Kimberly Pope Adams
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 82
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 82
Kimberly Pope Adams knows the importance of having a safe community and believes every Virginian deserves to live in a place they can feel safe coming home to. As a first time candidate running for the House of Delegates, Kimberly hopes to increase opportunity and economic development for the community in District 82. Born and raised in Hopewell, Virginia, she spent most of her childhood in a single-parent home. With hard work throughout high school and the value of education instilled in her, Kimberly graduated high school and earned her college degree at Virginia Tech. In her professional career, Kimberly became a public servant, serving as an Auditor for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is an advocate for quality public education, teacher pay and adequate funding of K-12 schools. Kimberly is dedicated to serving with transparency, accountability, and good governance for all Virginians.
Priorities:
Keeping communities safe
Increasing educational opportunities
Protecting women’s reproductive rights
Pursuing solutions to food insecurity
Increasing economic development
Nadarius Clark
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 84
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 84
Nadarius Clark is a working-class community activist and organizer born and raised in Hampton Roads. He comes from a military family with a background in business entrepreneurship. He grew up in a strong faith community and attends Zion Community Church in Northern Suffolk. Currently serving as a Delegate in the Virginia General Assembly, he is seeking re-election for a second term.
Nadarius graduated from Virginia Union University, an HBCU in Richmond. During college, he co-founded a chapter of Generation Now Network, an organization committed to faith-based activism, advocacy, and education.
In 2021, Nadarius won a historic primary against an incumbent and became the first African American Delegate to represent the 79th district and the youngest Democrat ever elected to the general assembly. As a person in his twenties, he is part of the generation that knows the importance of fighting for a better future.
Nadarius aims to put the working class families of Hampton Roads first by continuing to prioritize equity, particularly in healthcare, housing, and education.
Priorities:
Funding public education
Protecting women’s reproductive rights
Invest in resources to support the community’s economy and entrepreneurship
Expand affordable housing
Fighting for more mental health resources
Advocating for racial justice
Protecting the environment
Joshua Cole
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 65
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 65
Raised in HD-65, Joshua Cole knows the challenges people face in Fredericksburg and Stafford County and understands what it means to truly serve his constituents. He is a pastor, the president of his NAACP chapter, and works with numerous local and community initiatives. A product of Stafford County Public Schools, Joshua commits himself to advocating for improvements in education and the public school system. In 2019, Josh Cole became the first Black person and youngest person elected to the General Assemblyfrom the Fredericksburg region. In 2021, he lost the district by less than 1,000 votes in a difficult off-year election.Delegate Cole has taken a people-first approach to law making. In his first term, he voted to cap out-of-pocket health care costs on prescription drugs for Virginians with pre-existing conditions, raise the minimum wage, expand voting rights, and make community college tuition free. He also served on the House Public Safety and Agriculture committee— the only Fredericksburg-area legislator to represent farmers, environmental ideals, and agricultural voices. Josh is running for HD-65 to return to the General Assembly and continue his work on behalf of Fredericksburg area families.
Outside of politics, Joshua is an avid Star Wars and Marvel fan, and a husband and father dedicated to making the Fredericksburg area better for working-class citizens, parents, and the next generation.
Priorities:
Support education for teachers, students and parents
Promote equity and inclusion in the community
Engage constituents, address concerns, and promote accessibility
Advocate for farmers, environmental ideals, and sustainability
Attract businesses, create well-paying jobs, and improve economy
Michael Feggans
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 97
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 97
Michael Feggans was raised for most of his life in the West Kempsville portion of Virginia Beach by his mother, a Norfolk Public School teacher for 30+ years, and his father, who worked for 20+ years as a Norfolk International Airport firefighter and retired as a Captain. A proud product of the Virginia Beach Public School system, Michael graduated from Tallwood High School and immediately enlisted in the U.S Air Force.
An alumnus of VA Tech, Norfolk State, and UVA, he values and understands the importance of education, both traditional and nontraditional. After 20 years of service in the Air Force, he knew that the best place to retire from the military and begin his next phase as a tech entrepreneur was back home in Virginia Beach.
Michael's commitment to his community extends beyond his military service, as he has actively participates in civic organizations, disaster response initiatives, and cybersecurity research. As a former Congressional intern and Senior Enlisted Leader, he has worked closely with government officials and community stakeholders, learning the importance of reaching across the aisle.
