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April Meeting Recap: 3 CD9 Candidates & A Call to Action

Thank you, Joy Powers, Doug Crockett, and Adam Murphy for joining us at our monthly meeting on Friday, April 24. Will these candidates be on your primary ballot on August 4? We will all know soon as the redistricting referendum is in the hands of our state Supreme Court. Take a moment to review how your district is impacted.

Session Report: Sarah Goodman, Political Affairs Chair
Virginia now has officially established a Paid Family and Medical Leave Program. Federal law requires employers with 50 or more workers to allow for up to 12 weeks of leave but does not require that workers who use the leave be paid. With Virginia’s new law, beginning in 2028, workers can tap into a partially-state-funded program for up to 80% of their pay. The law also allows for four weeks of “safe leave” for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or harassment to sort through medical, legal or safety issues.

There are several bills that Governor Spanberger amended and sent back to the General Assembly. The General Assembly has rejected those amendments. The bills are now back on the governor’s desk. She can sign them as is or veto them.

CALL TO ACTION

Please contact Governor Spanberger via email or phone to voice your support of her signing the following bills as they are written:

HB 1263, SB 378 Collective Bargaining (More here.) Allows public employees to collectively bargain for things like workplace conditions, benefits or salaries.

HB 483, SB 271 Prescription Drug Affordability (More here.) Helps curb drug prices by making the Medicare‑negotiated prices for prescription drugs available to hundreds of thousands of Virginians who are not enrolled in Medicare. The updated legislation would also create a Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Panel empowered to report to the General Assembly on prescription drug pricing information and make future policy recommendations to lower consumer costs.

Abigail.Spanberger@governor.virginia.gov
1-804-786-2211

SAVE THE DATE
2026 Annual Wine & Cheese
Fundraiser Event
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
More details soon!

Upcoming Ways & Means Committee and Membership Committee meetings will be posted on our calendar. Complete the Standing Committee Interest Form to join these and other subcommittees or email us at info@roanokevalleydemocaticwomen.com!

RVDW Calendar
Standing Committee Interest Form

CD9 Democratic Primary Candidates Attending
(In order of information received.)

Joy Powers

Joy Powers
Email: joy@joyforva.com
Website: www.JoyforVA.com

Joy Powers is a fourth-generation farmer, small business owner, and community leader from Bedford County running for Congress in Virginia’s 9th District. Raised on her family’s cattle farm and in their farm equipment business, she studied Agriculture at Virginia Tech and brings a lived understanding of rural economies and agriculture.

Joy has served in local leadership roles including the Bedford County Agricultural Economic Development Advisory Board and as Superintendent of the Bedford County Fair. She is the founder of Restore the Harvest, a nonprofit focused on agricultural education, sustainability, and advocacy, including efforts to end child marriage and promote ethical community development.

A mother through foster care and adoption, Joy believes government should be practical, accountable, and rooted in real life. Her HOME Plan focuses on Healthcare, Opportunity, Market affordability, and Education. She is running to ensure Southwest Virginia has a voice in Washington that is honest, grounded, and unafraid to stand up for rural communities.

Joy describes herself as “the rural candidate for a rural district.”

Douglas Crocket
Email: dougcrockett@crockettnow.com
Website: www.Crockettnow.com

Douglas Crockett is a Ninth District native. He was born and raised in Wythe County, Virginia. He was a student athlete at Fort Chiswell High School and Emory and Henry College (1979 B.A. in Business & Economics). He went on to seminary in 1982 and then law school at William & Mary in 1995. He retired in 2023 as a United Methodist pastor after 30 years of active service and retired from the practice of law in Virginia in 2025. From 2014 to 2023 he operated his own law practice and served a United Methodist Church as pastor in the same town. He is married to Rita Crockett, who is also a Ninth District native from Vansant, Virginia in Buchanan County. They met at Emory and Henry. They have a son and daughter and three grandchildren. Douglas lives in Wytheville above Turning Heads Salon, owned by his oldest daughter, who is mother of three and grandmother of one. Rita helps care for her ailing parents in Vansant.

“My campaign tagline is: For American Unity, Maturity, and Prosperity. Start Here! I will explain why American and Ninth District Prosperity will not happen without Unity and Prosperity should not happen without our Maturity.”

