2019 VIRGINIA ELECTIONS

Interested about WofA’s efforts to support candidates in the Virginia 2019 Elections? 

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Actions supporting our Candidates

A lot of ‘Bang for the Buck’ in VA Beach/Hampton Roads ! 
(aka: our candidates need Boots on the Ground!)

Join the Virginia Grassroots for at least one of three weekends that we plan to canvassing in Virginia Beach.  The plan is to drive down early on Saturday morning, complete two packets on Saturday, enjoy a group dinner Saturday evening, complete another packet on Sunday morning, and return Sunday afternoon.  New canvassers can request to be paired with an experienced canvasser. We will also organize rides and supporter housing for those who need it. Additional details will be provided closer to the canvassing dates.  We appreciate you signing up early, so we know how many people to expect! Sign Up Here

GO TV Canvass for Phil Hernandez!

November 2-3
S. Norfolk or Charles City – RSVP for details!

WOFA CANVASS FOR PHIL HERNANDEZ – ROADTRIP!
Get out the vote for PHIL HERNANDEZ – D100. Phil spent 4 years in the Obama White House working on clean energy and environmental issues. He’s also a civil rights attorney and a rising star in a race so close, its caught everyone by surprise. The canvass location will be in either S. Norfolk or Charles City (Eastern Shore – beautiful beaches!). The campaign will let us know where their greatest need is as we get closer. Sharon Shutler will arrange for carpools and work with the campaign re: housing.
Contact: shutlersharon@gmail.com for more information.
Please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YI8hsFHoVGj9FGVgcmiCaUh-i0dIedJo6Vy_ypxdw2s/viewform?edit_requested=true

Josh Cole Canvass – Every Sunday!!!!

Join the canvassing team for Josh Cole in Fredericksburg.  Jim Serfis will be canvassing for Josh Cole every Sunday through GOTV election weekend. Jim has room for 3 canvassers and will be leaving from Arlington at 11:30am and plans to canvass from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. If interested, please make sure to fill out the form: HERE 
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jim at: jimserfis@comcast.net

WofA Canvass for Larry Barnett!

October 26-27
Chesterfield County – RSVP for Details!

Larry Barnett is calling WofAs and Friends to a trial GOTV weekend. We’re road-tripping to Chesterfield County to support our Adoptee! Sharon and Jessie will coordinate carpools. The campaign will provide housing or, for those who prefer, option for a PJ party at a nearby hotel. Then, we’ll gather for some Saturday night fun. This is a CRITICAL canvass weekend – lets knock some doors and share some election fellowship. Option to canvass for Sheila Bynum-Coleman on Sunday. We need a headcount, so please…..
RSVP here ASAP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13RAlLhaQopRyPjUeE4oyJUdOWsjjI09e6CcDaxRUpI0/viewform?edit_requested=true
For more information, contact shutlersharon@gmail.com or jessie@carefreeboats.com

August 27, 2019
Fantastic and enthusiastic turnout for Sheila Bynum-Coleman tonight! Inspiring remarks all around by Sheila For Delegate and Poetess Extraordinaire Tammarrah Addison! Per Senator Mark Warner on why Sheila will be great representative for VA’s 66th District: “She is ready, she is equipped and she will bring a great amount of experience to the General Assembly”. No doubt Sheila Bynum-Coleman and her “Dazzle” will triumph!

August 5, 2019 – BlueWave 2019 Boating Party
Fantastic turnout for VA BlueWave’s 2019 Boating Party! Great to so see many VA 2019 Candidates, Reps and their Supporters coming out to celebrate the growing #TidalWave. To find out more about how we’re working towards a Virginia for All, please see: vabluewave.net

June 10, 2019 – Larry Barnett FUNraiser a smashing success!
Fantastic turnout for the FUNraiser for our adopted candidate Larry Barnett for Virginia 27th District Delegate! Music; delicious food and a fantastic lineup: Arlington’s own Del Rip Sullivan (raised MC’ing to a whole new level; Delegate Charniele Herring (Va House Democratic Caucus Chair) and  Donte Tanner for Delegate past candidate for 40th HOD District; WofA Sharon Kelberg Shutler, Peace’s Geeta Gupta, Arlington Blue Families, Indivisible Del Ray, and Democrats to Go knocked it out of the park – with over $13,000 raised! A huge thank you to the Hostess with the Mostest, Diane Hazzard, for opening up her lovely home and the many worker Bees that made this such a success!!!

