The VaNOW Political Action Committee had a successful campaign season. Three of the four candidates that were endorsed for the Virginia Senate won: George Barker of Fairfax, Ralph Northam of Norfolk, and John Miller of Hampton Roads. Janet Oleszek of Fairfax, who lost by 92 votes to the most anti-choice member of the state Senate, Ken Cuccinelli, is having a  recount.

Five of the eight candidates endorsed for the House of Delegates won: Margaret (Margi) Vanderhye of McLean-Vienna, Adam Ebbin, an incumbent from Arlington-Alexandria, David Englin, an incumbent from Arlington-Alexandria, and Bobby Mathieson and Capt. Joe Bouchard (ret.), two Virginia Beach pro-choice moderates who defeated conservatives in Pat Robertson’s backyard. The three who did not win had very difficult races against right-wing incumbents. We thank Jeanette Rishell, Bruce Roemmelt, and Rex Simmons for running for office and hope they will do so again in 2009. Bruce in particular deserves our thanks: this is the second time in a row that he has taken on Delegate Bob Marshall, the perpetrator of more insulting legislation against women and against reproductive rights than any other single legislator.

 

“We were impressed by these strong candidates, who view public service as a way to improve the lives of the people of Virginia,” said Marj Signer of Arlington, VaNOW PAC President. “As members of the General Assembly, they can be counted on to work for equality and economic and social justice in a bipartisan fashion.”

The VaNOW PAC is the only PAC in Virginia dedicated to advancing a broad array of women’s issues and to strengthening women’s leadership in Virginia. Endorsements are based on candidates' responses to questions on a range of issues of importance to women, including pay equity, healthcare, civil rights, affirmative action, access to medically accurate sex education and contraception, and equal representation of women and minorities on state commissions and boards. 

The VaNOW Political Action Committee was established in 1978 and works to elect candidates to local and state offices who support the goals of the National Organization for Women. Virginia NOW is a membership organization with chapters in Alexandria, Arlington, Charlottesville, Fairfax County, the Fredericksburg area, Lynchburg, Montgomery County, Richmond and Henrico County, Roanoke, Rockbridge Valley, Tidewater, and Vienna.