Buzz-Kill: Special Interest-Owned Conservative Democrats, Not Plain Ole Democrats, Took Over The Virginia Legislature

Lobbyist (right) beat the progressive (left) for Virginia House speaker

Blue America didn't endorse too many candidates in the Virginia legislative election-- just 6 outstanding progressives who we were able to vet to our satisfaction. Three won-- Lee Carter (53-46%), Elizabeth Guzman (52-47%) and Danica Roem (56-44%)-- and three lost-- Herb Jones (60-40%), Qasim Rashid (58-42%) and Eric Stamps (61-39%). The Virginia Democratic establishment is as bad as you'd expect. Just think: Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both of whom have F ratings from ProgressivePunch, and Governoe Ralph Northam who's... better than a Republican and not much more than that. The establishment doesn't much like progressives.

So no one should be surprised that yesterday, a few days after flipping 6 seats in the House of Delegates, they elected a corrupt Republican-lite conservative lobbyist, Eileen Fisher-Corn as speaker. And they say everyone should be happy this crook is the speaker because they never had a woman-- or a Jew-- in the role before. Yeah. An old white conservative without a penis, beat out a younger progressive woman of color, Lashrecse Aird. Two other conservative Democrats wiped out progressives in the races for majority leader and caucus chair.

Reporting for HuffPo Daniel Marans wrote that "The result is a disappointment to progressives inside and outside of the chamber who hoped Democrats would pick the state’s first Black speaker and bristled at Filler-Corn’s full-time job as managing director of a lobbying firm with major corporate clients. Filler-Corn’s spokesperson has said she would recuse herself from votes on legislation in which her firm, Albers & Company, has a vested interest. 'The firsts are not lost on me-- the first woman and the first Jewish person elected Speaker-designee in our 400 year legislative history-- but it doesn’t define me,' Filler-Corn said in a statement. 'When I joined this body less than 10 years ago, I was the only mom serving with school-aged kids. We have come so far since then. We have the most diverse House Caucus in our history, which includes cultural, gender and geographic diversity,' she continued. 'It also means a diversity of experience and perspectives on issues that affect Virginians, in all regions.'... Her victory, along with those of Herring and Sullivan, ensures that Virginia House Democrats are marching in tandem with Gov. Ralph Northam and the Democratic-controlled state Senate, where business-friendly, four-decade veteran, Dick Saslaw, is in charge."

Aird, a 33-year-old Petersburg resident and chief of staff of William & Mary’s junior college, who was first elected in 2015, embodies the state’s shifting demographics and politics. Aird had promised to expand and open up the House’s leadership and committee system, giving greater leeway to the state House’s ascendant group of economic populists. She is backed by hedge fund manager Michael Bills, a leading critic of the state’s famously powerful electric utility monopolies-- Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power. And she claimed that she would allow votes on pro-union bills granting the public sector collective bargaining rights and repealing Virginia’s status as a “right to work” state where unions are forbidden from compelling workers they represent to pay dues.

Observers wondered whether, with her underdog speakership bid, the state’s Democratic Party might reach a point where it was willing to turn its back, at least in one chamber, on the old “Virginia Way”-- a byword for bipartisan gentility that doubles as a description of the state’s clubby, pro-corporate and ethically challenged political culture.

In the end though, Filler-Corn and her allies, many of whom reside in safe seats and can thus spread their campaign cash to embattled colleagues, fended off the insurgency.

Some members disagreed with Aird’s decision to announce her bid the day after Tuesday’s elections, claiming it was too soon. They also lamented the way that Aird had fought her race in the press, according to the person familiar with the deliberations who spoke to HuffPost on the condition of anonymity. It’s a pitfall inherent to running as a gate-crasher in a state where etiquette is something of a civic religion.

Now that they are in power, Democrats in the Virginia legislature are almost certain to move quickly to tighten gun safety regulations, strengthen protections for LGBTQ residents and even raise the state’s minimum wage, which is currently only $7.25 an hour.

But the prospects of more ambitious expansions of the social welfare state and efforts to take on the Old Dominion’s most powerful corporations, including its utility monopolies, have grown considerably dimmer. Efforts to combat climate change, in particular, are likely to be far more accommodating to Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power than antitrust advocates would like. These activists fear not only that the monopolies, which extract fossil fuels and generate electricity in addition to transmitting it, will both try to water down climate legislation and dominate any growth in the state’s renewable energy generation.

What’s more, poll watchers noted that the leadership team consists entirely of Democrats from the Washington-area suburbs of northern Virginia. It has prompted fears that they will not adequately represents Democrats from other regions, such as Hampton Roads, central Virginia and southwest Virginia.

