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Vote for Gun Sense Champions this Election Season

carolyn4977

Updated: Oct 15, 2024

While Virginia Moms for Change is a bipartisan group, we acknowledge that the most effective way to reduce gun-related deaths in our state and nation is to vote for candidates who support gun safety legislation. Our best chance to protect our children from gun violence is to elect lawmakers who will pass common-sense gun laws.


Election Day is November 5th, and early voting is already underway. You can find your voter information here. As for your ballot, Virginia Moms for Change has you covered! See below for the candidates we support and why their track records make them champions of gun safety.


President/Vice President: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz


As current Vice President, Kamala Harris oversees the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Her administration worked to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Additionally, while in office, gun violence was declared a public health emergency by the US Surgeon General.

As governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz expanded background checks, implemented red flag laws, and banned a trigger device that increases the firing capacity of semiautomatic weapons.


U.S. Senate: Tim Kaine U.S.

From Kaine's Website: “Tim believes weapons of war have no place on our streets or in our schools, which is why he supports universal background checks, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and providing more support for people facing mental health challenges. In 2022, he worked to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – the first major federal gun safety in nearly three decades.”


U.S.House of Representatives:

District 1: Leslie Mehta,VMFC Endorsed Priority: Enacting common-sense gun safety laws—It is far past the time to do something about the proliferation of guns and gun violence in our communities.

District 2: Missy Cotter Smasal, VMFC Endorsed We are grateful to Missy Smasal for prioritizing our kids’ safety and trust that, if elected, she will use her position to support gun safety policies.

By contrast, her opponent Jen Kiggans has been endorsed by the NRA and has voted against bipartisan, commonsense gun safety proposals. She voted against universal background checks; she voted against expanding red flag laws that take guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and those who pose a threat to Virginians; and she voted against prohibiting guns in schools and childcare centers.

District 3: Bobby Scott Serves as the Vice Chair on the House Democratic Caucus Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, the Protecting Our Kids Act, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021, and the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019


District 4: Jennifer McClellan, VMFC Endorsed From McClellan's Website: "Jenn has seen the devastating impact of gun violence across the Commonwealth. As the mom of two school-age kids, Jenn supports enacting comprehensive gun reform to protect our families and make our communities safer. All of Virginia’s 1,000 annual gun deaths are preventable. As a member of Congress, Jenn will work to close loopholes and protect Virginians from gun violence."


District 5: Gloria Tinsley Witt Thank you to Gloria Tinsley Witt for prioritizing gun safety! Virginia Moms for Change is proud to support her for the US House District 5 seat.

VMFC is disappointed in her opponent John McGuire. On his campaign page, the only "policies" that he lays out are: "Pro-Life. Pro-Gun. Pro-Trump." While serving in the Virginia Senate in 2024, McGuire voted against over 40 gun violence prevention bills that were supported by VMFC. McGuire also introduced legislation (that failed) to loosen Virginia's concealed handgun laws. In 2023, while a delegate in the Virginia House, McGuire introduced a bill to LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS ON WEAPONS IN DAYCARES AND PRESCHOOLS.


District 6: Ken Mitchell From Mitchell's Website: "We MUST take action to stop the senseless violence that threatens and kills our children in their schools and innocent Americans going about their lives. The vast majority of gun owners in our Nation are responsible and safety conscious. 

I support a total federal ban on assault weapons; requiring background checks for the purchase of all firearms; funding public research on the causes and impacts of gun violence; and continuing the work of the groundbreaking, bi-partisan Safer Communities Act."


District 7: Eugene Vindman,VMFC Endorsed We are proud to endorse Eugene Vindman who is prioritizing our children’s safety. By contrast, his opponent Derrick Anderson has been endorsed by the NRA and rated as AQ for the current election cycle. His campaign website lists no policy ideas for combatting our gun violence epidemic. The Virginia Civil Defense League rated Anderson as "pro-gun" in 2024.


District 8: Don Beyer, Jr. From Beyer's Website: "I proudly voted for the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, which would expand background checks to cover nearly every gun sale. I also voted for legislation to close the Charleston loophole, which allowed prohibited persons to acquire firearms if their background check is not completed within three days, and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, which closed the “boyfriend loophole” on gun sales to abusive partners or stalkers. Firm in my belief that weapons of war have no place in American communities, I am a long-time co-sponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban, and of measures to ban high capacity ammunition magazines and bump-stocks."


District 9: Karen Baker Thank you to Karen Baker for prioritizing gun safety! Virginia Moms for Change is proud to support her for the US House District 9 seat. VMFC is disappointed in her opponent Morgan Griffith who has been rated an A+ by the NRA since 2012 and is endorsed by them for this election cycle. While in Congress, Griffith voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.


District 10: Suhas Subramanyam From Subramanyam's wesbite: "“In the legislature, Suhas has actively supported common sense gun safety laws, and he proudly pushed several measures which passed the General Assembly just this year, two of which were signed by a Republican Governor.

Suhas believes we can achieve serious progress on this issue while respecting the Second Amendment, and without undermining the rights of responsible gun owners.”


District 11: Gerry Connolly From Connolly's Website: "It is shameful how many in Congress are beholden to the NRA. Congressman Connolly will continue to push for more sensible policies to keep guns out of the wrong hands."


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