Pam Garner, Jessica Anderson Contests Top Early Voting, Greenhalgh Ad Features MLK's Fraternity, Israel Assistance

➡️ Early voting in Virginia started on Sept. 22, 2023.
➡️ Senator Mamie Locke’s 20th Annual Sneaker Ball 👟 is tomorrow.
➡️ You have until Monday, October 16, 2023 to register to vote.
➡️ Election Day 2023 is in 26 days on Nov. 7, 2023.

Pam Garner v. Sen. Ryan McDougle and Del. Amanda Batten v. Jessica Anderson Top Early Voting

SD26 and HD71 TOPS IN TURNOUT. After 21 days of early voting in Virginia, two races in the same area are standouts from the pack.

A race between retired Air Force and Air National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Pam Garner (D) and State Senator Ryan McDougle (R) is at the top of charts so far in voting turnout. Garner is considered a longshoreman as she runs in deep red part of Virginia. But the voter turnout level suggests more interest in the race by voters than anyone predicted.

In the same area in House District 71, Delegate Amanda Batten (R) is competing against Jessica Anderson (D) is running an energetic campaign in person as well as on social media.

Candidates Del. Clinton Jenkins, who is running for the State Senate against Emily Brewer in SD17, and Roanoke City Council member Trish White-Boyd, who is running against State Senator David Suetterlein, are also in races that are in the top ten in turnout.

Greenhalgh Ad Displays Crest of MLK Fraternity in Negative Political Ad

The opponent of retired Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Feggans, Del. Karen Greenhalgh, has released an ad featuring the official crest of the first Black Greek letter fraternity in history — Alpha Phi Alpha — and the words “radical” being spoken as a photo of the fraternity’s seal is seen on the screen.

Established in 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha is a storied fraternity. APA is the oldest intercollegiate historically African American fraternity in history with over hundreds of thousands of members around the world. 

Members of APA include Martin Luther King, Jr., Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Duke Ellington, W.E.B. DuBois, Frederick Douglass, Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, Rev. C.T. Vivian, and Justice Thurgood Marshall. The current Governor of Maryland Wes Moore, Congressman Bobby Scott, Leader Don Scott and fmr. Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax are also members of Alpha Phi Alpha. Below is what was shown in Greenhalgh’s ad:

Rep. Bobby Scott Posts Info on Assistance for Americans Impacted by Violence in Israel

From Rep. Scott’s office: Consular Guidance From The U.S. State Department For American Citizens In Israel

➡️ The safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. We continue to closely monitor the security situation in Israel. The Department of State has a 24/7 coordinating group communicating with U.S. citizens and providing them assistance through phone calls and an online form.

➡️ U.S. citizens seeking to be in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel can fill out the form (https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake) or call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131. 

➡️ For U.S. citizens who want to leave Israel, commercial flights are available even if they are not direct to the U.S. The State Department is also exploring contract options to facilitate U.S. citizen travel to nearby countries, and will provide updates to U.S. citizens who have registered via their online form: http://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake

➡️ For the latest updates, please monitor the messages to U.S. citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Israel: https://il.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/

U.S. citizens in Israel should enroll their contact information in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): https://step.state.gov/step/

➡️ Additional updates to the travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza will be posted as they are issued: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/IsraeltheWestBankandGaza.html

UPCOMING:

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