Cole plans another run for 28th District delegate

Joshua Cole announced he is running again for Virginia’s 28th House District before a crowd of supporters and members of the Stafford Democratic Committee on Sunday.

The district is represented by first-term Delegate Bob Thomas, R-28th, and includes part of Stafford County and Fredericksburg.

Cole ran on the Democratic ticket against Thomas in 2017 and finished 73 votes short after a recount. The election results were challenged by Cole after 384 voters were directed to vote in the wrong district due to mislabeled district lines. Courts ruled the state had not disenfranchised the voters who voted in the wrong district.

Cole pointed to Thomas’ voting record as an important reason to run: “The delegate has [voted as we hoped on] Medicaid expansion, but what’s most important [to removing the work requirements on Medicaid] is a majority in the House of Delegates.”

Cole added that the current strategy of “bill-killing” and vote-blocking employed by the Republican Party has stopped Virginia from being an “all-inclusive state,” with bills on LGBTQ issues and women’s rights thwarted by lock-step voting from the GOP.

Cole also highlighted the need for progressive reform in Virginia’s House to create a more equitable Virginia: “We have to fight for well-paying jobs, working-class citizens, and [equal rights] so that everyone has a chance to succeed in Virginia.”

Cole talked optimistically about the changing demographics in politics in the District which he believes will fuel his win in November: “I think [Stafford County and Fredericksburg] realize things are shifting and things are changing.”

Thomas is being challenged by former Stafford County supervisor Paul Milde for the Republican Party nomination. A form of selecting the GOP candidate has not been announced.