WINVirginia
In 2016, Hillary Clinton won 51 of the 100 House of Delegate seats in Virginia. Right now, Democrats only hold 34. EveryDistrict’s WINVirginia Initiative aims to change that and help Democrats retake the majority in the State House for the first time since 2000. We believe that with the right resources, Democrats can close the gap and be competitive beyond the 17 districts that Democrats don’t hold and Hillary Clinton won.
Why Virginia Matters
- Democrats can win: Of the major races occurring across the country in 2017, the Virginia House of Delegates will be one of the best opportunities for Democrats to regain a majority. Our strategy focuses on races where every dollar matters — and we help ensure that they are best leveraged to help Democrats win.
- Chance to push for forward-looking policy change: The GOP-controlled House of Delegates has prevented efforts to create a sustainable state economy, refused to expand Medicaid for 400,000 Virginians without health insurance, and has actively sought to undermine public education. A new Democratic majority will create economic opportunity and protect the rights of all Virginians.
- Opportunity for redistricting reform: Virginia is ranked the 5th worst gerrymandered state in the country. Because of Republican-led redistricting, Democrats have remained well-behind Republicans in the legislature despite having consistently won in statewide elections over the past decade. And, in the past, the gerrymandered districts have kept people from running. In 2013, 34 Republicans in the House of Delegates had no challenger. A Democratic majority can work towards redistricting reform that makes sure every Virginian’s voice is truly heard.
Democrats in Virginia have been working hard to recruit strong candidates for these House of Delegates seats. That’s where we come in. Democratic candidates have been consistently outspent by Republicans in Virginia. We can put an end to that and level the playing field by directing grassroots financial support to candidates who need it most.
At the same time, we’ll work to recruit volunteers to make sure that the countless people who helped Virginia support Hillary Clinton by a 5% margin, and those looking to help for the first time in 2017, are connected to a candidate who can win. We’ll also help select candidates with strategic campaign consulting to ensure Democratic candidates can compete and win.
EveryDistrict has endorsed 11 House of Delegate candidates in Virginia, and you can read more about them here. You can support them – and help EveryDistrict support even more candidates – by making a donation and signing up for our mailing list to learn more about opportunities to get involved.