As a longtime educator, Middlesex resident Princess Blanding said she never imagined she would follow a path into politics. She had worked her way up to an administrative position at the Essex County public school division and there, she planned to stay.
But, her path veered in 2018, when her brother, Marcus David-Peters was fatally shot by the Richmond City Police Department. He was suffering from a mental health crisis and was unarmed.
In the three years to follow, Blanding, who now works in Alexandria, has become a well-known activist lobbying the General Assembly for criminal justice reform. And, now she is taking the next leap in her political career: A run for governor under the new Liberation Party. The party, formed by Blanding, takes a strong stance on community care, police reform, equity, food sovereignty and labor rights.
“I couldn’t sit silently and allow the narrative to go on so I didn’t even have to grieve, I had to fight for my brother,” Blanding said. “I kept saying, not knowing that I’d eventually run, it’s time for the rise of a strong independent party.”
In 2020, Blanding launched her campaign. But, in order for her name to come across the ballot, she needed 10,000 signatures. So, she began her door-to-door trip across the state. Without the needed funds to purchase the minimum $30,000 voter party affiliations, Blanding said the focus has been to hit every home making sure citizens know her name and policy stances. As an independent candidate, it can be a feat in and of itself, Blanding said.
Despite the odds, the Virginia Board of Elections confirmed in June Blanding will join Republican Glenn Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe on November’s ballot. Now, she is working on getting to the debate stage. Recently, Youngkin announced he would not participate in the Virginia Bar Association debate.
Blanding said her core issues focus primarily on criminal justice reform. Through her activism, Blanding petitioned for the Marcus alert bill, passed in 2020, which will ensure behavioral health experts are involved when police respond to individuals showing signs of a mental health crisis. Additionally, Blanding said she plans to address racial injustice, environmental, housing and rural issues.
“I’ve lived in big cities and rural areas and I feel like rural Virginia gets left off, it’s like we’re forgotten,” Blanding said citing a lack of broadband access and pandemic resources as examples.
According to Blanding, there is a stark difference between internet access in the northern part of the state compared to rural areas like the Tidewater region. Without equitable access, residents are placed at a disadvantage. Blanding said her goal is to see better infrastructure in place in local regions.
With roughly three months before the election, Blanding said she is spending this summer trying to reach as many people as possible. But, running as an independent candidate, she is inherently at a disadvantage with a lack of monetary funding and influence in politics.
According to William & Mary Government and Public Policy Professor John McGlennon, there have been numerous independent candidates who have tried for state offices. But, none have succeeded in the state.
In today’s political climate, it has become difficult for an independent candidate to make it to the ballot and to state office because people see the two main parties as stark contrasts. It makes it difficult to understand a break away from the mold, McGlennon said.
“I think one of the things to measure the likely impact a minor candidate is looking at the relative support they have received financially,” McGlennon added.
According to the Virginia Public Access Project, McAuliffe has raised $20.3 million, Youngkin trails behind with roughly $19.5 million. As of the July filing, Blanding has raised $20,500 with a promise to not take any corporate donations.
While Blanding has less financial support, she said it has come to her advantage. It has caused her campaign to gear toward meeting folks and talking with them. Regardless of political affiliation, she said she is running a door-to-door, boots-on-the-ground campaign.
“We’re going to make lemonade with what is perceived to be lemons to us,” Blanding said. “I’m not a career politician, I am an impact of Virginia.”
Em Holter, emily.holter@virginiamedia.com, 757-256-6657, @EmHolterNews.
