Virginia
Virginia is a study in contrasts. From the progressive north to the conservative south, few states have as dramatic a geographic swing as Virginia. Virginia is therefore clearly a state where opportunities, and some notable challenges, abound.
With Barack Obama's victory in 2008, Virginia continued its modern day tradition of breaking barriers. Somewhat surprisingly, Virginia was the first state in the Union to elect an African-American as Governor when Doug Wilder was elected in 1989. Currently, the contested nature of Virginia politics is reflected in the split control of the Legislature (Democrats control the Senate; Republicans control the House), and the back-and-forth results of the past four gubernatorial elections. With Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, progressives have had a strong leader in the Governor's office. Yet we've also had some major losses, including the recent gubernatorial loss to Bob McDonnell.
All of this means that Virginia is clearly a state within which progressives can make major gains. In 2010 and 2011, Progressive Majority will be working to build a strong team of progressive candidates who can move up the pipeline and help ensure that this "purple" state becomes a solid base for progressive politics.
Soon Progressive Majority will be up and running in Virginia. Fill out the form below to join the Progressive Majority email list and stay informed. We'll send out an email as soon as we launch in Virginia.