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VA HoD Races: Ds Showing Strong, Rs...not so much, as Filing Deadline Looms [1]
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Date: 2025-04-01
I. Introduction: It's about service, stupid
For many of us in Gen X, the norm was and is to bounce around a lot, job-wise. But a new phenomena is starting to show itself: those many-years-in-one-job Gen X careerists are starting to think about what to with the next chapter of their lives. And some of these folks are coming from military service where the hard work of decades is rewarded with a chance to be able to pursue other passions, and, guess what? Seems that passion is still service. So now as some Gen Xers are starting to look around for next chapter, itpolitics is calling. Gen X isn’t the mightiest generation, not by any means, but maybe we can still do some damage for the good guys.
II. Of course it’s starting in Virginia, where politics is always a year ahead
In Virginia, multiple Gen X-aged folks and even a couple Millenials are running in VA’s always important off-year House of Delegates races. In fact, some of them are >gasp!< running in those scary red districts where Democrats often fear to tread. You know the ones—the districts on the map that have “Here there be dragons,” over them, and Democrats run the other way.
Now, I know I don’t have to say it to anyone interested enough to be reading this, but I will, anyway: these off-year races are BIGLY important. The phrase “bellwether of the nation,” has been used to describe Virginia’s off-year elections for a long time. With, y’know, the rise of a, oh, I don’t know, let’s call it, totalitarian United States happening right before our eyes, if there were ever a time where this was true, it’s now. Like, right. fucking . now. You feel me?
III. So who is running for the House of Delegates?
Lt. Cmdr. Mario Haggerty, District 67
A. In that spirit, first let’s meet Chief Petty Officer Eric Klotz (USN, Ret.) a combat veteran with nearly two decades of service in special ops. Shortly after retiring, he decided to continue to serve his country by running for election in Virginia’s 39th House of Delegates District, which includes Rocky Mount. VPAP.org calls the district, “Strong Republican.” Yeah, whatever. Did you not read the “special ops” part of the bio?
B. Along with Eric, meet fellow Navy veteran Lt. Cmdr. Mario Haggerty (USN ret.) who is running in Virginia’s 67th HoD District, in the Northern Neck (Virginians will know what that means) and yes, you guessed it, it’s called “Strong Republican,” by VPAP.org. And again, whatever. People are so ticked off right now I’m not sure how much that kind of metric means anymore.
Stacey Carroll, District 64
C. In District 64, Stacey Carroll, an almost 20-year Army Reservist/member of the National Guard, and a gosh-darn award-winning foster mom (And as someone who some experience with the foster system I know that means something!) has entered the race in Piedmont against a regional R-lifer, and guess what? This district “leans” R.
D. Shane Boswell, a former Navy chief petty officer, is challenging Republican Del. Delores Oates, R-Warren, in District 31, including Frederick and other counties, and in another “Strongly Republican” district.
Shane Boswell, District 31
E. In District 49, Marine Corp veteran Jasmine Lipscomb is again seeking the nomination, in another “leans” R district.
F. Finally, In District 75, U.S. Army combat veteran Steven Miller-Pitts is vying for the seat held by Republican Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield. Get this—VPAP rates this last one just ‘competitive.’ A crack in the Red!
Honestly, It’s starting to feel like the Rs don’t really understand what they are getting into going against the US Military like this.
Jasmine Lipscomb District 49
IV. So What? Seems like it’s all “Hail Marys”
Great question. I know some are thinking, “This sounds like a lot of futility.”
For the love of all that’s good in the world, please: Stop.
Just.
Stop .
Stephen Miller-Pitts, Jr. District 75
Listen for second. How do things change if Ds don’t try to win elections everywhere all the time? What other solution do you see? The answer is: none. You see no other solution. You just want to sound smart by saying, “We can’t win, let’s be smarter and save resources for something else.” Poppycock. First of all, on a practical level, it only takes a few thousand dollars to run for most local and state level elections, which can be raised if the will is there. If you don’t have the will, save your objections and support those that do.
On a macro level, let me tell you a very relevant Virginia-related story. Not too long ago, a brave man, a Democrat, named Wayne Powell, ran against one of the Republican leaders in the House—a guy named Eric Cantor. He didn’t win, but he showed well and he started building something. Two years later, a brave man named Jack Powell ran against the R in that district — this time it was Dave Brat. The beating that Cantor took from Powell two years prior weakened him and opened the door for Brat, who won a shocker of a primary.
Then, two years later, a brave woman named Eileen Bedell ran against Brat. She ran because she believed no one should run unopposed. She wasn’t expected to, and didn’t, win, but she got 40+% of the vote and did well enough that that Rs had to spend resources against her, including sending the then-VP to the district to rally the troops. She kept what was building growing.
Two years later, another woman ran against Brat and won. And that woman, Abigail Spanberger, is now one of the strongest Democrats in the country and is running to be the governor of Virginia. See how that works?
So stop with the, “We can’t wins.” If African-Americans thought that way, Dr. Fergie Reid never would have (re-)broken the color barrier in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1968. Oh, and are you ready for the pay-off? Here comes: it was none other than Fergie Reid who got Wayne Powell to run at the start of this story. Boom.
Starting to get it? These things take time. If you still can’t see that, if you’re still waiting for the proverbial white knight to come and save us, I’ll tell you now that ain’t going to happen and perhaps you need to check your privilege.
V. Conclusion: Let’s GO!
I cannot express how exciting it is to see this many Democrats in Virginia ready to go this early in the process, relatively speaking. It’s been a period of hard recruitment for Democrats, including by and thanks to the aforementioned Fergie Reid and his 90 for 90 project, and it’s paying off. These people are genuinely brave and worth celebrating and supporting. Check out the stats:
Total candidates in the 100 HoD districts:
Ds now have candidates in 96 districts
Rs have 63
Total candidates overall:
Ds have a total of 109 candidates (contested primaries are a good thing, always)
Rs have a total of 71 candidates
Gender split of candidates:
Ds: 56 women and 53 men running. Check that out!
Rs: also with 53 men, but only 18 women.
Gee, why is that not surprising?
It’s worth noting that a number of these candidates are running against the wishes of the local D party. There’s no other way of putting it except that the local Ds are Schumer Democrats, afraid of losing, so they’d rather just fold. In fact, the local D parties are often actively convincing people interested in running not to do so. It defies logic. Oh, wait... >sniff sniff< smell that? >sniff< Oh yeah, smells like privilege and ego. Yeah, now it makes, “sense.”
So get in on the excitement, friends—there’s something going on in the Old Dominion! Let’s have some fun and bury the Rs come November. The sooner we get started, the better prepared we’ll be for Musk’s millions, which we know are coming.
This is where we are. Some of the candidates have websites ready to take your donations; others are so fresh that they’re catching up. Don’t worry, we’ll let you know. But as Fergie would say: you have to do the work. Ds in Virginia are doing it. Rs have until the filing deadline on April 3rd to show that they even care, let alone are doing any actual work. We’ll see. Regardless, get ready to jump in and pitch in. There is no other time than now. No regrets.
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