Press release: May 12, 2021

Clean Virginia Announces First Round of Candidate Endorsements in Virginia’s General Assembly Elections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT:

Diana Williams, Clean Virginia Communications Lead
[email protected], 540-836-8125

Clean Virginia Announces First Round of Candidate Endorsements in Virginia’s General Assembly Elections
Endorsed Candidates Refuse Utility Monopoly Contributions and Demonstrate Commitment to Clean Government and Clean Energy

Charlottesville – Clean Virginia endorsed today 29 candidates running in Virginia’s 2021 House of Delegates primary and general elections. All supported candidates in this first round of endorsements have made a principled stance against taking campaign contributions from Virginia’s regulated utility monopolies and owning stock in those corporations.

“Clean Virginia continues to invest in a diverse group of candidates and incumbents who champion clean energy, embrace transparency and are committed to putting their constituents’ interests before those of our utility monopolies,” Clean Virginia Executive Director Brennan Gilmore said. “We are thrilled to endorse these candidates and support them in their runs for office.”

In addition to the House of Delegates races, Clean Virginia has endorsed Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor and Delegate Jay Jones (D-Norfolk) for Attorney General. Clean Virginia also contributed to the campaigns of Delegates Hala Ayala (D-Prince William), Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach), Mark Levine (D-Alexandria) and Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) as well as Sean Perryman for Lieutenant Governor. (Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-Prince William), who withdrew as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor, was also supported.)

Clean Virginia endorses candidates based on a variety of criteria, including: 

  • Responses to our 2021 Candidate Questionnaire on clean governance and clean energy policy
  • Public statements
  • Legislative record (for incumbents)
  • Stance on accepting contributions from and directly owning stock in Virginia’s regulated utility monopolies — like Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company — and their employed lobbyists 

In addition to announcing financial support for 29 candidates and incumbents in House of Delegates races, Clean Virginia launched a paid media campaign this week for the campaigns of Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor and Del. Jay Jones for Attorney General. 

An additional round of endorsements will follow later this month. Visit https://www.cleanvirginia.org/2021-clean-virginia-endorsements/ for details about each endorsed candidate. 

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Clean Virginia is a 501(c)4 independent advocacy organization with an associated Political Action Committee, Clean Virginia Fund. Clean Virginia works to fight corruption in Virginia politics in order to promote clean energy, a robust, competitive economy, and community control over our energy policy. We are motivated by the core belief that our democracy should serve average Virginians over special interests.