,” Rahman said.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
