GIFFORDS PAC Endorses Second Slate of Gun Safety Champions in 2023 Virginia Legislative Elections
Washington DC — Today, GIFFORDS PAC, the gun safety organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, announced its endorsement of 34 incumbent legislators and challengers running in some of the most competitive races across Virginia. With Governor Youngkin and Republicans in the legislature intent on rolling back the lifesaving progress gun safety champions have made in recent years, the need to flip control of the House of Delegates and maintain a majority in the Virginia Senate is a top priority – in fact, lives depend on it. Too many Virginians have been victims of senseless violence – nearly 1,100 annually – and it’s time for new leaders to take the lead on curbing the Commonwealth’s epidemic of violence in Richmond.
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords:
“Voters across Virginia face a clear choice this November. Will they elect gun safety champions who will keep families safe or allow radical Republicans to take full control of the legislature and roll back Virginia’s effective gun safety laws? The contrast could not be more stark – and it’s why GIFFORDS is endorsing this strong slate of gun safety champions today. If elected, these candidates will not only fight to protect the laws Virginia already has on the books, but they will strengthen and expand lifesaving measures because it’s simply the right thing to do. Virginia is no stranger to gun violence and it’s clear that we must do more to save lives from Loudoun County to Hampton Roads. GIFFORDS PAC is proud to stand with these advocates as we work to create a safer Commonwealth for everyone.”
The slate of endorsed candidates includes:
- Candidates for House of Delegates
- Adele McClure (HD-02)
- Laura Jane Cohen (HD-15)
- Mark Sickles (HD-17)
- Rozia Henson (HD-19)
- Joshua Thomas (HD-21)
- Travis Nembhard (HD-22)
- Marty Martinez (HD-29)
- Rob Banse (HD-30)
- Lily Franklin (HD-41)
- Amy Laufer (HD-55)
- Susanna Gibson (HD-57)
- Leonard Lacey (HD-64)
- Joshua Cole (HD-65)
- Jessica Anderson (HD-71)
- Stephen Miller-Pitts (HD-75)
- Debra Gardner (HD-76)
- Kimberly Pope Adams (HD-82)
- Nadarius Clark (HD-84)
- Jarris Taylor (HD-86)
- Karen Jenkins (HD-89)
- Phil Hernandez (HD-94)
- Alex Askew (HD-95)
- Kelly Convirs-Fowler (HD-96)
- Michael Feggans (HD-97)
- Candidates for Virginia Senate
- Lashrecse Aird (SD-13)
- Louise Lucas (SD-18)
- Joel Griffin (SD-27)
- Jeremy McPike (SD-29)
- Russet Perry (SD-31)
- Suhas Subramanyam (SD-32)
- Jennifer Caroll Foy (SD-33)
- Dave Marsden (SD-35)
- Stella Pekarsky (SD-36)
- Saddam Salim (SD-37)
In June, GIFFORDS PAC endorsed 36 incumbents running for reelection or higher office across the Commonwealth. Since its founding, GIFFORDS has made significant investments to elect gun safety champions up and down the ballot in Virginia. The progress made in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 to send committed gun safety advocates to Richmond has led to tangible legislative results – from the implementation of a statewide extreme risk law to the passage of universal background checks. As a result, Virginia has greatly improved its grade on GIFFORDS Law Center’s Annual Gun Law Scorecard, now receiving a B and ranking 12th out of 50 states for its gun laws.
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