VIRGINIA, USA — Election Day is November 7, and the last day to vote early in person is Saturday, November 4. There have been many eyes on races in Virginia this election cycle, as all seats in the General Assembly are up for grabs and party control of the state legislature is at stake.
This is also Virginia’s first election since legislative district maps were redrawn using 2020 census data — so most voters will be in new state Senate and House of Delegates districts since the last election.
In Senate District 19, Democrat Myra Payne and Republican Christie New Craig are on the ballot. The newly drawn district encompasses parts of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, including some of the Deep Creek community and all of Great Bridge, Hickory, Pungo, Blackwater, Sandbridge and Princess Anne.
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Craig, a lifelong Chesapeake resident, previously served as a sworn officer with Chesapeake Sheriff's Office and a Chesapeake school board member. She also has a familiarity with state politics as chief of staff for John Cosgrove, who is the outgoing state senator for this district.
"I've spent the last 22 sessions in the General Assembly," she said. "I have the knowledge and experience to get the job done."
Senate District 19 leans Republican, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. However, Payne said she is up for the challenge. She told 13News Now she is also committed to the community.
"I feel that I'll be accessible, transparent and I want to be accountable," said Payne, who is a retired Army LTC combat nurse.
During her time in the military, she supervised nursing care for wounded soldiers in Iraq in 2004.
If elected, Payne said her top priorities include providing accessible health care, women's health and protecting reproductive freedom.
"Reproductive freedom is important. Reproductive freedom is on the ballot," she said. "I think that freedom, in general, is what I have worked for as a person in the military."
She said she also supports "responsible gun control measures" and responsible ownership.
"We need to have responsibility in terms of keeping guns locked up and having locks on your weapons," Payne said.
Craig said her top priorities, if elected, are the economy, working toward tax cuts and bolstering education.
"I also fought for parents' rights. I will continue that fight. I also want to make sure we're teaching kids how to think, not what to think," she said.
She mentioned veterans are important to her; so are law enforcement officers and first responders.
"I want to increase their compensation. I want to increase their compensation. I want to increase funding and training so they can better do their job and give them the tools do their job," Craig added.