Six candidates are competing to be the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s lieutenant governor this year. They include retired attorney Alex Bastani, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Prince William County School Board Chair Babur Lateef, state Sen. Aaron Rouse, former prosecutor Victor Salgado and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.
The primary winner will face Republican nominee John Reid in November. The term length is four years.
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Alex Bastani
Age: 61
Employment: Retired attorney/federal worker
Education: Juris doctor from George Mason University
Previous elected office: President, American Federation of Government Employees Local 12, AFL-CIO 2006-17
Website: www.progressivevirginiansforalexbastani.com
To the extent that federal workforce or funding cuts impact Virginia residents and agencies, what is the best course of action for the state?
Thirty percent of current federal employees are veterans. Trump’s crusade against federal employees is an insult to our brave veterans who risked everything for their country. This is the single greatest act of betrayal of our veterans since the denial of bonuses to World War I veterans. When my local union successfully defeated George W. Bush’s effort to privatize workers at the United States Department of Labor, we not only litigated that this action disproportionately harmed African-American women over the age of 40. As a union, we petitioned the Government Accounting Office to investigate the matter. I have no doubt that the president’s current actions are just as discriminatory as the Bush administration. I will work with Gov. Spanberger and the newly elected attorney general to investigate this matter and facilitate legal action.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears cast a tie-breaking vote this year on a bill that would have established a right to obtain and engage in contraception. If you were in the same position, how would you have voted on the bill and why?
I strongly oppose Lt. Gov. Sears’ personal invasion of the privacy and the bedrooms of millions of Virginians. Her zealotry flies in the face of 60 years of Supreme Court decisions guaranteeing Americans the right to privacy. Virginians need contraception not only to ensure women’s reproductive rights but also to avoid the potential spread of sexually transmitted infections. This is both a privacy and public health issue. If the current lieutenant governor truly wishes to reduce abortions she should have been an advocate for the use of contraception. However, she is clearly only interested in violating the sanctity of individual freedom. As an alternative, I am running on a platform of universal healthcare for all Virginians in order to not only provide free contraception but fully protect women’s reproductive rights.
What form of tax cuts or tax reform would you most like to see implemented in the state and how do you propose paying for those changes?
The average federal corporate tax rate since it was first established in 1905 is 33%. Trump lowered the rate to 21% and the Virginia corporate tax rate is currently only 6%. We have no choice but to double our state corporate tax rate to 12% to equal the moderate federal corporate tax rate. The economic wealth gap between the rich and the rest of America is at the greatest rate since the Gilded Age of the late 19th century. We must eliminate the crippling student debt that bars young people from buying a home, creating a business or starting a family. This is not a bailout but an investment in the only future we have, the next generation. We must guarantee the right of young people to flourish economically as we have for billionaires over the past 40 years.
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Ghazala Hashmi
Age: 60
Employment: State senator, Senate of Virginia
Education: Doctoral degree in American literature from Emory University; Bachelor of arts with honors from Georgia Southern University
Previous elected office: State senator, Senate of Virginia (2019-present)
Website: ghazalaforvirginia.com
To the extent that federal workforce or funding cuts impact Virginia residents and agencies, what is the best course of action for the state?
Virginia needs executive leadership that will fight for Virginians and not bend the knee in subservience to the unlawful and unconstitutional actions of the Trump/Musk administration. I am running for lieutenant governor so that we can challenge the federal actions in court, through our legislation, and through direct action. In the state Senate, I am proud to be leading efforts to address the impacts on the federal workforce, to ensure that our employment commission is prepared to meet the needs of displaced workers, and to help expand job placement opportunities. I’m also working with my colleagues to address the impending economic fallout on housing and healthcare concerns, and to provide additional support to Virginians who have been grievously harmed by the new administration. Beyond legislation, our executive leaders must also be vocal advocates for Virginia’s public servants.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears cast a tie-breaking vote this year on a bill that would have established a right to obtain and engage in contraception. If you were in the same position, how would you have voted on the bill and why?
I wrote and carried that bill, and Sears’ tie-breaking negative vote spotlighted her lack of concern for the health of Virginians. For two years now, I have successfully passed this legislation out of the General Assembly; for two years, Youngkin has vetoed it. The Right to Contraception Act protects the rights of Virginians to access FDA approved contraception and prevents politicians from interfering with those rights. Not only has this bill passed twice, but I also directly delivered 55,000 signed petitions from Virginians to Youngkin asking him to support the bill. However, Sears and Youngkin continue to cater to MAGA extremists and to vote against the commonsense legislation. Access to contraception is under threat from the Trump/Musk administration, and Virginia must enshrine the right in state code. Youngkin and Sears refuse to support this bill; it’s time to replace them.
What form of tax cuts or tax reform would you most like to see implemented in the state and how do you propose paying for those changes?
