CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Virginia's 2023 general election happens on November 7, and all 140 seats in the state's General Assembly are up for grabs. This is also Virginia’s first election since legislative district maps were redrawn using 2020 census data.
The race for Virginia’s 18th Senate District seat features one of the Commonwealth’s most tenured leaders and a political newcomer.
Democratic incumbent Louise Lucas and Republican challenger Anthony “Tony” Goodwin are running to represent the legislative district that covers parts of Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
Goodwin, a commercial real estate broker and small business owner, lists crime, education and the local economy as key issues.
“I want to make sure we do the best thing possible to give the opportunity to new businesses as well as existing businesses to stay in District 18, but also the Commonwealth of Virginia,” he said.
VOTER GUIDE: Virginia's 2023 elections are coming up. Here's a look at races, candidates, voter registration info and more.
Goodwin said he wants to be a strong advocate for the state’s tourism industry.
“I am going to make sure we crush the Governor’s ban on reproductive rights. That’s number one,” said Lucas, who calls reproductive rights “the hot button issue.”
Virginia is the only southern state to not issue an abortion ban following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end protections in Roe. v Wade. Governor Glenn Youngkin has made clear he supports a 15-week abortion ban with exceptions, and Goodwin shares this position.
“15 weeks with exceptions is truly where I stand on that,” Goodwin told 13News Now.
Both candidates expressed a desire to give law enforcement tools and funding to do their jobs effectively.
“It’s all about having police officers that have tools that they can use that they’ve had before and they need to be able to use to prevent crime,” Goodwin said.
Lucas said she wants to make sure law enforcement have the education, training and funding they deserve.
The longtime incumbent also says she wants more funding for public schools, citing a report saying the state’s education system is underfunded when compared to national and regional averages. Lucas, who chairs the Senate education and health committee, also noted the need for equal resources for historically black colleges and universities.
When it comes to education, Goodwin said he supports more parental involvement in the decision-making process in public schools, including policies for transgender students.
“I want to make sure that parents are first and foremost part of that education, part of that decision-making process and not allowing it just to be between the educators and the administrative staff and the children,” he said.
Goodwin said it is time for new ideas in the district, referring to Lucas, who has served in the Virginia Senate since 1992.
“As we’re out on the campaign trail talking to constituents, they are saying ‘enough is enough.’ It’s time for new ideas, new concepts. And we feel like we are offering that to them,” he said.
Of course, Lucas disagrees.
“What I bring to the table is not about Louise Lucas, or how long I have been a senator in Virginia or how long I've been elected,” she said. “It’s who can deliver for Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Hampton Roads and clearly that choice is me.”
She noted other issues including criminal justice reform and a focus on equity.