Senator Mamie Locke knows that our nation’s gun violence epidemic demands urgent solutions, and she’s worked tirelessly in office to advance policies that will save lives across the Commonwealth. When she first came to the senate in 2004, Senator Locke worked alongside Delegate Mamye BaCote to introduce a bill mandating that guns not be allowed in libraries. Each year it failed to pass, but in 2021, new legislation empowering localities to pass their own gun safety laws became law, finally making progress on this issue possible. Their shared district locality of Newport News was one of the localities that passed its own legislation prohibiting open carry in government buildings, parks, community and recreation centers and events—making Senator Locke and Delegate BaCote’s original vision a reality. As the chair of the Senate Rules Committee, Senator Locke has also worked with the Joint Rules Committee to prohibit individuals from carrying guns in the Virginia Capitol, legislative office buildings, and on Capitol Square, making these spaces more accessible to all, free from the threat of armed intimidation. With our thin gun safety majority in the Virginia Senate on the line this fall, it’s imperative that voters reelect proven champions in the fight to save lives like Senator Mamie Locke. If given the chance to serve another term, she’ll help end the gridlock in Richmond and pass meaningful solutions to keep our communities safe.

We are proud to endorse Mamie Locke for the Virginia Senate.