Adam Murphy
Email: contact@murphy4va.com
Website: www.Murphy4va.com

Adam Murphy is a software developer from Roanoke County. After doing a nationwide search, Adam & his wife chose SWVA for their forever home & where to raise their family. As a first-time candidate, Adam never aspired to be a politician. After witnessing the atrocities in the early months of the second Trump administration & the destruction of our systems caused by DOGE, Adam felt a calling to bring about meaningful change & he announced his congressional candidacy in June of 2025. Adam’s family lost their century farm due to medical debt & years later their home in the housing crisis. He has lived the pain & frustration of a system that is rigged to keep the poor struggling & the rich flourishing. Adam is a strong proponent of Medicare for All; supporting rural healthcare, which includes incentives to bring medical professionals to SWVA; bringing economic opportunities to the region; building a strong labor force; improving infrastructure; protecting our resources; and, strengthening agriculture where farmers can thrive, not just barely get by. Adam Murphy takes inspiration from FDR & Boucher. His campaign is creating a movement of real change for SWVA. Adam has the passion, the energy & a unique skill set to make sure that our district is seen, is heard & to end the neglect of SWVA.

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Thank you for being a part of Roanoke Valley Democratic Women!

As we begin a new year of work, advocacy, and community, we’re reaching out with a simple but important request: Please take a moment to renew or start your membership in Roanoke Valley Democratic Women for 2026.

Your membership is more than a line on a roster.
It represents your commitment to strengthening our local Democratic community, supporting women candidates and leaders, and standing up for democratic values at a time when they matter more than ever.

Because of members like you, our organization continues to educate voters, engage new voices, and show up—consistently and visibly—for the issues we care about.

Your membership helps ensure that we can continue this work with confidence and momentum. It allows us to plan meaningful programs, support campaigns, and remain a strong, organized presence in the Roanoke Valley.

We invite you to renew or join now and stay connected to a community of women and allies who believe in action, collaboration, and progress. You’ll find the link to pay by credit card online at ActBlue.

To pay by check via USPS, mail membership form and dues to:
Roanoke Valley Democratic Women
Attn: Treasurer
PO Box 4183
Roanoke, VA 24015

We are grateful for your involvement and hopeful for what we can accomplish together in the year ahead. With your membership, Roanoke Valley Democratic Women will remain a place where energy turns into action and values turn into results.

Thank you for being part of this work.

Warm regards,

Wanda Ostrander, Chair
Roanoke Valley Democratic Women

Online
By Mail
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In Grateful Memory of Joan Baker Washburn

Update: Obituary for Joan Baker Washburn published on Oakey’s.com.

Service Details: Monday, July 21st, 2025 at 12:00pm – 1:45pm at Oakey’s South Chapel, 4257 Brambleton Ave. Roanoke, VA 24018
Graveside Service: Monday, July 21st, 2025 at 2:00pm at Fairview Cemetery, 3300 Melrose Ave NW, Roanoke, VA 24017


It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and longtime member, Joan Baker Washburn. Joan was a passionate advocate, a tireless volunteer, and a cornerstone of the Roanoke Valley Democratic Women. Her dedication to progressive values, equity, and the betterment of our community left an indelible mark on RVDW and its members.

Joan’s unwavering commitment to Democratic values and justice inspired generations of women to lead, speak out, and make change. Whether organizing events, mentoring new members, or lending a listening ear, she brought strength to the Democratic Party in Roanoke.

We honor her legacy and celebrate a life well-lived. Joan will be profoundly missed, but her spirit will continue to guide our work and our hearts.

Rest in Power, Joan!

🕊️
💙

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It Starts With States

Nicole Zambrano, Sister District Project, Guest Presenter April 2025 Membership Meeting

Presentation Cover Page linked to pdf of full presentation by Sister District Project Guest Speaker.
Click on image above to download PDF of presentation.

WHAT IS SISTER DISTRICT PROJECT?

Sister District Project, founded after the 2016 election, works to turn states from red to blue by winning state legislative elections. They work directly with campaigns to get out the vote and support the candidates who most need assistance. Sister District pairs volunteers from blue areas of the country with specific and strategic down-ballot races in other areas.

Continue reading “It Starts With States”
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Political Affairs Report: April 2025

LOCAL UPDATE:

Roanoke County School Board Candidates

Candidates have stepped up in all three Roanoke County school board district races to oppose the extremists whose seats are open this fall. Be on the lookout for more information on these candidates.