Virginia’s working families shoulder far too much of our tax burden. I have advocated for and sought to introduce legislation to move Virginia towards a more progressive tax code, which would create a fairer distribution of the tax burden to those in higher tax brackets and corporations. I support these efforts as an alternative to raising the state sales tax which is a regressive tax that would hurt hardworking Virginians the most. I also believe strongly in closing tax loopholes. For example, we could require corporations to pay taxes on the income of their subsidiary companies located overseas to help increase funding for essential services without saddling middle class Virginians with more taxes. Finally, I support giving localities more flexibility to adjust taxes by voter referendum to meet their needs, such as increased funding for public schools.
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Babur Lateef
Age: 53
Employment: Chair, Prince William County School Board; owner and physician, Advanced Opthalmology
Education: Doctor of medicine, Northeast Ohio College of Medicine; Biology, Youngstown State; educational leadership, UVA
Previous elected office: Chair, Prince William County School Board
Website: lateefforva.com
To the extent that federal workforce or funding cuts impact Virginia residents and agencies, what is the best course of action for the state?
I believe that a critical duty of Virginia’s next lieutenant governor will be to stand against Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s reckless dismantling of the federal government. We must ensure safety nets are in place to help folks who — through no fault of their own — face job loss as a result of federal cuts. The cuts to our federal workforce are destabilizing families across our commonwealth and wrecking Virginia’s economy. Many of the people targeted by the cuts have been terminated in a way that prevents them from collecting unemployment benefits or joining Virginia’s healthcare exchange program. Babur would act on day one to change Virginia’s unemployment insurance program to cover all federal workers being targeted by these cuts. Babur also will vote to repeal archaic union-busting laws like Virginia’s so-called right to work law so workers can get the protections they need.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears cast a tie-breaking vote this year on a bill that would have established a right to obtain and engage in contraception. If you were in the same position, how would you have voted on the bill and why?
As a physician, I fundamentally believe that government has no place in our exam rooms. Bodily autonomy is a human right. These types of decisions are best left to women and their doctors — not their elected officials. With the opportunity to cast the tie breaking vote on this bill, I would have proudly voted to establish contraception as a right for all Virginians.
What form of tax cuts or tax reform would you most like to see implemented in the state and how do you propose paying for those changes?
Today, Virginia’s regressive car tax is now the highest in the nation. The car tax is a tax on getting to work, a tax on spending time with our families, and it’s a tax that was already paid when we bought our cars. We must ease that unnecessary burden for hardworking Virginians to address affordability in the commonwealth. A poll conducted by the Wason Center last year found that 67% of Virginians support repealing the car tax. As lieutenant governor, I will work with the legislature to use that money to fully fund our public schools or repeal the car tax through a constitutional amendment.
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Aaron Rouse
Age: 41
Employment: Virginia state senator, Retired NFL player
Education: Bachelor’s in sociology, Virginia Tech
Previous elected office: Virginia Beach City Council
Website: rouseforvirginia.com
To the extent that federal workforce or funding cuts impact Virginia residents and agencies, what is the best course of action for the state?
Right now, we need a leader who will stand up and fight for Virginians — and that is exactly what I will do as lieutenant governor. Because of President Trump’s reckless tariff scheme and indiscriminate cuts, Virginians are losing their jobs while also facing higher costs for our most basic necessities. I’m proud to have voted for budgets that have built $4 billion into our rainy-day fund, which will enable us to protect against devastating cuts in the near term. We must prioritize getting Virginians back to work, and we can leverage existing career training programs as needed to reskill workers for good jobs. Additionally, we must direct every state agency to closely monitor federal actions and begin developing contingency plans to ensure every Virginia is able to access the critical health, mental health, disability or veterans’ services they need.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears cast a tie-breaking vote this year on a bill that would have established a right to obtain and engage in contraception. If you were in the same position, how would you have voted on the bill and why?
After the Dobbs decision, we’ve seen politicians not only push to outlaw abortion but also attempt to restrict birth control and ban emergency contraception. These efforts are part of a dangerous agenda to roll back decades of progress. In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, I stepped up to challenge Gov. Youngkin’s hand-picked candidate for state Senate — flipping a red seat to blue and becoming the deciding vote to protect reproductive freedom in Virginia. This past session, I joined my colleagues in the General Assembly to vote for the Right to Contraception Act — a critical safeguard for Virginians’ access to birth control — and I’ll proudly do it again as lieutenant governor. The next chapter in this fight demands leaders who won’t waver when our rights are under attack. I’m ready to keep showing up and keep standing firm — for Virginia women, for families, and for freedom.
What form of tax cuts or tax reform would you most like to see implemented in the state and how do you propose paying for those changes?
The middle class is struggling today, with an economy that is not working for hardworking people. Everything from housing and child care to groceries is getting more expensive. Virginians need someone who understands their pain and who will have their back to help them thrive, not just survive. If elected, I’ll prioritize building a more affordable economy with middle class tax cuts and fair rules for corporations and the ultra-wealthy. That means a $10,000 first-time homebuyer grant, a $500 child tax credit, and repealing the last 1% of the grocery tax. I’ve led on expanding the earned income tax credit, strengthening property tax relief programs for seniors and raising the standard deduction — because Virginians deserve to get ahead, not just get by. We can pay for middle class tax cuts by finally asking the ultra-wealthy and big corporations to pay their fair share.
