Democracy for America endorses Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor of Virginia

Today, Democracy for America (DFA) announced its endorsement of Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Born and raised in Virginia, Jennifer Carroll Foy was one of the first women to graduate from Virginia Military Institute and has served the Commonwealth as a public defender, a magistrate, and a member of the House of Delegates.

Democracy for America first supported Jennifer Carroll Foy during her 2017 run for Virginia’s House of Delegates as a part of the grassroots progressive group’s multi-year “Purple to Blue” effort to flip Virginia’s legislature to Democratic control. Since her election, Carroll Foy has been a leader in the Commonwealth on critical progressive priorities, including reproductive freedom, strong paid family and medical leave, and the fight to pass the Equal Rights amendment. In 2020, she spearheaded the fight to overturn decades of legislation that harmed working families and teachers, and passed the biggest expansion of labor rights in decades. She also successfully passed legislation banning pregnancy discrimination and chokeholds in policing.

When elected, Carroll Foy will make history both as Virginia’s first female governor and the country’s first Black woman elected governor.

Statement from DFA CEO Yvette Simpson on the grassroots progressive group’s endorsement of Carroll Foy:

“Democracy for America is thrilled to endorse Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor of Virginia because we’ve seen her fight and deliver for progressive values in and out of elected office.

“Whether she was spearheading the Commonwealth’s efforts to finally pass the long-overdue Equal Rights Amendment, beating back the dismantling of core reproductive freedoms, or successfully banning pregnancy discrimination and chokeholds in policing, Jennifer Carroll Foy has been an unrelenting champion for progressive priorities and working families.

“Jennifer Carroll Foy is a leader with a fresh vision for the Commonwealth who has proven throughout her career that she stands with the people of Virginia, not corporate interests.

“Democracy for America members know Jennifer Carroll Foy, we trust Jennifer Carroll Foy to deliver on a progressive agenda that will make Virginians proud, and we are excited to stand with Jennifer Carroll Foy as she seeks to make history in Virginia and our country in this election.”-- Yvette Simpson, CEO, Democracy for America

Statement from Jennifer Carroll Foy on receiving DFA’s 2021 endorsement:

"Democracy for America has always been at the forefront of building a grassroots movement of working people across the country to make real change in people's lives. Whether it's income equality, racial justice, equal rights, or holding the special interests accountable, DFA has led the way. It's an honor to earn this endorsement.

"These are challenging times that have exposed what's just beneath the surface: in the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world, in one of the wealthiest states in the country, working Virginians don’t have what they need to thrive. They deserve a leader with a fresh vision – a Governor who sees them and will stand shoulder to shoulder with them, not special interests. I have always fought against the status quo that has left us with a deeply broken system, and I'll do the same as Governor of Virginia." -- Jennifer Carroll Foy

DFA has 34,817 members in the commonwealth of Virginia and more than one million members nationwide.