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