What’s at stake in this election

Opinion

I decided to serve the people of Prince William and Stafford counties in the Virginia House of Delegates because I wanted to be proactive instead of reactive. I watched time and time again as we attempted to “fix” things by enacting policies that spoke to the symptom of the problem as opposed to the problem itself.  Now, I am running to serve in the Virginia State Senate because there is too much at stake. The quality of education, the future of small business, equitable policies and practices for women, real solutions to transportation issues and the possibility of Medicaid expansion are all on the line.

We can no longer afford to sit back and wait. We can no longer afford a delay in progress. We can no longer afford to send elected officials to Richmond who are more interested in playing partisan politics than identifying practical solutions because that is not what Virginia needs.  Virginia needs elected officials like me who are willing to have the hard conversations and go to bat for issues that matter – like Medicaid expansion.

Medicaid expansion has become wrapped up in one of the most partisan and polarizing conversations in my generation, but some forget that real people suffer when we fail to act. Last week, I lost my mother to cancer. Because my mother could not afford health insurance, she was unable to get routine checkups and by the time she finally saw a doctor, it was too late. Unfortunately, my mother’s story is not unique. Because the Commonwealth of Virginia has refused to expand Medicaid, 400,000 Virginians are unable to afford health insurance and are at risk of serious health complications. Because some elected officials would rather play partisan politics than explore bipartisan solutions, there is another son out there about to lose his mother.

That is what is at stake in this election.

Today, I am asking for your support on June 9^th. Help bring me one step closer to serving in the Virginia State Senate, so I can fight not only for someone else’s mother, but for quality education for all students, opportunities for minority small businesses, expanded investment and solutions to transportation.

My work in Richmond is not done yet.

*Delegate Michael Futrell is a Democratic primary candidate for the 29th Senate district seat.