Weekly Recap: DPVA Q3 Meetings, Incredible Canvass Launches with Gabby Giffords, New Campaign Ads…
Q3 Steering and Central Meeting
DPVA’s Quarter 3 meetings in Fredericksburg last weekend were full of enthusiasm, energy, and activism. On to November!
Quarter 3 Happy Hour
Virginia Democrats from across the Commonwealth gathered in Fredericksburg for our Quarter 3 Happy Hour this past Friday. Hosted in partnership with the 1st Congressional District Democratic Committee, nearly 50 energized and engaged Democrats snacked on delicious bites from J. Brian’s Tap Room, savored cold brews, and talked about the vital, remaining work before the November 5th election. Remarks were offered by 1st CD Chair Matt Rowe and DPVA Chairwoman Swecker who commented, “In 2019, we’re going to flip the Virginia Statehouse, and in 2020, we’re going to take the White House!”
Almost Annual Collis Warner Pig Roast
The famous “almost annual” Collis Warner Pig Roast in King George County was a hit on Satuday. It was great to see so many Democrats out in support of Senator Mark Warner, who took the time to take a picture with our staff and interns!
Gabrielle Giffords campaigned in Virginia over two days this week for House and Senate candidates who support stricter gun laws
Outside NRA headquarters, Virginia Democrats focus on gun violence (Washington Post)
The importance of guns in Virginia’s fall elections was on display Friday outside the headquarters of the National Rifle Association, as Democratic candidates — joined by former U.S. congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — vowed to mandate background checks, age limits and other gun restrictions if their party seizes control of the General Assembly.
“These are scary times,” said Giffords (D-Ariz.), who suffered a brain injury in a shooting in Tucson in 2011.
She attended the rally along with former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe (D) and about a half-dozen Democrats being endorsed by her pro-gun-control organization, the Giffords group.
“Now is the time to come together and be responsible, Democrats and Republicans,” Giffords said. “We must never stop fighting.”
McAuliffe was more pointed, saying the NRA’s presence in Fairfax County is “a disgrace to the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
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Read the full article here.
Social Media Spottings with Gabby Giffords
DPVA Calls on Senator Amanda Chase to Retract Ad Threatening Gun Violence Prevention Groups
RICHMOND, VA — Republican Senator Amanda Chase has a reputation for an extreme stance on guns. She openly carried a weapon on the floor of the Senate, referred to her revolver as her “equal rights amendment,” called for the elimination of gun free zones after mass shootings in August, and most recently begged the NRA for a $200,000 campaign contribution.
Yesterday, she placed an ad on Facebook that hit a new low, threatening violence against groups that organize for gun violence prevention. The ad, showing Chase aiming a revolver, declared, “I’m not afraid to shoot down gun groups.” Today, the Democratic Party of Virginia called on Chase to take down the ad an issue an apology:
“On the same day that former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — herself a victim of gun violence — is endorsing over Democratic 40 candidates across Virginia, Amanda Chase is threatening violence against all those who organize to prevent mass shootings. These kinds of violent threats have no place in our political discourse and Chase should immediately remove the ad and apologize. But make no mistake, her radical views are exactly in line with Kirk Cox and every other Republican who cut short the special session on gun violence. She’s just willing to say out loud what they all think,” said DPVA Press Secretary Grant Fox.
DPVA demands Prince William County Republicans call on John Gray to drop out of PWC Board Chair race after revelation of racist, homophobic and threatening tweets
RICHMOND, VA — John Gray, the Republican nominee for chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, is an avid Trump supporter known for praising Corey Stewart’s white supremacy and making other inflammatory and hateful statements. Yet Prince William County Republicans have stood by him, even as they’ve lost nearly every election in the county since Trump’s election.
But yesterday’s revelations that Gray had an extensive history of making racist, misogynistic and bigoted statements on Twitter are a new low for Republicans in Prince William County. Below is a sample of some of Gray’s statements reported by the Washington Post:
- Gray said that African Americans would stop “rioting” and take a knee if someone played the national anthem
- He threatened that those who wanted to impeach Trump (who he called “bong and dildo holders”) would be met with “300 million weapons and an estimated 2 billion rounds of ammo”
- Commenting on an article that discussed domestic abuse committed by Omar Mateen, the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay bar in Orlando in 2016, Gray said, “Well, what did you expect? Being Islamic you knew he had the right to beat you.”