If you would like to be involved in these (and other) candidates, please fill out the Adopt-a-Candidate form, here.
WofA’s Voting and Elections Committee (V&E) is focused on flipping the Virginia General Assembly from Red to Blue by “Adopting” (supporting) several candidates during a given election cycle.

What does it mean to Adopt a Candidate?  At the most basic level, it means working with the candidate and campaign staff to determine what the campaign needs and how we can best help!  Inevitably, the two biggest needs are Fundraising and Canvassing. FUNdraising.  WofA member understand that campaigns for House of Delegate and Senate seats must immediately raise money to hire staff, cover filing fees, run social media campaigns, and attract money from the Democratic party and other donors.  Simply put, early money is critical to the success of candidates. Accordingly, members of WofA typically organize a major FUNdraiser for every candidate WofA adopts – with emphasis on FUN!  Canvassing.  When we vote, we win!  But to win, we must Get Out The Vote!  That’s why WofA supports our Adoptees by knocking on doors and urging progressive voters to vote their values!  And More.  WofA provides other Adoption activities including post card writing parties, writing letters to the editor, and working the polls.

How do we select Adoptees?  WofA is an active member of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition (Coalition), an organization comprised of more than 50 grassroots groups, that meets monthly to discuss election strategies and take action on critical policy issues.  District by district, the Coalition analyzes past voting histories and determines which are “flippable” and which need defending. The Coalition then interfaces with leadership in both the Democratic House and Senate Caucuses to better understand which candidates are likely to receive financial support from Democratic institutions.  Armed with this information, Coalition groups coordinate amongst themselves to determine which candidates each will adopt. Through this process, WofA and other members of the Coalition, maximize the impact of their volunteers and minimize duplication of effort!

And the 2019 Adoptees are….
Hala Ayala – Delegate, District 51,  
Larry Barnett – Candidate, House of Delegates 27th District.

Hala Ayala

As a member of the Prince William County community for over 35 years and elected as Delegate in 2017, Hala Ayala gives a new, needed voice for the 51st House District of Virginia.

Hala has personally experienced the challenges of single motherhood and lack of access to affordable health insurance. She understands the concerns of working families today. She has fought for raising the minimum wage, equal pay and affordable access to health care as the founder and former president of the Prince William County chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

Hala worked her way up from a service job without health insurance to become a cybersecurity specialist with the Department of Homeland Security. For over 17 years, she worked to protect our nation’s information systems, enforce security measures, and prevent attacks by safeguarding computers, networks and data from criminal intrusion and security breaches. She’s using that same determination and work ethic to ensure that Prince William County families can flourish.

For more information about Hala: https://www.virginiagrassroots.org/election-candidate-profile.php?firstname=Hala&lastname=Ayala&disttype=HD&distno=51
For information on canvassing and other events, go to Hala’s events page at: https://www.mobilize.us/ayalafordelegate/

Larry Barnett 

Larry was a political newcomer in 2017.  With little financial support, he came within 128 votes of defeating the favored Republican incumbent in the 27th District.  In 2019, this District is considered one of the most “flippable” in the State.

Larry is a progressive candidate committed to health care, public education, clean energy, women’s reproductive choice, gun safety, and ERA ratification. He will not accept $$ from the energy monopolies. Best of all, Larry plays the guitar and entertained WofA’s and other activists as our June FUNdraiser – where members of WofA and other grassroots groups raised nearly $13,000!  

Larry has exceptional experience.  As a mental health professional leader with Chesterfield County for over 30 years, he developed innovative, caring, and effective programs for those affected by mental illness and developed a reputation as a skilled collaborator.  He improved access to mental health and substance abuse services through partnerships with schools, hospitals, advocacy groups, law enforcement and other first responders. For more information about Larry, https://www.virginiagrassroots.org/election-candidate-profile.php?

For information on canvassing and other events, go to Larry’s events page at https://www.barnett4delegate.com/events/