All 100 House of Delegates races in Virginia up for election in 2025 have a Democrat running against a Republican candidate or incumbent.
“This year, people are pissed off and people are standing up,” said Chris Benjamin, chair of the Staunton Democratic Committee.
The committee hosted three local candidates running for elected office at the Staunton Library Monday night, as well as Attorney General candidate Shannon Taylor.
Early voting in Virginia has begun and the primary is June 17.
“I think, actually June 17, the primary is the biggest opportunity for protest across Virginia,” Benjamin said. “Think about it this way. Normally, primaries are snooze fests, very low turnout, but, what would happen if all the Democrats in Virginia all of a sudden showed up and what kind of warning to MAGA would that send if we set records at the primary?”
Taylor, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Henrico County since 2012, said that everyone in the room is either a die-hard Democrat or “you’re caring about democracy or both.”
As an attorney with 30 years of public service experience, she reminded the library’s audience that President Donald Trump‘s executive orders are not laws, just statements of what Trump wishes to do.
“But, we have an Attorney General right now who seems to think that that’s what he should be doing [not checking the legality or constitutionality of each order],” Taylor said.
According to Taylor, it is time for a change in Virginia, and she has the experience in leadership, working as a fighter for the public and she is electable. She beat incumbent Eric Cantor in 2012 for Commonwealth’s Attorney. She was elected to serve in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023.
“And, as Henrico Country, was trending from red to blue, that just meant that I got more and more support from my constituents,” Taylor said.
As an attorney, Taylor has prosecuted the KKK member who drove a truck through a Black Lives Matter march in Henrico County in 2020 and the white nationalist who shot into a crowd of protestors at UVA in 2017. When the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade in the United States, Taylor publicly announced she would not prosecute a woman and her doctor.
“You know when I said that we’re taking Trump to court, you know that you can bank on it and I mean it,” she said.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has endangered federal jobs, veterans benefits, Social Security, seniors and Medicaid, but Virginia can stand up and not allow individuals to suffer for the sake of government efficiency.
“I’m a prosecutor. I know fraud and this is not how you do it,” Taylor said of DOGE’s actions.
When it comes to civil rights, Taylor said that in November 2024 when Gov. Glenn Youngkin removed voters from the voter rolls who had probation violations, Attorney General Jason Miyares did not do his job and stop him. In 2025, voters should expect the same tactics because it is Youngkin’s last opportunity to make a difference.
“So, everyone is going to be watching to see what happens in Virginia,” Taylor said.
She said that Trump can choose to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the United States, but Virginia can choose to continue to protect individuals from discrimination.
“The Constitution and the Rule of Law will be upheld in voting rights, in civil rights. I will be that protector,” Taylor said.
Ken Mitchell of Rockingham County will be able to declare his candidacy in January 2026 to face off a second time against U.S. Rep. Ben Cline for Virginia’s Sixth District. While Cline, a Republican, defeated Mitchell in November 2024’s election, Mitchell has continued traveling and meeting constituents. Mitchell is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
“Because, I don’t learn anything when I’m talking. I learn when I’m listening,” he said.
In 2025, Democrats have a marathon, not a short foot race, to run. He encouraged everyone to support Makayla Venable, who is running against Del. Ellen Campbell for Virginia’s 36th District.
“It’s time we stand up and be Virginians and be Americans,” Mitchell said of voting in 2025.
According to Venable, a graduate of Staunton High School, “government should work for the people and not just for the powerful.”
A former healthcare worker, she said that healthcare is a human right and the climate crisis cannot wait for humans to stop, pay attention and take action. She also thinks that affordable housing and a living wage are human rights.
Venable was raised by her grandmother and began attending the Boys & Girls Club at a young age, so she is very concerned about the possibility of federal funding cuts affecting the organization.
“This community, especially District 36, helped shape the person that I am,” Venable said.
Last to speak Monday night was John Baber of Staunton, who works for Waynesboro Commonwealth’s Attorney David Ledbetter and is running for Commonwealth’s Attorney of Staunton.
“In the end, the Commonwealth’s Attorney works for the people,” Baber said. He said the position upholds the conscience of the residents of Staunton and Virginia‘s laws.
On weekends, Baber knocks on as many as 150 doors in Staunton to introduce himself to voters because local voting matters and he needs approximately 5,000 votes to win his first bid for elected office. A former Staunton Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Baber said he would focus on community and providing police training if he is elected.
“I hope to run the way that says: ‘This is how you run in a small town,'” Baber said.
The Staunton Democratic Committee is in need of volunteers. Monday night’s meeting with Taylor, Mitchell, Venable and Baber is viewable on YouTube.
Related stories:
Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor launches campaign for Attorney General
Ken Mitchell announces candidacy for Sixth District seat
Makayla Venable opposes Ellen Campbell for Virginia House seat
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Rebecca Barnabi
