African American Legislators Endorse Northam for Governor
Candidate receives early support from all African American members of the General Assembly
Richmond, VA – Today, the Northam for Governor campaign announced the endorsement of African American legislators around the Commonwealth. The candidate has earned the support of each African American member of the General Assembly.
Regarding these endorsements, Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam said:
“I am honored to have the support of these strong leaders and humbled to have the support particularly because of their tenacity and record of delivering results for Virginians. Together, we can give voice to all communities throughout the Commonwealth.
I am running for Governor to continue fighting for a Virginia that gives everyone the opportunity to reach their full potential. Through job creation, fiscal responsibility and a focus on education and innovation, we can continue Virginia’s economic progress. Virginians have worked so hard to recover from the Great Recession and now our unemployment rate is 4.0%, the lowest in the southeast region. We can’t let rigid ideological agendas ruin our economic progress. We must continue to move Virginia forward.”
Senator Mamie Locke, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus agreed:
“Thankfully, Gov. McAuliffe has been a backstop against ideological legislation that would limit women’s access to healthcare, divert funding from public schools, and discriminate against the LGBT community. I support Ralph for Governor because we need someone who will fight to give Virginia’s families opportunity, to protect voting rights for all Virginians, and veto legislation that would take us backwards.
Senate Caucus Chair and Congressman-Elect Donald McEachin said:
“When Ralph was elected Senator, he put his medical expertise to work, working with then-Governor Kaine to ban smoking in restaurants. He has been focused on helping Virginia families get ahead by promoting job creation, access to pre-K education, and expand access to health care. I know he’ll be a Governor focused on families and giving our children opportunity here in the Commonwealth.”
Delegate Charniele Herring, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus stated:
“Ralph Northam was a leader in the fight to defeat the medically unnecessary transvaginal ultrasound that would allow politicians to make medical decisions on behalf of women and their doctors. As a doctor and a business owner, he knows that ideological legislation makes it harder for our Commonwealth to compete and attract the best companies and the best and brightest talent. I’m proud to support him in his run for Governor to keep Virginia welcoming and open for business.”
African American legislators endorsing Northam for Governor
Senator and Congressman-Elect Donald McEachin, SD-9
Senator Mamie Locke, SD-2
Senator Louise Lucas, SD-18
Senator Rosalyn Dance, SD-16
Delegate and Senator-Elect Lionell Spruill, HD-77
Delegate-Elect Cliff Hayes, HD-77
Delegate Matthew James, HD-80
Delegate Jeion Ward, HD-92
Delegate Roslyn Tyler, HD-75
Delegate Lamont Bagby, HD-74
Delegate Delores McQuinn, HD-70
Delegate Daun Hester, HD-89
Delegate Joseph Lindsey, HD-90
Delegate Luke Torian, HD-52
Delegate Charniele Herring, HD-46
Delegate Marcia Price, HD-95
Delegate Jennifer McClellen, HD-71
Delegate Lashrecse Aird, HD-63
The Northam campaign previously announced the endorsement of all four other statewide elected officials, Governor Terry McAuliffe, Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine and Attorney General Mark Herring.
About Ralph Northam
Ralph Northam grew up on the Eastern Shore, working on the Chesapeake Bay, before attending Virginia Military Institute where he graduated with distinction and was President of the Honor Court. After then graduating from Eastern Virginia Medical School, Ralph served eight years active duty in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Major. Upon his return from treating soldiers injured in Desert Storm, Ralph began practicing pediatric neurology at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk. Ralph has seventeen years of volunteer service as Medical Director for the Edmarc Hospice for Children in Portsmouth.
As a State Senator from 2008-2013, Ralph scored numerous major legislative accomplishments, including the prohibition on smoking in restaurants, protecting young athletes who have sustained concussions, improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay, and shielding our first responders from communicable diseases.
Ralph’s top priorities are economic development, strengthening early childhood education, implementing meaningful mental health reform, protecting women’s health care access, and carefully stewarding the Commonwealth’s environmental resources.
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I’m writing this piece out of a sense of fairness. When Patrick Wilson writes a “hit piece” on Tom Perriello, I’ll do a piece correcting the record for him too. In the meantime, here’s Ralph Northam's information.
Please, if you live in VA, make sure you go out and vote next week. If you know folks in VA, remind them to go out and vote. Think you don’t know anyone in VA? Email everyone on your email list to let them know about the primary June 13th in VA, and ask them to forward the email to everyone on their list. It’s a small world, we all know someone who knows someone in VA. Let’s make sure they vote!