As a small business owner and progressive voice, he is running to serve as Delegate for the new 97th House District in Virginia Beach. He aims to address the community's challenges with compassionate leadership and focus on building a brighter future for all residents.
Priorities:
Build teams and strengthen community
Assist citizens regardless of political affiliation
Use cybersecurity expertise to develop innovative solutions for community issues
Advocate for high-tech skill development
Access to higher education
Establish disaster response and support recovery to ensure community resilience
Joel Griffin
Virginia
Running for: Virginia State Senate District 27
Virginia
Running for: Virginia State Senate District 27
Joel Griffin is an entrepreneur, veteran, and community advocate who has dedicated his life to the service of others. Running for Virginia State Senate District 27, he is a first time candidate committed to the betterment of Virginia. Joel is the Founder & CEO of Riphean, a growth management firm focusing on private equity and venture capital, hospitality, and investing in primarily veteran-owned small businesses. Joel is also committed to philanthropy,supporting local nonprofit organizations that strengthen local communities. He also founded Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation, dedicated to raising awareness and education of CPR and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Joel served our country in the United States Marine Corps for eight years and was awarded the Patriotic Civilian Service Award by the U.S. Army for actions taken immediately and following 9/11 at the Pentagon in 2001. Now, he is an advocate supporting economic development, workplace development, and educational and non-profit initiatives. Once elected he aims to support women’s reproductive rights and gun safety for all Virginians.
Priorities:
Supporting women’s reproductive rights
Safety of students
Advocating for a fully rounded educational experience in public schools
Supporting Virginia families
Phil Hernandez
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 94
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 94
Phil Hernandez is running to serve the City of Norfolk in Virginia’s newly-created 94th House District. Born and raised in Hampton Roads, Phil attended William & Mary, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.
Phil served as a Senior Policy Analyst in President Obama’s White House Domestic Policy Council, where he partnered with leaders across the country to expand affordable clean energy, fight for clean air and water, and help coordinate oil spill response. Phil has also worked as a civil rights attorney, bringing together people from all walks of life to create better economic opportunities for everyone.
In recent years, Phil helped pass laws in Virginia to increase the minimum wage, lower taxes for families, and support local public schools. Phil is now the Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy for a nonprofit organization where has been advocating for solutions that benefit Virginia families.
Phil and his wife Sara have two beautiful daughters, Isa and Maia, who love growing up in Ocean View.
Priorities:
Ensuring quality public education
Protecting our environment and accelerating a clean energy future
Expanding access to quality, affordable health care
Creating an economy that helps families and our community thrive
Travis Nembhard
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 22
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 22
Travis Nembhard is an attorney, a former financial regulator, and a former administrative law judge - but first and foremost, he is a father and husband. Travis is dedicated to improving conditions for Virginia families and is running to represent District 22 in the Virginia House of Delegates.
With a lifelong commitment to public service, Travis has a wealth of experience and expertise, including volunteering as an assistant attorney general at the Civil Rights Bureau in the New York State Office of the Attorney General, and serving as legislative counsel on the Council for the District of Columbia’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment. He has contributed to his community through mentoring underprivileged youth, offering pro bono immigration legal services, and helping adult learners attain their GED as a volunteer teacher.
As a lifelong public servant and advocate, Travis is focused on combating injustices, inequality, and misinformation to ensure transparency, accessibility, and accurate representation of Virginia residents. He is a strong advocate of building up the working class to lift the community, economy, and atmosphere of Virginia.
Priorities:
A working economy for working families
Strengthening the education system
Protecting fundamental rights of marginalized groups
Expanding access to affordable healthcare
Investing in local infrastructure
Russet Perry
Virginia
Running for: Virginia State Senate District 31
Virginia
Running for: Virginia State Senate District 31
Russet Perry is dedicated to public service and helping people and is running to represent her community in the Virginia State Senate.
Growing up, Russet's family struggled financially. Her father was a public school teacher with chronic illness, and her mother was a student who returned to school after surviving Stage IV breast cancer. These struggles made Russet passionate about issues around the cost of living, families being able to put food on the table, access to affordable health care, and the necessity for excellent and safe public schools with well-paid public school teachers.