Prince William County Republicans who have yet to even condemn Gray’s statements include Kelly McGinn (HD-13), Rich Anderson (HD-51), DJ Jordan (HD-31), Ian Lovejoy (HD-50), Heather Mitchell (HD-2), Geary Higgins (SD-13), and Delegate Tim Hugo (HD-40).
When confronted with his statements, Gray defended many of them. And rather than apologize for his racism and violent threats, he instead joked that the consultant he paid to delete the tweets didn’t do his job correctly.
“John Gray is an example of how Donald Trump and his hateful rhetoric have completely taken over the Republican Party in Virginia. His statements are disgusting and offensive, and someone like him who holds those views should have no role in public service. He should immediately withdraw from the race. And any Republican in Prince William County who refuses to call on him to drop out is telling voters that they think his racism and homophobia is acceptable,” said DPVA Press Secretary Grant Fox.
Virginia Republicans Back Trump’s Plan to use Military Money for Border Wall (WTVF)
Virginia Democrats are not happy with President Trump’s plan to divert money from Virginia military facilities in order to construct portions of his southern border wall. But Republicans support the effort.
President Trump isn’t giving up his push to build his long-promised wall along the southern border. It now involves taking close to four billion dollars Congress already allocated for Department of Defense projects in Virginia and elsewhere in order to build it.
Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine says that’s unacceptable, because the Pentagon has listed these sites as top priorities. And he says delaying some of them will hurt American service members. “When you have the DOD say these chemical warehouses, they have life, safety and health violations, inadequate ventilation, inadequate fire suppression. It’s chemicals for God’s sake. And they have asked us for money because of the seriousness of these problems,” Kaine says. “It amazes me that a commander-in-chief who promised Mexico would pay for it, is now making troops and military families and our national security pay for it.”
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Read the full article here.
New Merchandise Available on DPVA’s Webstore
Newest Campaign Ads
Sign Up to Volunteer at the Democratic Booth at the State Fair of Virginia
Each year Democrats from around the state support a booth at the State Fair of Virginia. This year several groups have come together to make sure that our great Democratic candidates have representation at the State Fair of Virginia. So far the Democratic Party of Virginia, LGBT Democrats of Virginia, Rural Caucus of the Democratic Party of Virginia, 1st District Congressional Committee, 7th District Congressional Committee, Chesterfield County Democratic Committee, Henrico County Democratic Committee, and the Spotsylvania County Democratic Committee, as well some private citizens have joined together to fund the cost of the fair booth, volunteer tickets, and other costs of the booth.
Sign up to volunteer at the booth by clicking here!
Upcoming Events
To get your event added to the DPVA website and the newsletter, email digital@vademocrats.org with event details!
9/26 Volunteer for Elizabeth Guzman
9/26 Eighth Congressional District Committee’s 26th Annual Kennedy-King Dinner
9/26 Strategy Session for Missy Cotter Smasal, Karen Mallard, Kelly Fowler, and Len Myers
9/26 Lakeside Meet and Greet for Debra Rodman and Schuyler Vanvalkenburg
10/1 Northampton Meet & Greet with Phil Hernandez
10/3 Richmond City Democratic Committee Meeting
10/5 Norfolk Democratic Committee Monthly Breakfast Meeting
10/5 Moms Demand Action Canvass for Del. Bell & Suhas Subramanyam
10/5 Amelia County Democratic Committee Annual Fish Fry
10/16 Norfolk Democratic Committee Monthly Business Meeting
11/2 Norfolk Democratic Committee Monthly Breakfast Meeting
11/20 Norfolk Democratic Committee Monthly Business Meeting
12/7 Norfolk Democratic Committee Monthly Breakfast Meeting
12/13 Norfolk Democratic Committee Annual Holiday Reception/Legislative Sendoff
There are also hundreds of events easily searchable across the Commonwealth on our Mobilize page — link below!