“There are 12 House Districts out of 100 that are inside the beltway or on it,” Virginia political consultant Ben Tribbett wrote on Twitter. “The top three positions in the new House will all be filled from there. All by people who underperformed in their first elections by double digits from most recent Presidential. Not a good start.”

Eric Stamps is way too progressive and way to aggressively fighting for working class families to make the Democratic Part establishment embrace him. He knows what the enemy looks like whether they're wearing a red t-shirt or a blue one. "Virginia Democrats," he told us this morning, "have to be more than the NOVA party. I am happy that we took the majority in the House and Senate, but not much has changed in rural areas. Many rural candidates have to go it alone, even battling with members of their own local party which should never be an issue. Virginia Democrats have no excuses for the next two years. They have to bring progressive legislation to the floor for votes or they such expect to be primaried the next time their seat is up. We do not have any time to waste, it is time to get things done."

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam Owes Eric Stamps An Endorsement Announcement

Eric Stamps-- too progressive for the governor?

Ralph Northam was probably the most conservative, Republican-friendly Democrat in the Virginia state Senate when he served between 2007 and 2013, at which time he was elected lieutenant governor. He admits that before being elected to the Senate he had voted for George W. Bush twice. Almost immediately after he was elected to the Senate, he came within minutes-- literally-- of switching to the GOP and flipping control of the chamber. He stayed in the party after the Democrats assured them they wouldn't try to pass any progressive legislation. He's always managed to be judged the lesser of two evil in all his electoral contests. Great way to select our leaders!

On Friday, Northam, now governor, was down in Danville, where there is a hot legislative race going on between an old boy, right-wing GOP incumbent, Danny Marshall, and Democratic challenger Eric Stamps who is far more progressive than, not only Marshall but also Northam. The governor was down there to make an economic development announcement and he tacitly endorsed the Republican: "I want to recognize two of my friends. I've been in Richmond for almost 10 years and I’ve had some great friends and great relationships. And you have two very fine Delegates and senators. Delegate Danny Marshall, thank you so much for being here this morning. Thank you for your leadership. He’s there for the right reasons. He does great work for Virginia and his constituents. And Frank Ruff, Frank and I go back a number of years in the senate and you don’t find any better."

The woman running for Ruff's seat is an African American sort of middle-of-the-road Democrat, Virginia Smith, and although unhappy with what Northam said, she isn't talking about it publicly. Stamps has been-- bigly. He's the Blue America-endorsed candidate for that seat and I spoke with him over the weekend. He reminded me that Marshall has voted against common sense gun reform, against women’s rights, against the Equal Rights Amendment, against environmental reforms, against maternity leave, against worker’s rights and that he opposes raising the minimum wage and backs taking away healthcare from working families. The 2020 legislative thermometer on the right will allow you to contribute to Eric Stamps' campaign for the election one week from tomorrow. (And no, it isn't too late. Eric needs this money for his get out the vote team and it can make a real difference on election day.)

Anyway, Eric was offended that the Democratic governor of the state come down to his district (HD-14) and played kissy-kissy with his conservative Republican opponent who works against the interests of working families in the area. Eric complained to Northam's office, which claimed the governor was just being friendly and that, of course, he hopes all Democrats win, never even mentioning Eric by name. Northam should immediately endorse Eric Stamps-- by name-- and if he really wanted to be a mensch, he'd do a radio ad for Eric on some of the local stations. It could undo some of the damage he's already done.

It's Urgent That Democrats Win Back The Virginia House In November-- Meet Progressive Democrat Eric Stamps

In less than 4 months the Virginia state Democratic Party needs to win 2 seats-- maybe just one now-- to flip the House of Delegates. The party and the DLCC have their status quo candidates in the easiest districts-- generally speaking the ones Northam won that are occupied by Republicans. They ignore the rest of the state-- in some ways a good thing for progressives. When progressives win seats that the establishment ignored, they owe the corporatist establishment nothing. The drawback, off course, is that they have to depend on grassroots fundraising since the party will give them nothing at all.

That brings us to a hot election in the Danville area (HD-14) that pits right-wing good ole boy-- and incumbent-- Danny Marshall, against true blue Berniecrat progressive Eric Stamps. Marshall has held the seat since 2001, uncontested in five of nine election cycles. The last time his seat was challenged was in the 2013 state election.

