VA: Running On Green New Deal, Virginia Democrats Take Full Control Of State Govt.

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Wed Nov 6, 2019, 10:06 AM - Edit history (1)

'This Is the Roadmap': Running on Green New Deal, Virginia Democrats Take Full Control of State Government for First Time in Decades. "Tonight showed that running on the Green New Deal is a key part of how Democrats can win elections." JJ, Common Dreams, Nov. 6, 2019.



The Virginia Democratic Party took full control of the state government for the first time in nearly three decades Tuesday night by winning majorities in both chambers of the legislature, a massive shift progressives celebrated as a testament to the electoral power of bold policy proposals like the Green New Deal.

Democratic candidates—including Green New Deal backers Joshua Cole, Ghazala Hashmi, and Dan Helmer—flipped at least five Republican seats in the House of Delegates and at least two in the state Senate, overcoming the GOP's thin majorities. Additionally, Green New Deal champions like Democratic socialist Del. Lee Carter, Del. Kelly Convirs-Fowler, and Del. Elizabeth Guzman won reelection.

In a statement, the youth-led Sunrise Movement noted that Virginia Democrats' historic victory comes just months after the state's Democratic Party unanimously endorsed a Green New Deal for Virginia. "Tonight showed that running on the Green New Deal is a key part of how Democrats can win elections," said Varshini Prakash, executive director of the Sunrise Movement. "The polls and election results tell a clear story: the Green New Deal is a winning issue."

..According to Data for Progress polling conducted ahead of Tuesday's election, progressive policy proposals like the Green New Deal, free insulin, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, and expanding Medicaid were widely popular across the state. Delegate-elect Cole flipped a district President Donald Trump won in 2016 by running on a bold policy platform including a Green New Deal and ending cash bail. "Rethink your 'electability' assumptions," tweeted Nick Tagliaferro of Data for Progress in response to Cole's victory...

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/11/06/roadmap-running-green-new-deal-virginia-democrats-take-full-control-state-government



- Democratic supporters cheer at a party in Richmond, Virginia on Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

[appalachiablue]

1. Democrats Win Full Control Of Virginia's Govt. Paving Way For VOTING RIGHTS EXPANSION:

Daily Kos, Nov. 6, 2019. Democrats flipped both chambers of Virginia's state legislature on Tuesday, giving them full control over state government for the first time in a quarter century—and opening the door to a wave of reforms that would make voting easier and protect the right to vote. When lawmakers convene in early January, these are just some of the issues they’ll be poised to tackle:
•Automatic voter registration
•Same-day voter registration
•True early voting (instead of just one week of in-person absentee voting)
•Removing the excuse requirement to vote absentee by mail
•Extending Election Day polling hours
•Curtailing the disenfranchisement of voters who have felony convictions

Legislators in several other states have passed many of these policies, but there’s still more that Virginia Democrats can consider:
•Softening or repealing the state’s voter ID requirement
•Setting campaign contribution limits in place of the existing system that allows unlimited donations to candidates
•Establishing public campaign financing
•Setting up vote centers where any voter within a city or co. may cast a ballot instead of just at their local polling place
•Joining the National Popular Vote Compact to help elect the president by popular vote
•Enacting a constitutional amendment to reform redistricting...
More, https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/11/5/1897111/-Democrats-win-full-control-of-Virginia-s-government-paving-the-way-for-a-voting-rights-expansion



- State House Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn (D) could soon be the 1st woman to become Virginia House speaker.

[Autumn]

2. These young people are remarkable. "Rethink your 'electability' assumptions,"

Good advice. Hats off to Virginia.

[appalachiablue]

3. D win in almost 30 yrs. These advocates are a force, glad to see it.

[Autumn]

4. I'm thrilled to see the young people stepping up. They will do well.

[colsohlibgal]

5. Awesome

Now if my State Ohio can just turn back to blue.

[appalachiablue]

8. Ohio can turn, PA too along w with others that should be Blue

[Farmer-Rick]

6. There was about a 13% increase in voter turnout last night in Virginia

As compared to last year. The more people who vote the more often Dems win.

[appalachiablue]

7. 13% increase is huge, tx. Democrat power!

[lagomorph777]

9. My new Loudoun County VA County Board of Supervisors rep is Juli Briskman; she help flip it!

Oh, and she is the woman who flipped off Trump, so famously.

I'm so proud!

[Blue_Tires]

10. Bravo, well done to all...