Virginia Democrats quickly rally in support of Kamala Harris

“I’m looking forward to working with my friend Kamala Harris and a great ticket mate to keep Virginia blue so that we can continue to build on our progress,” said Sen. Tim Kaine.

Virginia Democrats did not waste any time in rallying around Kamala Harris in the first hours of her historic campaign to become president. 

As news broke on Sunday that President Joe Biden was ending his bid for a second term in office and endorsing Vice President Harris, Democrats from across Virginia rushed to commend Biden’s decision and pledge support for Harris. 

“His decision today reflects the same patriotism that George Washington and Teddy Roosevelt demonstrated when they selflessly put their country above their own political ambitions,” said Sen. Tim Kaine in a statement. 

Kaine, who is up for re-election this fall against a far-right Republican, added he looked forward to building on the Biden-Harris administration’s record of lowering costs for Virginians, protecting democracy, and defending Americans’ reproductive rights. 

“I stand with our President’s decision to support @VP Kamala Harris as our Democratic nominee to defend our democracy,” said Missy Cotter Smasal, the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 2nd District in Congress. “We must unite behind her as our choice to defeat the extreme MAGA agenda this November.”

Smasal, a Navy veteran and former small business owner, is running to unseat a Republican in one of the most competitive congressional races in the country that will help determine which party has control of Congress. 

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who represents Virginia’s 7th District and is running for governor in 2025, echoed these sentiments while noting there was no time to waste in preparing to defeat Trump at the ballot box in November. 

“Defeating former President Trump is essential to defending our democracy, protecting the rights of our fellow Virginians, and passing a better country and world on to our children,” Spanberger said. “The stakes of this election are enormous.”