After graduating from The George Washington University, Russet moved to Loudoun county where she worked while attending Georgetown School. During law school she focused on issues related to advocacy, criminal justice, women, and minorities
After law school, Russet served as a prosecutor in the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. She also served as a CIA officer, working alongside people of various ideologies to protect American citizens, our nation, and our democracy. She is a fierce advocate for protecting women’s rights and fighting for healthcare for all Virginians. Additionally, she aims to push for common sense reforms on gun control and to protect our most vulnerable citizens.
Russet lives with her husband, two children, two dogs, and three cats in Round Hill. She is running to represent District 31 in the Virginia Senate.
Priorities:
Protecting women’s rights
Making Virginia more affordable
Ensuring gun safety
Providing accessible healthcare
Fair criminal justice system
Danica Roem
Virginia
Running for: Virginia State Senate District 30
Virginia
Running for: Virginia State Senate District 30
A journalist, reporter, and member of the House of Delegates, Danica Roem has a passion for staying informed and listening to others. After serving as a Delegate since 2018, she’s now running for State Senate in District 30 to continue to listen, represent, and prioritize constituents’ in the larger community. Roem holds a degree in journalism and spent over a decade reporting on a wide range of topics in Prince William County, including schools, business, development, and transportation. She now brings her reporter's sensibility to the political arena, running for office to address the very issues she spent years reporting on. Her primary role as an elected representative is to listen to the concerns, ideas, and questions of residents, integrating them into her policy platform. Inspired by legislative role models known for their ability to build consensus and prioritize results, Danica strives to be a consensus builder and changemaker, committed to serving constituents in District 13.
Priorities:
Improve transportation infrastructure and alleviate congestion
Enhance quality of life through education and development
Research-based approach for effective policy and decision making
Foster consensus and bipartisan collaboration for positive change
Secure funding for vital infrastructure projects in the district
Josh Thomas
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 21
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 21
Joshua (Josh) Thomas grew up in a small southern town and is committed to ensuring all Americans can pursue the American dream. He graduated college through an ROTC scholarship and joined the Marine Corps upon graduating. After his five years of service, Josh attended law school at the College of William and Mary. Now as an attorney, Josh has committed to improving communities, expanding affordable housing, and helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow in Virginia. He also works in his pro bono practice to represent veterans and members of the LGBTQ community. By running for delegate, Josh aims to advocate for clean energy and programs that allow greater access for individuals to take advantage of energy-saving resources in their own homes. During the pandemic, Josh volunteered for the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps, where he saw families struggling to find affordable and effective healthcare. Josh plans to ensure access to healthcare for all people and especially stands with women to ensure reproductive rights. Finally, Josh aims to secure funds for transportation to prevent congestion and overdevelopment in Virginia.
Priorities:
Improving communities
Expanding affordable housing
Helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow
Schuyler VanValkenburg
Virginia
Running for: Virginia State Senate District 16
Virginia
Running for: Virginia State Senate District 16
Schuyler VanValkenburg is a father, teacher, and currently a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 72nd district since 2018. Schuyler has served for six years in the House and is now running for State Senate in the 16th district. In the Senate, he is ready to continue to advocate for meaningful investments to improve our public schools, introduce legislation addressing gun violence and increase economic opportunities for all Virginians.
Priorities:
Investing in education
Protecting women’s right to choose
Preventing gun violence
Improving access to healthcare
Creating economic opportunity
Rodney Willett
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 58
Virginia
Running for: Virginia House of Delegates District 58
Rodney Willett is Virginia native from a family of teachers and is a dedicated public servant. With degrees from the College of William and Mary, he practiced law representing local governments and championed good governance. During his time leading Virginia Interactive, he propelled the state’s online services, embracing technology’s potential for transformative government. As a small business entrepreneur and technology consultant, Rodney helps organizations unlock data value and supports local nonprofits. Rodney was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2020 where he serves the 73rd District in advancing early childhood education, mental health, environmental protection, voting rights, prescription drugs, and gun violence prevention. He has been recognized as the freshman legislator of the year, sits on key committees and serves as vice chair of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority. Beyond his professional and legislative roles, Rodney actively contributes to community boards and committees, fostering positive change in areas like healthcare and the arts. Through a lifetime of service, he remains dedicated to making a difference for others.
Priorities:
Improving access to healthcare
Preserving Virginian public lands
Creating sensible gun laws
Strengthening Virginia’s business climate