It's been a pretty red district, but not prohibitively so-- and less and less year by year. Trump beat Hillary there 53-44%. In 2017 statewide Republicans lost the state but won HD-14. Gillespie beat Northam for governor 55-44% but last year it was less lopsided for Senator Tim Kaine, who lost-- but just 51-48%.

Over half the voters live in Danville City (52%), which votes blue. The problem is with Pittsylania County (28%) and Henry County (20%), which are rural and red. Example: Hillary beat Trump in Danville 11,051 (58.6%) to 7,306 (38.7) but he made up for it in Henry, where he beat her 15,207 (63.3%), and Pittsylvania, where he did even better-- 21,742 (68.6%) to 9,195 (29.0%).

Danville (age 29) is Eric's hometown. Yesterday he told me that "For 20 years many areas in this district have gotten worse. Poverty, income inequality, violence, lack of quality jobs, and more have lead to a decline in our population. So much is made about our improving downtown, but it doesn’t show the overall economic situation in this area. In southern Virginia, Republican candidates rarely have competition and they are wholly owned by corporations. I stepped up to run because it’s time for the people’s agenda to be advocated for in Richmond. A living wage, funding our education system, protecting our environment (a Green New Deal), protecting and expanding workers rights, increasing the minimum wage...This message is resonating with voters I speak to everyday. They know that the system is rigged against them. They know that this isn’t a 'booming economy.' People are ready for change in Southside  Virginia."

He also said that he feels his grassroots campaign "has the numbers to win. District 14 is a swing district now. Tim Kaine only lost this district by 836 votes (27 votes per precinct). Ralph Northam the year before lost by over 3 thousand votes. We’re running a grassroots campaign funded by people, not corporations. With or without state party support we’re taking this election very seriously. We know that we can win and with boots on the ground and monetary support we’ll make it happen."

  In January, local reporter Halle Parker interviewed him for the Danville Register & Bee, noting that "some of his main issues are health care, decriminalizing nonviolent behavior, increasing the availability of affordable housing and raising the minimum wage."

To Stamps, the minimum wage, currently set at $7.25 per hour, is more like a “poverty wage” because people who work minimum-wage jobs are still below the poverty level.

“Even though we have a low unemployment rate, a lot of times people have to work two or three jobs,” he said.

He said he’d also like to see more regulation on payday lenders and get rid of Virginia’s “right to work” laws.

All issues, he said, would directly affect people in the 14th district, and he’s tired of seeing people at the state-level who have never been to Danville make decisions that impact its residents.

“We shouldn’t have to go beg people in order to get things done in our own community,” said Stamps.

Many of Stamp’s stances come from his own life experiences after watching his friends who were teachers forced to get a second job or not finding a job in his field after graduating from college and landing in a low-wage job.

“People think that low-wage work isn’t hard work. It is hard work, they’re just not being paid well,” the father of two said.

Both vice-chairs of the Danville and Pittsylvania County Democratic Committees said their groups are supporting Stamps’ campaign.

“Eric has been getting Democrats elected for years. He knows the issues that have been affecting people here from his conversations at their doors and in community meetings,” said Danville Democratic Committee Vice Chairman Josh Norris.

Pittsylvania County Democratic Committee Vice Chairwoman Francis Tucker said his message that “Everybody deserves a seat at the table” rings true to a lot of people, including herself.

“I think there are a lot of people who have that their needs or issues weren’t being addressed or even cared about,” she said.

Stamps said this loss of faith in their representatives has led to a decrease in voter turnout that he hopes to reverse come November and draw out more voters in his favor.

“No one is speaking to the voters, and that’s what’s different about my campaign,” he said. “I’m speaking to the people.”

He said his grassroots campaign won’t be accepting any money from corporate donors, trying to take a stand against what he called a “pay to play” system.

Norris said, “We deserve someone who will work for us in Richmond and not only on the behalf of corporations and special interests.”

Tucker said she believes there are plenty of ways that Pittsylvania County residents could be better served, and that it’s important for representatives to be challenged.

Norris said, “This office has rarely been challenged and after 17 years it’s time that the citizens of Danville finally come first. We can’t afford to wait another 17 years for things to get done.”

Not yet 30, Stamps said he’s joining the movement pushing for fresh faces to take office.

“Now is definitely the time for new leadership across all levels of government,” he said. “From City Council all the way up to the presidency.”

Blue America has endorsed 5 candidates for the state legislature. If you'd like to contribute to Eric's campaign, and help him replace Danny Marshall, you can do that by tapping on the Blue America state legislative thermometer above. Now is exactly the time when Eric needs the help to fund his completely grassroots campaign.