{"id":12099,"date":"2025-07-06T13:58:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T17:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/manassascitydemocrats.org\/?p=12099"},"modified":"2025-09-08T00:52:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T04:52:48","slug":"support-our-2025-democratic-candidates-for-a-more-just-fair-prosperous-and-affordable-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/manassascitydemocrats.org\/?p=12099","title":{"rendered":"Support Our 2025 Democratic Candidates for a More Just, Fair, Prosperous, and Affordable Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For Statewide Offices<\/strong><\/u>:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Abigail Spanberger<\/a> for Governor<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ghazala Hashmi<\/strong><\/a> for Lt. Governor<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Jay Jones<\/a> for Attorney General<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger for Governor<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Abigail Spanberger<\/strong> is running for Governor to make Virginia a more affordable place to live and raise a family. She grew up in a middle-class family near Richmond. She and her husband Adam are the proud parents of three school-aged daughters in Virginia public schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, from January 2019 to January 2025, where she got results under both Trump and Biden despite the dysfunction and was consistently ranked the most bipartisan Member of Congress from Virginia. Before Congress, Spanberger served as a federal law enforcement officer\u2014working narcotics and money laundering cases. She then served as a CIA case officer\u2014working on counterterrorism and nuclear counterproliferation cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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State Senator Ghazala Hashmi for Lieutenant Governor<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ghazala Hashmi <\/strong>emigrated with her mother and older brother from India to the United States where they joined her father in Georgia. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class and receiving multiple full scholarships and fellowships, Ghazala earned a BA with honors from Georgia Southern University and her PhD in American literature from Emory University in Atlanta. Ghazala and her husband, Azhar, moved as newlyweds to the Richmond area in 1991, and she spent nearly 30 years as a professor, first teaching at the University of Richmond and then at Reynolds Community College. While at Reynolds, she also served as the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). First elected to office in November 2019, Ghazala won an upset victory over a Republican incumbent, delivering the state Senate majority to Democrats for the first time in years and shocking the political establishment. In 2024, because of the confidence her Democratic colleagues have in her, she was named Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, a crucial leadership post for two critical Democratic priorities, reproductive freedom and public education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a State Senator, Ghazala pushed to fully fund our public schools, protect access to affordable healthcare, and defend our reproductive rights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Former Delegate Jay Jones for Attorney General<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jay Jones<\/strong> grew up in Norfolk, raised by Judge Jerrauld C. Jones and Judge Lyn Simmon s Jones. After he graduated from the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia School of Law, he served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where he was a member of the Office of Consumer Protection. He successfully took on the gun lobby to keep families safe, sued corporations to prevent higher grocery prices, and effectively went after big banks and predatory landlords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, Jay was elected to the House of Delegates, where he protected abortion rights, expanded Medicaid, and gave teachers annual pay raises. More recently, he led the fight on behalf of the Virginia NAACP against the Youngkin-Sears administration to protect voting rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For Virginia House of Delegates:<\/u><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n
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Michelle Maldonado<\/a> for HD-20 Delegate<\/strong> (Cities of Manassas & Manassas Park + Yorkshire)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Delegate Michelle Lopes Maldonado<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Delegate Maldonado<\/strong> is a long-time resident of the Manassas area, an entrepreneur, business leader, mother, wife, and bridge-builder who proudly serves the people of Virginia\u2019s 20th House District. In 2021, she became the first woman, the first person of color, and only the second Democrat, to serve in the former HD-50 seat in the history of Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During her first term, Michelle served on the Education, K12, Privileges & Elections, Campaign Finance Reform, and Courts of Justice committees. She also was appointed by Majority Leader Don Scott to Chair the House Democratic Caucus Affordable Housing Policy Committee and by the Speaker of the House to sit on the new statewide School Health Services Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hardworking, action-oriented, and collaborative legislator, Michelle was named 2022 \u201cRookie Legislator of the Year\u201d by the Virginia Education Association. She also founded and chairs the new bipartisan, Virginia Technology and Innovation Caucus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle is a former corporate and tech attorney turned business leader, who understands diverse industry sectors, missions, and services. Michelle has a passion for people, community and service and works hard to ensure that all Virginians have a voice, access, and opportunity to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For City of Manassas Offices:<\/u><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Tim Demeria<\/a> for Commissioner of the Revenue<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Patricia Richie-Folks<\/a> for Treasurer<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Tim Demeria<\/a> for Commissioner of the Revenue<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Since taking on the role of Commissioner of the Revenue in January 2022, Tim Demeria<\/strong> has proven to be a dedicated leader. From day one, Tim immersed himself in the Commissioner\u2019s Association, relentlessly working to be the best possible Commissioner for the City of Manassas. He achieved the prestigious title of Master Commissioner in the shortest time allowed\u2014just three years\u2014demonstrating his commitment to serving our city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Chairman of the Association\u2019s Veteran\u2019s Committee, he has been a fierce advocate for Disabled Veterans, working diligently to ensure they receive the full range of tax benefits to which they are entitled. He further demonstrated his leadership skills when he served as Chairman of the Northern District for two years, and in his current role as an active member of the Legislative Committee for the Association.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his capacity as Commissioner, Tim has implemented critical improvements within the office, including fostering strong collaboration with the City Council and City Managers to refine the budget process. By reorganizing key procedures, he has ensured that both the City Manager and Council receive timely and accurate information\u2014leading to more efficient budget negotiations. Tim is also deeply committed to fostering growth within his team. He encourages all deputies in the office to pursue their Master\u2019s certificates, with the goal of expanding the number of Master Deputies from one to at least four by the end of his next term. This investment in professional development enhances the office’s capabilities and ensures that the citizens of Manassas continue to receive the highest standard of customer service.        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tim is committed to continue serving his city over the next four years and working to improve the experiences of its citizens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patricia Richie-Folks<\/a> for Treasurer<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First elected as the City’s Treasurer in a 2016 special election, Patricia Richie-Folks<\/strong> was re-elected twice to four-year terms in 2017 and 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Results are what really matters.  As the City’s Treasurer for the past 8.5 years, Patricia has worked diligently to enhance financial efficiency, improve taxpayer services, and uphold transparency.  Staying focused on the right priorities, and with the dedicated work of excellent, highly proficient staff members, she has undertaken major initiatives as Treasurer with strong positive results.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strong Financial Stewardship and Investment Performance<\/strong>:\u200b <\/p>\n\n\n\n