Carroll Foy’s Vision for the Future Stands Out as Virginians Call for Fresh, New Leadership
(Woodbridge, VA) – Last night, Jennifer Carroll Foy clearly laid out her positive vision for moving Virginia forward and building a Commonwealth where every Virginian has the opportunity to thrive. Carroll Foy stood out from the field as the new leader who has shared in the struggles working families face that Virginians are looking for.
Carroll Foy also discussed why the fight to end gun violence is deeply personal to her – sharing the story of a close friend who was shot and nearly killed in Petersburg when she was in her twenties, and the story of a young boy who lost his life on the same block as her childhood home just two weeks ago. She laid out her plan to curb gun violence, and held Terry McAuliffe accountable on the “backroom deal” he cut with the NRA to undermine the safety of Virginians.
See highlights of the first televised Democratic gubernatorial debate below:
- WATCH: Carroll Foy on her post-COVID economic recovery plan: “We need a governor who understands the challenges that Virginia challenges face. I don’t have to empathize, because I understand.”
- WATCH: The standout moment of the debate was Carroll Foy’s impassioned answer on why action on gun violence is desperately needed: “In my 20s, a close friend of mine was shot multiple times… Twenty years later, a few days ago, a 17 year old was shot and killed steps from my childhood home where my family still lives. So when I tell you that gun violence is personal to me, I mean it… The reason we haven’t curbed gun violence isn’t because we don’t know how to do it, it is because we have politicians failing to act. And when Terry McAuliffe had the opportunity as governor to be serious about gun violence, he did a backroom deal with the NRA undermining concealed weapons laws in Virginia making us all less safe.”
- WATCH: Caroll Foy on her deep commitment to criminal justice reform: “As the mother of two young Black sons, I know that one day I’m going to have to have ‘the talk’ with them. About how there’s two different justice systems in this country and in this Commonwealth. I’ve been fighting this issue from the courthouse to the statehouse…The politicians of the past have failed to really move us forward on this issue. And that’s why we need a bold, principled progressive Governor here in Virginia who is going to address the issues that we have and make our justice system more fair. “
- WATCH: Carroll Foy on learning to “work with anyone, whether they have a D, I, or R beside their name” while at VMI. “My job is to get the job done.”
- WATCH: Carroll Foy on the importance of restorative justice: “Poverty is immoral, it is unjust, and it is violent. And we finally need a Governor who is going to tackle it head on.”
Carroll Foy’s inspirational candidacy and vision to move Virginia forward has earned broad support from across the Commonwealth. She enters April with more than $2.3 million cash on hand, the endorsements of major organizations representing millions of working people such as Democracy for America, Clean Virginia and more unions than any other candidate, as well as dozens of Virginia elected officials, faith leaders, small business owners, and more. Her campaign continues to build a grassroots organizing infrastructure with hundreds of volunteers completing thousands of shifts to share her message in every corner of the Commonwealth.
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Jennifer Carroll Foy has dedicated her life to service. As one of the first women to graduate from Virginia Military Institute, a former foster mom, a magistrate judge, and public defender, Jennifer has embodied the ideals of community, honor and commitment in every facet of her life. During her time in the legislature, Jennifer led the way on the Equal Rights Amendment, proudly supported the successful fight to expand Medicaid to over 500,000 Virginians, and passed a budget that includes a three percent salary increase for teachers. She is a proud mother to twin three year olds, and wife to her husband Jeff, who she met her first week at VMI.