"The PFML program will provide job protection and paid time off for... -Caring for a new child (birth, adoption, foster care) -Recovering from a serious health condition -Caring for a family member with a serious health condition -Military family needs -Domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking"

Neither rain, snow, heat nor sleet keeps the Monday rally-goers from protesting outside Ben Cline's office for the 65th consecutive week! Great to talk about my campaign with John Carlin of WSLS, Ian Price of WFIR and Noah from WDBJ today in downtown Roanoke.

Call Ben Cline! And if you're available, call others to give them the alert.

Let's see what they do with ours, compared to what we've seen in other states...... 🤞🏼

Live now

NEW today: A federal judge had ordered Mississippi to redraw its state supreme court map, finding it to be racially discriminatory. The judge was going to order new elections for this fall. The 5th circuit just vacated the judge's ruling in light of Callais (unsurprisingly).

The rule appears to be that redistricting is always legal when it benefits Republicans and never legal when it benefits Democrats.

There's a Rockingham County School Board meeting tonight at 7! They're also streamed online: www.rcps.net/page/school-...

An example of Democratic policy making a real difference in people's lives, while also making living and working in Virginia more attractive! www.ms.now/opinion/virg...

This newsletter shared some of our posts, alongside other helpful info for CD-6. Thanks!

The families going hungry because of Trump’s food stamp cuts www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

DeFlock Hburg planning meeting tonight at Community Mennonite Church actionnetwork.org/forms/get-in...

Community event

Jamelle Bouie has something to say to Democrats youtu.be/xUECEsu-HAk?...

I often say that the fight for democracy is the fight of our generation. But let me be clear, if you aren’t fighting for Black voting rights right now then you aren’t really fighting for democracy.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to gut the Voting Rights Act, Republican-controlled states are aiming to give the GOP an unfair edge in the 2026 midterm by gerrymandering their congressional maps. See where redistricting stands in your state:

Are you paying attention?

VA Senate Majority Leader @ssurovell.bsky.social: "I respectfully but emphatically support the dissent of Chief Justice Powell...The dissent has it right on the law, on the text of our Constitution, and on the settled practice of the General Assembly." bluevirginia.us/2026/05/brea...

Rural Dems showing up 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

"TransUnion and Experian, two of the three major credit bureaus, have started dismissing a larger share of consumer complaints without help since the Trump administration began dismantling the CFPB."

HUGE NEWS: The Hawaii legislature, on overwhelming and bipartisan votes, just now became the first state to clear a bill that rids the state’s politics of all dark and corporate money — effectively undoing Citizens United. Next stop: Gov. Josh Green‘s desk for his signature.

As Tennessee Republicans voted Thursday to approve an unprecedented Congressional redistricting map that would divide Memphis, protesters and Democrats pushed back with walkouts, protests resulting in arrests and burning a printed Confederate flag in the Capitol. nashvillebanner.com/2026/05/07/t...

Melt The Ice protest Sunday May 17th 12-3 pm at Westover Park in Harrisonburg Led by Eastern Mennonite High School's Social Justice Committee It is open to anybody who wants to come, not just EMHS students! There will be snacks and drinks at shelter 1 until 12:30

"But one thing is crystal clear: Virginians know what’s at stake and will not be shoved aside. This moment is sharpening our focus and supercharging our resolve. Republicans—and their media allies—know we won... This is our defining moment, not theirs—and they know it. So, rally."

For the record, the Republican hack Virginia Supreme Court justice (D. Arthur Kelsey)'s term ends on January 31, 2027. Replacing him with a Democrat then should flip the court to 4D-3R. Then Stephen R. McCullough (R) is outta there in March 2028...5D-2R time! bluevirginia.us/2026/05/brea...

Virginia AG Jay Jones is asking the Virginia Supreme Court to delay issuing its mandate to void the results of last month's redistricting referendum as Democrats prepare an appeal to SCOTUS.

"It appears that Democrats are bound by one set of rules while Republicans play by another, and Republican-appointed judges have repeatedly put their collective thumb on the scale of elections to make sure their party prevails."

Total shocker. Alito’s argument for why black people don’t need voting rights protections is based on fraudulent statistics.

We'll do it. But will work to flip more districts even sooner than that!

The energy and determination I witnessed today was a reminder of what's at stake & what we're capable of when we stand together. I will continue to fight for Virginia families & ensure that every community has fair, equal access to the ballot & a real voice in the decisions that shape their lives.

(2/3) When voting rights are threatened, so is everything else: healthcare, education, free speech, basic human rights. I joined protesters at today's rally at the Supreme Court of Virginia who are making clear that Virginians will not sit quietly as these rights are tested and rolled back.

(1/3) The Virginia Supreme Court's decision to block a redistricting referendum that Virginians voted for is part of a broader national assault on our democratic institutions — and it should concern everyone who believes in free and fair elections.

Whoa! That's a whole lot of zeros the Trump family has accumulated while Americans struggle to buy groceries and pay rent. The total rises to as much as $9.7 billion - yep, with a B -when the value of digital assets is factored in. oversightdemocrats.house.gov/trump-family...

The local Indivisible chapter is on BlueSky: @hrindivisibled6.bsky.social

Justice wasn’t served today in Virginia. We must continue to work to preserve and protect our democracy.

Back to Plan A.

Spanberger: “I am disappointed by the Supreme Court of VA’s ruling, but my focus as Governor will be on ensuring that all voters have the information necessary to make their voices heard this November in the midterm elections because in those elections we — the voters — will have the final say.”

"The Republican-led majority of the Supreme Court of Virginia contorted the plain language of the Constitution...which allowed them to reach the wrong legal conclusion that fit their political agenda. The consequences of their error are grave." - VA AG Jay Jones bluevirginia.us/2026/05/brea...

Do not accept the descent into darkness. The people voted for new districts. Our Democracy is at stake.

Country first.

Please read my statement about the Virginia Supreme Court overturning the results of an election. The will of the people has been denied for now, but not for much longer.

The work just got harder, but we're ready to fight www.instagram.com/reel/DYFVsxQ...

We're not giving up on winning more seats, btw

"The VA General Assembly has rejected expanding ALPR authority to state highway rights-of-way... Rather than seeking that authorization, Flock Safety & Elkton PD documented a strategy to place cameras on private property... same surveillance... zero legislative oversight, no VDOT permit required."

Louisiana's secretary of state has said that the votes for U.S. House races on around 40,000 mail ballots that have already been accepted will not be counted, after Gov. Landry suspended House primaries so new districts could be set. https://to.pbs.org/4ngXX9S

State legislature elections matter! So many important decisions that affect our democracy are made at the state level.

"The Trump administration has granted more than 180 polluting facilities nationwide a two-year pause on compliance with Clean Air Act rules."

"The VA General Assembly has rejected expanding ALPR authority to state highway rights-of-way... Rather than seeking that authorization, Flock Safety & Elkton PD documented a strategy to place cameras on private property... same surveillance... zero legislative oversight, no VDOT permit required."

Latinos have been a majority in Whittier for decades, but they've rarely had representation in city government — until now. A groundswell of political engagement & immigrant activism sparked by ICE raids last year has ousted 3 conservatives and elected Whittier's first ever majority-Latino council