Meet the women of color candidates in this upcoming General Assembly election

Han Vu, Contributing Writer

Selna Shi, News Editor

The 2020 Census showed the U.S. population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse compared to the previous census, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census’ Diversity Index chart ranked Virginia the 14th most diverse state. 

Some students say while representation matters, policies matter more in a candidate. First-year VCU psychology student Kymoree Henry said policies apply to everyone while representation only applies to a certain demographic.

“It [policies] shows that you care rather than you just put this out so you can get a vote from a certain demographic, just so you can be in office,” Henry said. 

First-year VCU dance and choreography student Ryann Smith said both representation and policies matter.

“I just want someone who cares about the wellbeing of the people, rather than their own personal or religious beliefs,” Smith said, referring to the stakes of abortion rights in Virginia. 

Virginia is seeing 10 women of color candidates in this upcoming election on Nov. 7. These women are running for seats in the state Senate and the House of Delegates. All 140 seats are up for grabs this General Assembly election since redistricting in 2021. 

State Senate Candidates

Jennifer Carroll Foy, a former delegate that was born and raised in Petersburg, is running as a Democratic candidate for the Senate District 33, against Republican candidate Mike Van Meter. Foy previously represented House District 2, but resigned to run in the 2021 gubernatorial election, according to Ballotpedia. 

The fight to retain abortion rights in Virginia is in her priorities, according to Foy’s website. Foy is also prioritizing increasing teacher’s pay, bail reform and expanding medicare in her campaign.

Ghazala Hashmi is seeking reelection as Democratic candidate against Republican candidate, Hayden Fisher in SD 15. Hashmi currently represents SD 10, according to Hashmi’s website.

Hashmi is the first Muslim and first South Asian American to serve in the Virginia Senate, according to South Asians for America. Hashmi has a background in teaching and has made funding education and healthcare among her priorities, according to her website. 

Jade Harris is running for SD 3 as a Democratic candidate, against Republican candidate Christopher Head. She previously served as the vice mayor in the town of Glasgow.

Protecting trans rights, strengthening unions, revitalizing infrastructure and supporting public education are Harris’ legislative priorities, according to her website.

Trish White-Boyd served as the vice mayor for Roanoke City last year and is currently a city council member. White-Boyd is running in SD 4 against Republican candidate David Suetterlein. 

White-Boyd is campaigning on tax relief for working families, funding public education, expanding transportation infrastructure and tough-on-crime legislature efforts, according to White-Boyd’s website. 

Victoria Luevanos served in the Navy and is currently attending graduate school, she stated in an email. Luevanos is the Democratic candidate for SD 20 against Republican candidate William DeSteph. 

Luevanos is campaigning for background checks, abortion rights and expanding welfare programs, according to her website. 

“Families feel like they are drowning between being able to afford basic necessities, their car registration, or their electricity bill,” Luevanos stated. “I want to ensure that all Virginians can afford to hang onto their hard work, our public schools are fully funded, we pay our teachers and staff, women’s rights are protected, we ease taxes for working folks and hold big corporations accountable.”

House of Delegates Candidates

Kimberly Pope Adams is running as the Democratic candidate for HD 82, which contains the majority of Petersburg City and Dinwiddie County. She is running against Republican incumbent Kim Taylor. 

Adams previously worked as an auditor for the Commonwealth of Virginia and an accountant, according to her website. Her priorities include advocating for abortion-rights, expanding rural broadband and combating food deserts in her district, according to her website. 

Karen Keys-Gamarra is the Democratic candidate for HD 7, comprising Fairfax County. Keys-Gamarra is running against Republican candidate Luellan Maskeny. Keys-Gamarra is an attorney and an at-large member of the Fairfax County Public Schools. 

Keys-Gamarra is campaigning for funding public education, background checks and abortion rights. She stated in a press release she supports codifying abortion-rights. 

Debra Gardner, who was formerly a social worker, is running as the Democratic candidate in HD 76, a district primarily consisting of Chesterfield County. Gardner is running against Republican candidate Duc Truong. 

Gardner priorities include raising minimum wage, funding public education and economic buildback from COVID-19, according to her website. 

Bonita Anthony is running as the Democratic candidate in HD 92 against the Republican candidate Michael L. Durig. The district consists of Norfolk City, where Anthony was born and raised, according to WAVY.

Anthony worked at Old Dominion University as a director of engineering student success. In a statement to WAVY, she said she is “deeply concerned” about abortion restrictions.

“Virginia is the last state in the South where abortion is legal, and it is critical for comprehensive healthcare that we keep Virginia pro-choice,” Anthony stated. 

She is campaigning on clean energy, affordable housing and funding public education, according to WAVY. 

Kelly Convirs-Fowler is currently representing HD 21, but running for reelection in HD 96, which comprises Virginia Beach City. She is running against Republican candidate Mike Karslake and independent candidate Nicholas Olenik. 

Fowler is prioritizing abortion rights, voting rights and raising minimum wage, according to her website. She said to The Virginian-Pilot that “a woman needed to represent the district.”

Saturday, Nov. 4 is the last day to vote early in Virginia. Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 7 from 6 a.m. through 7 p.m.