This opportunity to bring common sense back to Roanoke County Schools is important for the entire Roanoke Valley.  School board seats, by Virginia law, are non-partisan. No party designation will appear on the ballot. However, never forget that all three incumbents proudly associate themselves with the Republican Party. 

STATE UPDATE:

As expected, when the General Assembly reconvened April 2nd, they rejected most of Governor Youngkin’s legislative amendments, sending bills back to him and thus forcing him to outright veto or approve the bills as they were written.  We are still awaiting the Governor’s decision on these bills; many we are following such as the Right to Contraception and the Conference Budget which removes the support cap that has limited public school funding. Read more here:

https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-04-02/glenn-youngkin-don-scott-mamie-locke-delegates-state-senators-virginia

ACTION ITEM: Call and/or email Governor Youngkin’s office and urge him to pass the bills the General Assembly has returned to him.

(804) 786-2211
glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov

Continue reading “Political Affairs Report: April 2025”
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Forum: Democratic Lieutenant Governor Candidates Shared Roanoke Stage

Watch Forum Recording

On April 23rd, voters had a unique opportunity to hear directly from five of the six Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia at a highly anticipated candidate forum in Roanoke, hosted by Roanoke Valley Democratic Women and Red Wine and Blue Virginia. This event was one of the rare occasions where full slate of contenders appeared together ahead of the June primary, offering voters a closer look at a diverse, dynamic field in one of the most competitive statewide primaries in recent years.

Ghazala Hashmi, Babur Lateef, Aaron Rouse, Victor Salgado and Levar Stoney responded to questions on a range of critical issues affecting southwest Virginians, including economic development, education, healthcare, climate, and voting rights. (Alex Bastani was unable to attend due to illness.)

“This was an important opportunity for southwest Virginians to hear from the people who are hoping to serve as the Commonwealth’s next Lieutenant Governor,” said Sarah Goodman, RVDW Political Affairs Chair and Regional Organizer for Red Wine and Blue Virginia. “We were proud to bring this level of access and civic engagement to Roanoke.”

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Great Results at Dems After Dark Supplies Drive

THANK YOU ALL for your donations to The Grove on Patterson at our March 18, 2025 Dems After Dark event. The shelves of the soon-to-open facility are filling up thanks to the generous, caring people of the Roanoke Valley.

Contact The Grove on Patterson to find out how you can continue to support their volunteer, supply, and financial resources to serve pregnant women grappling with substance use disorder, addressing increased risks that can impact prenatal health and child development.

The Grove on Patterson
info@thegroveonpatterson.org
PO Box 20062
Roanoke, VA 24018

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DEI: What it IS and What it IS NOT

Tanisha Nash, Guest Presenter

Click on image above to download PDF of presentation.

DEI: WHAT IT IS

DEI stands for DIVERSITY, EQUITY and INCLUSION

Diversity: Acknowledging and embracing differences in race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
Equity: Ensuring fair treatment, access, opportunities, and resources for all, while addressing any imbalances.
Inclusion: Actively fostering an environment where diverse individuals feel a sense of belonging and contribution.

DEI is an organizational framework that seeks to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination based on how they identify.

DEI: WHAT IT IS NOT


DEI is not about meeting quotas or tokenism. It’s not about excluding one group to uplift another. Instead, it is about systemic change — creating fair opportunities for everyone and addressing biases that often go unnoticed.

Continue reading “DEI: What it IS and What it IS NOT”
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2025 General Assembly session is adjourned

Updates with Action Items
Reported by Sarah Goodman, Political Affairs Chair

General Assembly Update 2025
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROCEED

Right to Reproductive Freedom (HJ1, Delegate Herring and SJ247, Senator Boysko)
Right to Marry (HJ9, Delegate Sickles and SJ249, Senator Ebbin) with bipartisan support
Right to Vote (HJ2, Delegate Bennett-Parker and SJ248, Senator Locke)

All three of the constitutional amendments have passed both the House and Senate! Three Republicans crossed party lines to vote in favor of the Right to Marry including Sens. David R. Suetterlein (Roanoke), J.D. “Danny” Diggs (York) and Tara Durant (Stafford). As we were reminded at January’s meeting, the constitutional amendment process is long. All three will have to be approved again in next year’s General Assembly session; then they will advance to a statewide referendum in November 2026. We must keep our General Assembly blue and work to elect Democrats this fall!

Continue reading “2025 General Assembly session is adjourned”