Category: 2021 Elections

Thank you. Tomorrow’s Waiting

We’d like to thank all the incredible candidates who ran to represent not just Democrats, but everyone in their districts and across the state. Dems on the ballot this year ran for good-paying, safe jobs that allow the people working them to make a living; affordable and accessible health care; clean air and drinkable water; equal justice under the law; a robust and thriving democracy.

The things that Democrats stand for actually make a meaningful difference in people’s everyday lives. Given enough time, voters tend to realize and appreciate that. Just not this time.

Here in Albemarle, more than 60% of the county’s voters cast their ballots for Democrats. We’re still figuring out a way to help more of our Democratic neighbors vote in all those other counties out there, but for now, you can be proud of that. Thank you to everyone who voted, made phone calls, showed yard signs, manned booths or tables, protected voters, and so much more. It may not feel like it, but you made a difference. Such efforts are never wasted.

We’d like to congratulate Diantha McKeel, Ned Gallaway, and newcomer Jim Andrews for doing such a great job on the Board of Supervisors that no one could credibly challenge them. And we’d like to cheer for Kate Acuff, Katrina Callsen, and especially Graham Paige for winning re-election to Albemarle County’s school board. Graham faced a well-funded write-in challenger with a right-wing agenda — and trounced him.

On Tuesday morning, we wrote about hope. Well, hope is a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets. So hold on to yours. New maps are coming, and this time, the GOP won’t be able to manipulate them. Democrats still hold the state Senate, which means the General Assembly might not make the progress we hoped for, but it likely won’t be able to do much damage, either.

If you sat out this year after an exhausting 2020, we understand. We hope that Tuesday night gave you all the fire in your belly you’ll need to get back up and back at it to join us in 2022.

Tomorrow’s always waiting. We’ll get there the same way we got this far: together.

2021 Elections Information

Upcoming November 2, 2021 General Election

Offices on ballot: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, House of Delegates, and local offices.

First day on in-person early voting at local voter registration office: Friday, September 17, 2021.

Deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration: Tuesday, October 12, 2021.

Deadline to apply for a ballot to be mailed to you: Friday, October 22, 2021. Request must be received by local voter registration office by 5pm.

Voter registration offices open Saturday, October 23, 2021 and October 30, 2021 for early voting.

Last day of in-person early voting at local voter registration office: Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 5pm.

Register to vote or apply for a ballot online using the Citizen Portal.

General Election Statewide Democrat Candidates:
House of Delegates:
Local Candidates:
  • Member Board of Supervisors – Jack Jouett District: Diantha H. Mckeel
  • Member Board of Supervisors – Rio District: Ned L. Gallaway
  • Member Board of Supervisors – Samuel Miller District: Jim H. Andrews
  • Member School Board – Jack Jouett District: Kate L. Acuff
  • Member School Board – Rio District: Katrina E. Callsen
  • Member School Board – Samuel Miller District: Graham T. Paige

Winners of the Virginia Democratic Primary

Governor: Terry McAuliffe (303,546 votes, 62.2%)
Lieutenant Governor: Hala Ayala (178,276 votes, 39.1%)
Attorney General: Mark Herring (271,187 votes, 56.6%)
House of Delegates:
  • 25th District: Jennifer Kitchen
  • 57th District: Delegate Sally Hudson
  • 59th District: Dr. Ben Moses

Every year in Virginia is an election year! Here is what’s coming up in 2021.
  • Statewide elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General
  • All 100 seats of the House of Delegate are up for election – including the 25th, 57th, 58th, and 59th districts that include parts of Albemarle County.
  • The Rio, Samuel Miller, and Jack Jouett District seats on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors.
  • The Rio, Samuel Miller, and Jack Jouett District seats on the Albemarle County School Board.
On Tuesday, June 8, there will be a primary to choose our Democratic nominees for the statewide offices, House of Delegates and Board of Supervisors.

Candidates interested in seeking those seats will need to file by Thursday, March 25th, at 5:00 p.m. Contact chair@albemarledems.org to arrange filing.

School Board elections are nonpartisan – meaning all candidates run as Independents. Candidates interested in seeking those seats must file by Tuesday, June 8.

Candidates can find out more information about the requirements to file by downloading the candidate bulletins from the State Board of Elections:
Current announced (but not filed) Democratic candidates include:
Governor:
Lt. Governor:
Attorney General:
House of Delegates*:

*Latest reports indicate Census delays will delay redistricting this year, and we are assuming that this year’s elections will be in the current district boundaries.

Board of Supervisors:
  • Rio District: Woodbrook, Dunlora, Agnor-Hurt, Branchlands, and Northside precincts
    • Supervisor Ned Gallaway
  • Samuel Miller District: Ivy, Red Hill, Easy Ivy Porters, Country Green, Yellow Mountain precincts
  • Jack Jouett District: Jack Jouett, University, and Georgetown precincts
School Board:
  • Rio District: Woodbrook, Dunlora, Agnor-Hurt, Branchlands, and Northside precincts
    • School Board Member Katrina Callsen
  • Samuel Miller District: Samuel Miller District: Ivy, Red Hill, Easy Ivy Porters, Country Green, Yellow Mountain precincts
    • School Board Member Graham Paige
  • Jack Jouett District: Jack Jouett, University, and Georgetown precincts
    • School Board Member Kate Acuff

VAYD: Upcoming 2021 Candidate Events

With the number of great Dems running for office in 2021, VAYD has decided to host a series of virtual forums to help young people get to know the candidates. They are hosting an event for each statewide office: Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and Attorney General.

The schedule for the forums will be:

VAYD Members can submit their questions for the candidates through this Google Form. For more information, please go to vayd.org/events.

The Virginia People’s Debates

There is an exciting opportunity to engage with local politics and policies! The Virginia People’s Debates is an upcoming debate series that is being organized by dozens of progressive groups across Virginia.

Dozens of racial justice, economic justice, gender justice, climate & environmental justice, and clean government groups across Virginia are coming together to host “People’s Debates” for the three 2021 statewide elections this year.

Every statewide Democratic candidate is invited, and most have already confirmed. Interested Democrats can register to watch the zoom events at VirginiaPeoplesDebates.org, stream on YouTube at tinyurl.com/PeoplesDebateYoutube, and follow along and stream on Facebook at tinyurl.com/PeoplesDebateFB.

Co-sponsors include: 350 Alexandria, 350 Fairfax, Activate Virginia, American Promise — Virginia, Appalachian Women of Action, Arab American Democratic Caucus, Blue Ridge Democrats, Climate Reality Project (NOVA Chapter), Earth Rise, Indivisible Northern Virginia, Indivisible Virginia, Loudoun Progressives, NETWORK NOVA, NOVA Climate, Our Revolution (National), Our Revolution Alexandria, Our Revolution Arlington, Our Revolution Falls Church, Our Revolution South Central Virginia, People Demanding Action, Progressive Democrats of America — National, Progressive Democrats of America — Virginia, Protect Our Commonwealth, Resolutions Addressing Systemic Racism, Richmond for All, Sierra Club — Virginia, Sunrise Virginia, Sunrise Williamsburg, Together We Will Henrico, Virginia Cannabis Equity Coalition, Virginia Coalition for Human Rights, Virginia Democracy Forward, Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee, Virginia Political Cooperative.