Thursday night, Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Northern Virginia’s only LGBTQ+ bar, was filled to capacity for Virginia Del. Mark Levine’s 2nd Annual Rainbow Democrats Extravaganza featuring special guest Va. Del. Danica Roem. Levine, who is one of three openly-LGBTQ+…
Virginia Dems win Medicaid expansion– 400,000 set to benefit
By Brad Swanson: Almost 400,000 Virginians will gain medical care after the state legislature voted late Wednesday to expand the federal healthcare program Medicaid. The federal government will pick up at least 90% of the cost, estimated at about $2…
Why should we talk to voters?
By Todd Smyth. What is the best way to reach voters? Although hundreds of millions are spent on political TV and radio ads and mailers, those have no lasting impact on voters as they only go in one direction. “Research…
Photo Essay: Viva! Vienna!
There was a little something for everyone to enjoy at Viva! Vienna! over the weekend. Rides, games of chance, entertainment, craft booths and a Hunter Mill Democrats’ booth, where volunteers encouraged people to register to vote and sign up to…
School Board weighs changing sex ed to make it more LGBTQ inclusive
By Karen Kirk: The Fairfax County School board heard spirited comments both for and against changing the public school sex education curriculum to make it more LGBTQ inclusive at its regular meeting Thursday, May 24. The discussion was a precursor…
Candidate Question Time: Should undocumented aliens have a path to citizenship?
Each week until the Va-10 congressional district Democratic Party primary election on June 12, The Blue View will ask all six candidates to respond to a key question on an important issue in 100 words or less. This week’s question: Should undocumented aliens…
As election nears, the biggest issue for primary candidates is beating Comstock
By Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: With less than three weeks remaining to election, Democratic primary candidates for Va. Congressional District 10 focused as much on beating Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock as on the issues during a candidate forum on May 22.…
Sue Langley and Tae Chang Woo honored at Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia dinner
The Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia (DAAV) honored former Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) Chair Sue Langley and President of the Korean American Society of Virginia Tae Chang Woo at its Fourth Annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Awards…
Immigrants have been a big part of Virginia’s success
By Karen Kirk: Immigration has helped Virginia rise from poverty to affluence, notes Sen. Tim Kaine. Kaine does the numbers: In 1968, only 1% of Virginians were immigrants and the state ranked 38th in income per person. Today, immigrants make up…
Photo Essay: Barbecue and politics
Rain clouds were low but spirits high, as the Springfield District Democratic Committee held its 18th Annual Smoke n’ Roast on Saturday evening, May 19, in Clifton, Va. A sizable crowd enjoyed burgers and ribs, while hearing from elected…
Candidate Question Time: How would you respond to the opioid crisis?
Each week until the Va-10 congressional district Democratic Party primary election on June 12, The Blue View will ask all six candidates to respond to a key question on an important issue in 100 words or less. This week’s question: How should Congress,…
Virginia’s journey toward legalizing medical marijuana
By Susan Laume: A letter sent in 2014 by a child desperately seeking relief for her pain spurred Virginia State Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37th District) to act. The compassion he felt for that child’s suffering from intractable epilepsy started the…
Fifty-plus canvassers seek new voters to help beat Comstock
By Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: Fifty-plus canvassers gathered early Saturday at a bare bones campaign office in Ashburn. Their task: canvass their assigned neighborhoods looking for unidentified Democrats and finding out what issues mattered to them. It’s all part of a…
Red and Minor Terry take fight against pipeline across Virginia
By Karen Kirk: After spending 34 days living in trees to block the Mountain Valley Pipeline from being built on their property in Roanoke County, Red Terry and her daughter Minor are taking their fight around Virginia this week. They…