On Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021, the Virginia gubernatorial race took an unexpected turn as former Republican Congressman Denver Riggleman announced his write-in campaign against GOP nominee Glenn Youngkin. However, another race in Virginia has been gaining attention for its unique matchup: the 50th District House of Delegates race between incumbent Democrat Lee Carter and Republican challenger Mike Cirillo.
Carter, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, has been a vocal advocate for progressive policies such as Medicare for All and a $15 minimum wage. He gained national attention in 2017 when he defeated a long-time Republican incumbent in a district that had been held by the GOP for over two decades. Carter has also been a vocal critic of the Jan. 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, calling for the expulsion of Republican members of Congress who supported overturning the 2020 election results.
Cirillo, on the other hand, is a former Marine and small business owner who has been endorsed by the Virginia GOP and received campaign contributions from prominent Republicans such as former Governor Bob McDonnell. He has been critical of Carter’s progressive policies, particularly his support for a Green New Deal and increased taxes on the wealthy.
The race between Carter and Cirillo has been closely watched as it represents a clash between two vastly different political ideologies. However, it took an unexpected turn when a third candidate entered the race: independent candidate Aliscia Andrews.
Andrews, a former congressional candidate who lost in the Republican primary, has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump and has campaigned on a platform of “America First” policies. She has been critical of both Carter and Cirillo, accusing them of being career politicians who are out of touch with their constituents.
The addition of Andrews to the race has made it even more unpredictable, as she could potentially siphon votes away from either Carter or Cirillo. However, Carter has remained confident, citing his record of fighting for working-class Virginians and his opposition to the insurrection at the Capitol.
The Jan. 6th insurrection has become a central issue in the race, with both Carter and Andrews calling for accountability for those who participated in the attack. Cirillo, however, has been more hesitant to condemn the insurrectionists, stating that he believes there were “good people on both sides” of the event.
The race between Carter, Cirillo, and Andrews has been one of the most closely watched in Virginia, with national attention being paid to the outcome. It remains to be seen who will come out on top, but one thing is certain: the 50th District House of Delegates race will have a significant impact on Virginia politics and potentially even national politics.
