Democrat Jeremy McPike, running for state Senate in Virginia

Democrat Jeremy McPike, running for state Senate in Virginia

This post is going to be short and to the point: Democrats need just one seat to take back the Virginia state Senate from the GOP, and we can help make that happen.

That's why Daily Kos is pleased to endorse three strong Democrats running in three critical Senate seats:



• First, we need to make sure we hold the open 29th District in Northern Virginia, the most vulnerable seat held by Democrats. Jeremy McPike, an Alexandria city official and volunteer firefighter, is running to keep this seat in the blue column. • Then, we need to pick up one of two targeted seats—but preferably both—from Republicans: the open 10th District in the Richmond area, where architectural preservationist Dan Gecker is carrying the banner for the Democrats; and

in the Richmond area, where architectural preservationist Dan Gecker is carrying the banner for the Democrats; and the 13th District, also in Northern Virginia, where physician Jill McCabe is trying to unseat odious GOP state Sen. Dick Black.

If we do this, then we strike a huge blow against the GOP's ability to gerrymander Virginia again during the next round of redistricting. We also help the state get one big step closer toward expanding Medicaid, which Republicans have continually opposed . And those are just two top items on a long list of progressive priorities that will start to become a lot more feasible if Democrats can reclaim the state Senate.

Virginia is a blue-trending state: Barack Obama carried it twice, and all of its statewide elected officials are Democrats. But both chambers of the legislature are held by Republicans. It shouldn't be this way, but this is why Daily Kos is working hard to help Democrats both make gains in the House and win back the Senate. Time is short—Election Day is just a month away.

So please contribute $3 today to turn the Virginia state Senate blue and fight GOP gerrymandering.