In NRA’s Backyard: Everytown, Virginia Moms Demand Action Endorse Slate of Four Gun Sense Champions for Election This November

ARLINGTON, Va. – Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today endorsed four candidates for election this November who will stand up for common-sense gun safety measures in the National Rifle Association’s backyard rather than bowing to the dangerous priorities of the gun lobby.

Everytown and Moms Demand Action endorsed the following slate of gun sense champions: Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, who is running for governor; Attorney General Mark Herring, who is seeking reelection; Justin Fairfax, who is running for lieutenant governor; and Chris Hurst, a former broadcaster and gun violence survivor who is running for the House of Delegates in the 12th District.

“Gun safety wins at the ballot box, particularly here in the NRA’s backyard,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Virginia’s voters are increasingly electing leaders who put common sense ahead of the gun lobby, and we’re committing our grassroots power and resources to propel more gun safety champions to victory this November.”

All four candidates have been outspoken advocates for common-sense gun laws that will help reduce the gun violence that kills 93 Americans every day and injures hundreds more. By contrast, their opponents have stood with the gun lobby, or have not proposed meaningful ways to address gun violence.

“We are thrilled to endorse these four candidates because they are willing to stand up for common-sense gun laws that will make Virginians safer and can save lives,” said Amy McPike, a Loudoun County-based volunteer with Moms Demand Action. “We will work our hearts out to rally gun sense voters across Virginia to elect them all come November. We know that there is more that can be done in Richmond both to pass laws that can help save lives and to block the gun lobby’s dangerous agenda of guns everywhere, for anyone, with no questions asked.”

The endorsement means that these four candidates will have a grassroots army of Virginia Moms Demand Action volunteers supporting them, knocking on doors, making calls and talking with their friends, families and neighbors to help elect Northam, Herring, Fairfax and Hurst. Moms and Everytown have more than 140,000 supporters in Virginia, including thousands of active volunteers.