DSPolitical is proud to announce the recipients of our annual grants program. Last year we were honored to support ten incredible candidates across the country from Florida to Ohio to Texas. We helped elect incredible leaders like Representative Ann Johnson of Texas-48 who was the only Democrat to flip a seat in the Texas legislature and Representative Mauree Turner of Oklahoma HD-88 who is our nation’s first non-binary state legislator and the first Muslim representative in the Oklahoma statehouse.
As we look to the upcoming November elections, we’ve focused on key races in the Virginia House of Delegates as Democrats across the state are vying against Republican challengers or running against long-standing GOP incumbents. We are also looking to Pennsylvania where crucial judicial seats across the state are up for grabs this fall.
Without further ado we’re proud to introduce the 2021 DSPolitical Ad Grants Program:
Delegate Dawn M. Adams
Incumbent, Virginia House of Delegates – District 68
Delegate Adams was first elected to represent her district in 2017 and then reelected in 2019. She was the first Democrat elected to represent the district in three decades and the first out lesbian member of Virginia’s General Assembly. As a healthcare practitioner for over three decades, she is a champion for expanding Virginians’ access to healthcare and currently serves as the Health Professions Chair within the Health Welfare and Institutions Committee.
HD-21 is set to be a competitive seat this year as the Republican challenger gains name recognition and funding from Republican funders. Delegate Adams represents the best choice for Virginians and we’re proud to support her race.
Delegate Kelly K. Convirs-Fowler
Incumbent, Virginia House of Delegate – District 21
Delegate Fowler is a small business owner who specializes in military family relocation, a former school teacher, and a delegate who has voted to expand Medicaid and helped connect more Virginians with affordable healthcare. She also led efforts to decriminalize marijuana in Virginia and voted to raise teacher pay and provide tax breaks for small businesses across the state.
Facing a challenger who was a former Trump appointee, Delegate Fowler’s campaign is working to reach their voters online with tailored messaging to keep this critical seat in the House of Delegates blue!
Councilmember Jasmine Gore
Challenger, Virginia House of Delegates – District 62
With her election to City Council, Jasmine Gore made history in the City of Hopewell, becoming one of the youngest elected officials. Since then, she has served Virginia as the youngest Vice Mayor and then youngest African-American Mayor. Jasmine currently represents a historically red ward but with the redrawing of boundaries for District 62 in 2019, the area now includes the city of Hopewell where Gore has strong name recognition.
The current first-term incumbent is one of six Republicans holding a seat President Biden won in 2020. This election is set to be a tough but competitive race for the campaign that plans to engage its strong Democratic base with digital ads for persuasion and GOTV!
Judge Maria McLaughlin
Challenger, Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Jude McLaughlin is a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, the first in her family to attend college, and a single mom, lawyer, and appellate judge. She worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia and later as Chief of the Child Support Enforcement Unit. She was one of the youngest female Chiefs ever appointed in Philadelphia. She currently sits on the Pennsylvania Superior Court.
The balance of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is crucial not only for Pennsylvania but for the nation. From voter suppression to gerrymandering, the 2021 results in Pennsylvania will set the stage for key elections in the years ahead.