Everytown, Virginia Moms Demand Action: Victory for Gun Safety as Gun Sense Candidate Tim Kaine is Re-Elected to U.S. Senate and Jennifer Wexton Wins VA-10 Congressional Race

RICHMOND, Va. — Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today applauded the re-election of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and the election of gun sense champion Jennifer Wexton in VA-10, whose election reinforces that Virginians want leaders who will push for common-sense gun safety laws.

This election cycle, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund created a $5-million advertising program, “Not One More” actively targeting 16 critical congressional district races. Of that, $200,000 in “Not One More” advertising ran in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, in which Jennifer Wexton beat NRA-endorsed Rep. Barbara Comstock in the NRA’s home base. Everytown endorsed Kaine and Wexton, and volunteers with Moms Demand Action made phone calls and canvassed tirelessly for them.

Additionally, Everytown also endorsed other gun sense candidates across Virginia who also won their races including Elaine Luria (U.S. House District 2), Abigail Spanberger (U.S. House District 7) and Don Beyer (U.S. House District 8). Moms Demand Action volunteers and gun violence survivors knocked on doors and phonebanked for gun sense candidates across Virginia. Leading up to the midterm election, volunteers had more than 7,000 conversations at doors and 46,000 conversations during phone calls for gun sense candidates.

“Tim Kaine and Jennifer Wexton just extended the NRA’s losing streak in its home state, which began when Ralph Northam beat their chosen candidate last year,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “When the NRA can’t win in its own backyard, it’s safe to say the political calculus on gun safety has flipped. Kaine and Wexton are the leaders Virginia deserves — committed gun-sense champions who will put public safety over gun lobby priorities.”

“The NRA has lost its grip on reality, and now it’s lost its grip on lawmakers, too,” said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “These wins in the NRA’s backyard signal a seismic shift in gun politics: Finally, Americans are voting for gun safety and against the gun lobby. I’m so grateful for the countless hours Moms Demand Action volunteers spent canvassing for Wexton and Kaine. Tonight, we’re proving in Virginia and across the nation that the NRA’s stranglehold on our political system has been broken.”

The results come not long after a gun safety sweep in Virginia in 2017, when voters elected Everytown-backed candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates. Everytown spent more than $2 million to help elect these candidates in 2017.