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Victor Salgado
Age: 45
Employment: Former senior litigation counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division
Education: Bachelor of science, economics, George Washington University; Juris doctor, University of Wisconsin Law School
Website: www.victorforvirginia.com
To the extent that federal workforce or funding cuts impact Virginia residents and agencies, what is the best course of action for the state?
The Trump administration’s assault on federal workers, federal appropriations, and state services is hurting Virginians, and these attacks will only worsen. First, we must combat these attacks in federal court. Virginia has legal standing to directly pursue some of these causes of action, and it must do so with zeal and vigor. For those in which Virginia lacks standing, we must organize plaintiffs, guide them, and supplement their efforts by filing amici briefs. Second, we must provide stopgap and remedial funding to affected individuals, including an across-the-board increase in unemployment benefits and tax credits for those who can demonstrate direct harm from Trump’s policies. Third, we must provide tax relief and continued access to credit to small- and medium-sized businesses that are directly impacted by Trump’s policies, including his erratic and thoughtless tariffs.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears cast a tie-breaking vote this year on a bill that would have established a right to obtain and engage in contraception. If you were in the same position, how would you have voted on the bill and why?
Without question, I would have voted “yes” on the contraception bill. As your next lieutenant governor, I will champion liberty and justice in every aspect, including and especially reproductive freedom. The right to contraception was long enshrined into law by Griswold v. Connecticut, the 1965 landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Griswold paved the way for generations of women and others to control when they had children, thereby enabling their participation in America’s boardrooms, courtrooms, operating rooms, and beyond. Because of Griswold, generations of American women and others were included, for the first time, in our original constitutional design of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Griswold was an act of liberation and promise, and America is a better union because of it. I will work tirelessly to uphold these principles as your next lieutenant governor.
What form of tax cuts or tax reform would you most like to see implemented in the state and how do you propose paying for those changes?
Virginia’s tax code is highly regressive. The last time we changed our tax brackets was in 1990, even though Virginia’s GDP has nearly quadrupled since that time. In short, it’s about time that we re-calibrate our tax brackets to ensure that all our state services — including housing, education, and healthcare — are properly funded. This is needed now more than ever, as the Trump administration’s assault on state services threatens to severely lessen the quality of life of everyday Virginians. We also need to study the viability and overall Pareto efficiencies of a 1% to 2% surtax on individual incomes exceeding $5 million per year. I am a pro-growth candidate for lieutenant governor, focusing on promoting small- and medium-sized businesses, but I also understand that tax reform is long overdue in Virginia so that our public services are adequately funded and accessible to all Virginians.
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Levar Stoney
Age: 44
Employment: Consultant, self-employed
Education: Bachelor’s in political science and public administration, James Madison University
Previous elected office: Richmond mayor (2017-25)
Website: levarstoney.com
To the extent that federal workforce or funding cuts impact Virginia residents and agencies, what is the best course of action for the state?
After a generations-long partnership with the federal government, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are disrupting that relationship and destabilizing Virginia’s economy. Republican leaders like Gov. Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Sears have stayed silent while hardworking federal employees are fired, laid off, or pushed out. This spinelessness is unacceptable. With Virginia uniquely tied to the federal government, we must answer the call for our most vulnerable and do our best to fill in the gaps. We need leaders who will call out these reckless decisions and prepare for the real consequences. DOGE’s actions, as supported by Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Sears, threaten children in Title I schools, seniors on Social Security, and workers who depend on Medicaid. I will be a lieutenant governor with a backbone who stands up for our people, not watches them fall through the cracks.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears cast a tie-breaking vote this year on a bill that would have established a right to obtain and engage in contraception. If you were in the same position, how would you have voted on the bill and why?
Lt. Governor Sears’ decision was disappointing but not surprising. It’s obvious that Republicans are obsessed with restricting women’s most private and personal choices — especially the fundamental right to decide when and if to bring children into this world. If needed, I will proudly cast the tie-breaking vote to protect women’s rights in the Virginia Senate. Our state government should be empowering women to live their best lives, not dictating their most personal decisions. Women deserve the freedom to choose what’s right for themselves and their families, and I’ll stand firm in that belief every step of the way. That includes standing up and passing constitutional protections through the General Assembly next year and then at the ballot box. I look forward to helping lead that charge.
What form of tax cuts or tax reform would you most like to see implemented in the state and how do you propose paying for those changes?
In a commonwealth that is more dynamic and facing a retreating federal government — driven by the actions of Donald Trump and Elon Musk — we need a tax system that balances fiscal fairness with economic growth. We need a system that enables us to provide a world class education and quality healthcare. A Virginia economy that gives workers a fair shot should be our north star. With rising costs putting a strain on families, providing tax relief and benefits to workers, like the child tax credit, while ensuring millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share, will help us build an opportunity economy that can withstand the challenges ahead. We also need a sensible fiscal framework that includes digital goods and services aligned with the evolving attention economy.