Special Election Alert!
A special election is happening in Virginia on January 7th, 2025, and we’re thrilled to endorse both Kannan Srinivasan (SD-32) and JJ Singh (HD-26)!
These races are critical — it’s the first chance for our movement to mobilize since the November election and a pivotal opportunity to protect the power we’ve fought so hard to achieve in the Commonwealth.
Here’s what is at stake:
Control of Virginia’s State Legislature. Currently, Democrats hold a slim 21-19 majority in the state Senate and a 51-49 majority in the state House. A Republican victory in the Senate will allow the GOP lieutenant governor to cast tie-breaking votes, effectively shifting control to Republicans. In the state House, a loss for Democrats would force a power-sharing agreement and lead to a legislative gridlock.
The future of Virginia’s policies on abortion rights, health care, education, and more. If Republicans succeed in holding the Governor’s mansion and flipping the House of Delegates next November, maintaining a “blue wall” in the State Senate will be vital for Democrats to block conservative policy initiatives and protect key legislative priorities. With Democrats currently controlling the VA Senate, maintaining control of the House of Delegates is crucial for Democrats to reestablish a Democratic trifecta with the victory in the governor’s race next year.
A bellwether for 2025. Given its diverse electorate and its influence on national political narratives, the outcome of these races will serve as a bellwether for future electoral shifts across the country.
Here’s more about our new candidates:
Kannan Srinivasan was born to schoolteachers in Tamil Nadu, India, and immigrated to Virginia in 1992 to pursue a Master’s in Accounting at Old Dominion University. A personal experience with the U.S. healthcare system after a serious accident inspired him to advocate for accessible healthcare, leading to his appointment to the State Medicaid Board by Governors McAuliffe and Northam. There, he played a role in expanding Medicaid to over 2 million Virginians.
In 2023, Kannan became the first Indian American immigrant elected to Virginia’s House of Delegates. In his first session, he successfully passed eight bipartisan bills addressing youth mental health, consumer and renter protections, the opioid crisis, and court efficiency. Now, he is running in the special State Senate election to continue championing solutions that promote a brighter, more prosperous future for all Virginians.
JJ Singh, a North Virginia native, has dedicated his career to public service, economic development, and community empowerment. He’s running for Delegate to champion affordable childcare, quality education, gun safety, and reproductive rights, striving to make the American Dream accessible to all.
The son of Indian immigrants who served in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, JJ graduated from the University of Virginia and became the first turbaned Sikh to serve in the U.S. Peace Corps, where he supported Bolivian farmers and single mothers with microloans and business development. He later worked at the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Obama Administration and served as Economic Policy Advisor to Senator Chris Coons, helping to advance small business and manufacturing legislation.
Split a contribution to these candidates!
P.S. Interested in donating your time? Sign up to phonebank or knock doors for Kannan and JJ between now and January 7.
