Across the United States, 70 percent of political races go uncontested and often are occupied by incumbents who are Republicans.
“We don’t want to leave any seat unchallenged and we wholeheartedly believe that Democratic women are the best people to run for office,” Virginia’s List Chair Lateisha Garrett said.
Virginia’s List works to provide resources and support for women who wish to run as Democrats for local and states races.
Garrett said that the strategy to expand access for women Democrats in 2025 is to talk to everyone, including county Democratic parties and women leadership groups, and share the resources the organizations offers.
In 2025, approximately 3,000 elected seats will be on the ballot. Virginia’s List has goals to ensure that Democrats hold on to the Virginia House majority and to keeps their eyes on the governor’s race.
“We believe it’s time for Virginia to have a pro-choice Democratic woman as governor,” Garrett said.
From Powhatan County, Garrett attended JMU and her career began with Emily’s List, a national pro-choice organization.
When she lived in Alexandria, Garrett worked on three school board campaigns.
She became friends with Virginia’s List’s then-chair and joined the organization’s board in 2018. Virginia’s List’s board is entirely volunteers.
“That is where I’ve put my heart and my energy into,” Garrett said of local politics.
Virginia’s List began in 2015 to provide resources for women Democratic candidates. At the time, according to Garrett, Virginia was ranked 41st in women legislators in the General Assembly, but is now 21st.
“We’ve had a lot of impact on moving women, so we have more representation in the General Assembly,” Garrett said.
Virginia’s List began by focusing on the Virginia races for Lt. Governor, Attorney General and Governor, but has since found that no organization was focused on getting pro-choice Democratic women elected at the local level in the Commonwealth. While presidential and congressional candidates are important in American politics, the day-to-day impacts on American lives are from decisions made on city councils, school boards and in the General Assembly.
Around the same time, money from donors expanded. In 2018 to 2019, top donors contributed $38.9 million to state legislative races. In 2022 to 2023, they donated $86.6 million.
“It’s become really expensive to run [for elected office],” Garrett said.
In 2015, Virginia’s List was able to make an impact and help candidates with $15,000, but, according to Garrett, $15,000 in 2025 is “a drop in the bucket” toward necessary funding. The organization is able to fund travel, access to email lists, advertising and mailings for candidates.
Virginia women interested in running as Democrats in local and state races are encouraged to contact Virginia’s List for support, funding and resources. Virginia women already running as Democrats in local and state races are also encouraged to ask the organization for an endorsement survey by emailing [email protected].
“If you’re going to do that and be brave, we want to be there for you,” Garrett said.
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Rebecca Barnabi
