Virginia Beach, VA: Tom Perriello, the former gubernatorial candidate and congressman, announced today that he is supporting Kimberly Anne Tucker in her campaign for a seat in Virginia’s House of Delegates. Tucker is running in the 81st district which covers parts of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
“I am so proud to be supporting Kimberly Anne Tucker,” Perriello said. “As a former principal and as an organizer, she’s been an unbelievable advocate for basic justice and fairness. And she’s been an incredibly powerful voice for those who often don’t have a voice in the process. I know that she’s going to bring that same sense of advocacy and fairness to the House of Delegates.”
A former educator who became politically active during the 2016 primary season, Tucker founded Indivisible757, one of the area’s most prominent grassroots advocacy groups, following the election. At the urging of the group’s membership, she turned her attention to electoral politics in a district that’s been been overlooked by the Democratic Party’s establishment for years. A political newcomer, Tucker won her June primary contest convincingly with almost 70 percent of the vote and will square off in November against Delegate Barry Knight, an incumbent who has never faced a Democratic challenger.
“I’m honored and grateful to have Tom’s support,” Tucker said. “He’s been an incredible mentor and role model for me. More important, though, is the fact that we share important core values including a commitment to making a difference in the lives of Virginia families who work hard, play by the rules, and are losing ground in spite of their best efforts. The game in Richmond has been rigged against them for too long and we’re proud to have Tom stand with us in the fight for change.”
The endorsement follows the recent launch of WinVirginia, a vehicle Perriello created to support Democratic candidates for the House of Delegates across the state. WinVirginia’s mission is to take back the State House in 2017, providing financial and organizational support for the most competitive Democratic field in nearly three decades.
Perriello noted Tucker’s success in her primary race and expressed enthusiasm for her chances in the general election. “I can’t wait to see the rest of the campaign and to see a big victory for her in November,” he said. “I’ll be proud to be standing by her side.”