Demo Memo: Another challenger in VA-07, Super Tuesday is sooner than you think, and more
Virginians back gun control, Equal Rights Amendment, minimum wage hike
As Democrats prepare to take control of the state legislature in January, a new Roanoke College poll shows support for several of their priorities.
The poll shows a majority of surveyed Virginians back gun control measures, the Equal Rights Amendment and raising the minimum wage, which are just a few of the issues Democrats campaigned on this year. Democrats have already filed a host of bills related to those issues ahead of the legislative session, which begins Jan. 8.
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VA lawmaker asks AG for formal opinion on Second Amendment sanctuary trend
A Democratic state delegate has asked Attorney General Mark Herring (D) for a formal opinion on the Second Amendment sanctuary declarations being passed in a growing number of conservative counties across the state.
In a letter sent to the attorney general Monday, Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, said a legal opinion could help clear up confusion on an issue that has “become a flashpoint across our state.” Clarification from the attorney general’s office said, Jones said, would benefit the local officials being “bombarded” with citizen requests to pass resolutions declaring their opposition to, and possible defiance of, new gun-control laws Democratic majorities are expected to pass early next year.
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VA Del. Nicholas J. Freitas joins Republican race to challenge U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger
Freitas was reelected to a third term last month in what unexpectedly became one of the most watched state races because he had to run as a write-in candidate after he and his local party failed to file paperwork on time.
[…]
In a statement, Virginia Democrats called Freitas a perennial candidate “desperate to climb the ladder and bring his hyper-partisan style to a larger stage” and noted that Corey A. Stewart defeated Freitas for the 2018 Republican primary to challenge Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).
During that race and weeks after the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., Freitas gave a heated floor speech in which he suggested that gun violence was the result of “the abortion industry” and Democrats were to blame for segregation and Japanese internment during World War II. His speech, which prompted most of the African American lawmakers to walk out of the chamber in protest, was recorded in a video that has been viewed more than 14 million times.
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Wexton bill would use credit card data to track firearms purchases
Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) wants banks and credit card companies to flag purchases that could signal a person is preparing to carry out a mass shooting, a solution she said could circumvent the usual partisan debate on gun violence.
She introduced a bill this month that would direct an agency of the Treasury Department to figure out how to track buying patterns the same way the government looks for behavior indicative of money laundering, fentanyl trafficking and human smuggling.
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Super Tuesday is sooner than you think
Upcoming Events
12/05 Richmond City Democratic Committee Reorganization
12/05 DPVA’s Took The Majority
12/05 Prince George Dems Call to Caucus
12/07 Norfolk Democratic Committee monthly Breakfast Meeting
12/07 Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus Annual Fundraising Breakfast
12/07 LGBT Democrats of Virginia Holiday Luncheon & GA Forum
