Vol. 43, No 7 www.arlingtondemocrats.org July 2018 De Ferranti wins primary; starts tough fall campaign Matt de Ferranti won the June primary nomi- Choun told The nation for the County Board, setting up one of the Voice, “I love the 4,589 biggest local challenges in years as he fights to un- Arlingtonians who voted Corey goes after seat former Republican, now conservative Indepen- for me, and I love the dent, John Vihstadt in November. 7,075 Arlingtonians who Kaine—for the next De Ferranti won 61 percent of the primary vote also exercised their politi- to secure the nomination over Chanda Choun in cal freedom. Matt de four months. Can the June 12 primary. The vote was 7,075 for de Ferranti is our chosen the state take it? Ferranti to 4,589 for Choun. candidate for this De Ferranti said, “I am thrilled to earn the November’s general elec- See Page 5 nomination of our party for County Board. I’ve tion, and I honor his vic- poured my heart into our party over the last five tory. We need to raise up years, so I am genuinely fired up and ready to go a new generation of ser- after winning the nomination and the votes of so vant leaders like Matt. More many. The next four months will be an absolute Let’s expand from a mis- sprint to November 6, as we face a difficult race sion of Resistance to a bylaws and must work our hearts out. I am committed to mission of Building. Matt De FERRANTI the work and look forward to seeing you at canvass will present our Arlington changes launches across the county. Together, we can flip County Board to the Nation as a model of caring, proposed. this seat blue for the ideas we cherish.” continued on page seven See Page 3 Women dominate congressional challenges all across Virginia It appears to be the Year of the Woman again Comstock won her own primary with 61 per- in Virginia, as five of the six Democratic primaries cent to Shak Hill’s 39 percent. That was a surpris- to pick candidates for Congress chose a woman. ingly poor showing by Comstock, an incumbent and And Larry Sabato’s “Crystal Ball” has shifted established GOP figure. the ratings of three of those races more toward the Two other incumbent Republicans—Dave Brat Democrats. in the 7th District and Scott Taylor in the 2nd Dis- The most endangered Virginia GOP member trict—were previously enjoying “Leans Republi- It’s civil war in The of Congress, Barbara Comstock, was previously can” status. Now both races are rated as toss-ups rated in a toss-up race in the 10th District west of by Sabato. Valley again—only Arlington. Now Sabato rates that race as “Leans The two men are being challenged by two this time among Democratic.” State Senator Jennifer Wexton just women who won Dem nods in the June 12 pri- won the Democratic primary in that district. The mary. Elaine Luria, a retired naval officer, is fac- Republicans. first post-primary poll shows her leading Comstock ing Taylor, a former SEAL, in Hampton Roads, See Page 10. 49-39. But there is an astounding gender gap in while Abigail Spanberger in the 7th District will this race involving two women candidates. Wexton oppose Brat, the GOPer who famously defeated leads Comstock 60-27—more than 2-to-1—among House Republican Whip Eric Cantor in a primary women. But Comstock leads Wexton by 12 points four years ago. among men. continued on page eight ACDC Voice, July 2018, Page 2 Report from Chair Jill Caiazzo Trump-GOP agenda bad for all families Immigrant families are the latest and policies is also creating job insecurity. Com- massive Trump-GOP tax cut for the wealthy. most graphic casualties of the extreme Trump- panies that cannot simply pass along the cost Perhaps the rich who run the Trump-GOP do GOP agenda — but they are not alone. Fami- of the sneaky Trump-GOP tax hike to fami- not realize that the typical hardworking lies in Virginia and across the country are lies are starting to lay off their U.S. workers American family is only one layoff, accident struggling as a result of Trump-GOP policies — many of whom are, you guessed it, par- or illness away from needing the social safety that favor the big donor over the little guy, ents. Examples of employers announcing lay- net. Or perhaps they do not care about the typi- and more bad news is on the way for these offs include Harley-Davidson and Mid-Con- cal hardworking American family. hardworking families. Consider the evidence: tinent Nail. Equally ominous, a recent survey Families deserve a fair shake from the ––Increased Consumer Prices. by the Business Roundtable indicated that Trump-GOP, and they’re not getting it. The prices of many consumer goods are ris- CEOs may be reducing hiring plans by 13 There’s a better way. Democrats are fighting ing due to Trump-GOP tariffs on imported percent this