The woman challenging Del. Rosalyn R. Dance, D-Petersburg, in a June primary is a 30-year old single mother with no legislative experience who recently moved from Richmond to Petersburg, Dance’s hometown. But Evandra Thompson, a decorated Air Force veteran, university graduate and community organizer, can count on the endorsements — and financial backing —– from some of Virginia’s leading Democrats, including Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico, and several local leaders in the legislative district.
Del. Rosalyn R. Dance, D-Petersburg, an eight-year veteran of the House of Delegates, faces a challenger in the June Democratic primary and members of her party’s establishment are turning their backs on her. Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico, and the former mayors of Petersburg and Hopewell announced Monday that they will pitch their support to political newcomer Evandra Thompson, who is running against Dance.
The Virginia Senate has cleared the way for the state to expand its Medicaid program to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Virginians, but the House of Delegates stands firmly in the path. Both chambers adopted competing versions of the state budget on Thursday that must be reconciled before the General Assembly adjourns Feb. 23, and no issue looms larger or more divisive than expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. “This is an opportunity we will never have again,” said Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond.
At least two black House Democrats say they might vote for the GOP’s surprise Virginia Senate redistricting plan, a move that could make it easier for Republican Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and House Speaker William J. Howell to find their way out of a sticky political quandary. Dels. Onzlee Ware (Roanoke) and Rosalyn R. Dance (Petersburg) told The Washington Post on Wednesday that they are considering the plan, which would create a new majority-black district in Southside but also disperse black voting power in at least eight other districts.
Nearly all state lawmakers whose districts cover the Tri-Cities accepted gifts, including overseas trips, sports tickets and meals from lobbyists and other groups last year, according to an analysis of financial disclosure forms by the Virginia Public Access Project. Leading the pack locally were State Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond, and Delegate Riley Ingram, R-Hopewell. Ingram and Marsh were among eight senators and delegates to partake in visits to Turkey underwritten by the nonprofit American Turkish Friendship Association.
A bill intended to steer people who are discharged from state training centers into new residences near their families’ homes sailed out of a Senate committee Thursday. The bill is sponsored by Del. Rosalyn Dance, D-Petersburg, and supported by Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg.
Petersburg could soon get a new face in Washington, D.C., as a redistricting proposal will scoot the city into a different congressional district. The bill, passed Friday by the Virginia Senate and headed for approval by Gov. Bob McDonnell, would add more African-American voters to U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott's 3rd Congressional District.