On January 7, the U.S. House of Representatives convened for the first session of the 119th Congress and passed H.R. 29, the “Riley Laken Act,” with bipartisan support.
The bill is named in memory of Riley Laken, a 22-year-old nursing student tragically murdered in February 2024 while jogging on the University of Georgia campus. Her assailant, José Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. illegally, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
From The Center Square
Despite Democrat Eugene Vindman raising more than five times as much as his Republican opponent Derrick Anderson, the race for Virginia’s 7th District remains tight.
From New York Post:
Trump whistleblower and Virginia congressional candidate Eugene Vindman refuses to answer questions about his business dealings in Ukraine, which started after he took more than a dozen taxpayer-funded trips to the war-torn nation.
Just The News: “The nonpartisan Cook Political Report on Tuesday shifted two House races towards Republicans, with a New Jersey House race becoming “lean Republican” instead of toss up, and a Virginia race becoming a “toss up” instead of leaning Democrat.”
Correction (Sept. 12): The dates listed for Candidates Anderson and Vindman are not all debates. We have updated the information to reflect whether they are debates or forums. Debates allow candidates to answer questions and respond to their opponent’s comments. Forums are typically statements with no back-and-forth between candidates. Anderson has previously agreed to participate in six debates; Vindman has agreed to participate in one debate at University of Mary Washington. Vindman previously declined a televised debate hosted by ABC news.
As election season heats up, Virginia’s candidates for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives District 7 have announced their debate schedules.
A press release from Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman’s (D) congressional campaign challenges his opponent, Derrick Anderson (R), to be transparent about his stance on abortion rights during upcoming debates and public events. Vindman’s campaign accuses Anderson of trying to hide his anti-abortion views due to their unpopularity.
Vindman, the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 7th District in Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, and Fredericksburg, has openly shared his pro-choice position and plans to continue doing so at events throughout September and October. He pledges to vote for codifying Roe v. Wade and against a national abortion ban.
Vindman’s campaign manager, Jeremy Levinson, responded by introducing a third party, the employee of a political action committee. “All future questions,” he said, could be directed to him.”
Vindman, a Democrat, is running to replace Abigail Spanberger, who represents eastern Prince William County, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, and Fredricksburg. Republican Derrick Anderson is also vying for the seat.
“Hamas is coming” was scrawled in red across the face of the Columbus Monument at Union Station, alongside slogans, such as “free Gaza” and “all Zionists are bastards.” The riots coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress.
Anderson described the flag burning as a personal affront. “As someone who’s a former Green Beret who spent over 10 years in the U.S. Army, someone who did over 150 funerals in Arlington National Cemetery where I laid that flag on our service members before their family members saw them laid to rest, it hit hard to me, it hit incredibly hard,” he said. He recounted his experiences in Afghanistan, including the loss of five of his own soldiers and returning home with their flag-draped coffins for their last fight home. Anderson emphasized that the desecration of the flag at Union Station symbolized a broader disunity within the country.
We’ve asked Democrats seeking a congressional seat in our area where they stand on supporting President Biden’s re-election bid.
In the 10th Congressional District, which includes Manassas, Manassas Park, and western Prince William County, Suhas Subramanyam gave his full-throated support to the president.
The district includes eastern Prince William County, Stafford, and Spostylvania counties, and Fredericksburg.
Anderson secured 16,203 votes, accounting for 45.25% of the total votes cast. He will face Democrat Eugene Vindman in the upcoming November 2024 General Election.