year. Young adults seeking to for common-sense policies that enable goods from multiple countries, including U.S. launch careers and start families of their own hardworking families to get ahead: higher allies. For example, the average cost of a need not apply in the Trump-GOP economy. quality and more accessible education, better washing machine has increased by more than ––Gutted Social Safety Net. Families worker training and wages, and restored roads, 15 percent in the past three months. Increases who find themselves down — as a result of bridges and transit systems. Democrats are also are expected for everyday products that the higher costs and reduced income caused focused on building great schools for proud incorporate steel and aluminum, including by these irresponsible policies — get one last parents, not child concentration camps that beer, soup, and cars. Let’s call it what it is: a kick from the Trump-GOP: a gutted social shame us all. Remember that in November, sneaky tax hike on families. These increases safety net. Congressional and Administration and make sure that your extended family re- may be irrelevant to the rich who run the proposals make clear that the reduction of members as well. Trump-GOP, but they have a real impact on social programs is a key Trump-GOP objec- Onward! hardworking families — who are bracing for tive — after all, someone has to pay for the Jill even more pain at the checkout counter as the Trump-GOP considers additional tariffs. ––Higher Healthcare Costs. Com- pounding the burden to families, U.S. Blue Families lays out its healthcare costs also are set to rise, thanks to the continued Trump-GOP assault on the Af- fordable Care Act (ACA). Impotent to repeal campaign agenda for autumn the ACA, the Trump-GOP again has employed The Blue Families program of Arling- launch from Westover Beer Garden. The goal a sneak attack: destabilizing the insurance ton Dems plans to be active not only in Ar- is to get out the vote for County Board candi- market. A new Trump-GOP rule expands the lington this fall but also in the 7th and 10th date Matt de Ferranti and drive up the vote availability of ACA-exempt “junk” insurance Congressional Districts to retire both Dave for Sen. Tim Kaine to counter those down- plans, which will provide weak protections Brat and Barbara Comstock from the House state Republicans. for pre-existing conditions while driving up of Representatives. In the 10th District, the effort is under- costs for families with more comprehensive Blue Families is the Arlington Dem ini- way to help Jennifer Wexton oust Comstock. ACA insurance plans. That’s a lose-lose tiative to set up campaign events that entire Saturday morning canvasses are underway in proposition for families who just want to be families can join in. Leesburg July 7 at 9 a.m. and July 21 at 1 able to take care of their sick kids. One such event is kid-friendly evening p.m. To sign up and get details on the launch ––Layoffs & Job Insecurity. Market- canvasses in Arlington. Details are being site, email [email protected]. place churn caused by extreme Trump-GOP worked on right now. But the canvasses will (Wendy is the local delegate.) Blue Families is developing plans for helping Abigail Spanberger defeat Dave Brat in the 7th District. This is expected to include phone and text banks and postcards all run Published monthly by the from Arlington plus a couple of family field Arlington County Democratic Committee trips to the Richmond suburbs to knock on 2001 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite #604, Arlington VA 22202 doors. Mailing address: P.O. Box 7132, Arlington VA 22207 In addition to campaigns, the Democratic Tel: (703) 528-8588 Party is also about partying. So note on your http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org calendar that Blue Families is planning a pot Chair: Jill Caiazzo — [email protected] luck Sunday, September 23, from 3-6 p.m. Editor-in-Chief: Warren L. Nelson —(703) 243-7867 (h), [email protected] Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC unless expressly approved by an appropriate committee resolution Copyright ©2018, ACDC, All Rights Reserved Note change of date to second Wednesday ACDC Voice, July 2018, Page 3 More bylaws to Next Monthly Meeting be voted on at All Dems Invited this month’s Wednesday, July 11, 7:00 p.m. NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd. meeting Corner of North Taylor and Wilson, just east of Glebe and Wilson Free parking under building; enter from Taylor Street As part of the biennial Bylaws update for Arlington Democrats, a group of techni- We’re moving again—not the location, but the cal amendments, primarily refining the Reor- ganization Meeting process, will be up for date.