Press

In case you missed it, the Richmond Free Press Editorial Board has endorsed Delegate Hala Ayala for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia over Winsome Sears and her running mates, who “would do little or nothing to help African-American families and people of color,” and “have expressed little concern about the health and safety of people of color in the pandemic by rejecting vaccination and mask mandates.” 

“With so much at stake this election cycle, the choice is clear. In order to move our Commonwealth forward, Virginians must choose science, truth, and common decency — all represented by our Democratic ticket. While Republicans are campaigning on misinformation, resentment, and stripping Virginians of our fundamental rights, Terry, Mark, and I are committed to expanding access to affordable health care, investing in our public schools and teachers, helping women re-enter the workforce, and protecting an individual’s right to choose.”

In case you missed it, the current Lieutenant Governor has cast 52 tie-breaking votes in his role as President of the state Senate on key issues including protecting affordable, accessible health care and the right to choose, expanding gun safety reform, and more.

In case you missed it, Delegate Hala Ayala, Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor, joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss what’s at stake for Virginia this November 2. There’s only one candidate in the race for Lieutenant Governor with the lived experience and leadership capabilities to move Virginia forward, and Delegate Hala Ayala is ready to hit the ground running on day one.

But perhaps the contest that has exposed the most gapping divide between Democrats and Republicans in Virginia on Covid is the lieutenant governor race between Democrat Hala Ayala, a member of the commonwealth's House of Delegates, and Republican Winsome Sears, a former member of the legislative body. While Youngkin has at times tried to moderate his position on vaccines, telling audiences he is vaccinated and urging people to get the shot even has he refuses to back mandates, his Republican running mate has said it was time to "leave people be" on vaccines and, in an interview with CNN, declined to say whether she is vaccinated. 

“This NICU Awareness Month, my heart is with all NICU patients and families and the fearless health care workers who support them. When I gave birth to my first child, we both almost lost our lives from complications during delivery. Far too many Black and Brown women in Virginia share my experience, and many have worse outcomes. The fact of the matter is, Black women are nine times more likely to lose their pregnancies in Virginia. This is unacceptable.” 

“The Supreme Court’s shameful refusal to step in on behalf of Roe v. Wade, the law of the land, is further proof that protecting the right to choose will come down to our state legislatures. Here in Virginia, the state Senate is at a 20-20 tie on the issue of choice, meaning the next Lieutenant Governor will be the last line of defense for Virginians’ reproductive rights. As Lieutenant Governor, I will always protect our fundamental rights, which includes the right to make decisions about our own bodies." 

“Four years ago we watched as white supremacists marched to Nazi chants on our streets, sparking violence that took the lives of three Virginians and left many others injured. Our community is still working to heal. Today and every day, my heart is with the families of those we lost, with the first responders on the ground, and with the Charlottesville community.”  

Today, Delegate Hala Ayala, Democratic Nominee for Lieutenant Governor, voted to pass the Governor’s budget, which allocates over $3 billion in critical funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan to help Virginians rebuild from COVID-19.

One week after Delegate Hala Ayala, Democratic Nominee for Lieutenant Governor, called on extreme Republican candidate Winsome Sears to disavow dangerous "election integrity" myths, Sears joined an “Audit the Vote” protest outside of the State Capitol. In response, Veronica Ingham, Hala for Virginia campaign manager, released a statement. Click here to read.