Newsletter Archive

Newsletter 3/4/2026

“President of Peace”

Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed “President of Peace”, has once again overstepped his presidential powers by declaring war on Iran. On February 28th, President Trump, in coordination with Israel, ordered the start of US military operations in Iran. These actions came after Omani-moderated US-Iranian nuclear talks in Geneva saw some significant progress with more talks slated in Vienna. Despite this, President Trump decided to execute reckless military operations that put Americans across the Middle-East region in danger and saw 6 American service members lose their lives in a counter-strike. Additionally, despite claims that the US and Israel would only be attacking military targets, there are reports of hundreds of civilian deaths, including over 150 at a girl’s elementary school. This constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. The strikes successfully eliminated Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but did not set clear plans for regime change nor an interim government. As of Tuesday, reports suggest that Mojtaba, Khamenei's son, was chosen as his successor by Iran's Assembly of Experts. Iran pledged to retaliate and has already carried out strikes on US bases and military installations in neighboring countries across the region. It appears that the instability in the region will likely continue with no end to hostilities in sight and it is unclear whether the Nuclear talks will resume.

Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs unequivocally condemns the invasion of Iran. We have seen where reckless escalation leads, and millions of Americans are still paying the price for past wars of choice. While families in the US struggle with unaffordable education, shuttered rural hospitals, and the rising costs of living, it is unacceptable to drag our nation toward another destabilizing conflict abroad. The power to declare war belongs to Congress, not the president. Ignoring that authority is not leadership but a direct challenge to the rule of law and the balance of our democracy.

Dead Americans is no fundraising opportunity

In the aftermath of the US-Israeli military strikes on Iran, in a gross eagerness to capitalize on public sentiment of disapproval, several candidates up for elections in the midterms took to social media to use these attacks as a means of fundraising. The President’s act of war was unjustified and unnecessary but it is also unacceptable to use the death of American service members to solicit donations to one’s candidate campaign. Elizabeth knows what it is like to be waiting to hear whether or not a loved one or a friend was killed while serving and defending the constitution. While Trump’s war is an assault on our Constitution, using it as a fundraising opportunity is disrespectful to those that lost their lives defending it.

Iran again, Don? “Armageddon”?

While initial justification for the military strikes on Iran stemmed from the threat of Iran developing Nuclear weapons, there have been reports that US Military commanders have told troops that the attack on Iran is “all part of God’s plan.” Multiple reports submitted to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) suggest Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) had been urged to use extreme religious rhetoric to justify the attack on Iran to the troops. Reports suggested that there were direct citations of the Book of Revelations referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. One NCO reported that he was told ‘President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.’ This appears to be part of a Pete Hegseth scheme to spread Christian Nationalism across the ranks of the US military.

Pete Hegseth recently incorrectly suggested that the US was founded as a Christian nation. He also recently invited an extremist Christian pastor to lead a Pentagon prayer service. Although Pastor Douglas Wilson did not address these in his sermon, he has elsewhere voiced calls for Christian theocracy, a patriarchal society, and taking away women’s right to vote. The sermon was part of Hegseth’s Christian worship series which he began last summer. This is all part of the Trump Administration's dismantling of the separation of Church and State. Elizabeth is a practicing Christian but acknowledges that leading a multicultural society in a globalized time hinges on secularism. More than a quarter of our men in uniform do not identify as Christian. What’s next Pete, are you going to tell them they can’t serve either?

Energy Bills Skyrocket, Trump Greenlights Data Centers

In the State of the Union address last week, Trump suggested that he had cut a deal with Tech companies whereby they would be responsible for providing their own power to new Data Centers. The President’s "Rate Payer Protection Pledge" is supposedly going to make energy more affordable. In his plan, he said that tech companies building data centers would be responsible for carrying the burden of cost when it comes to the massive amounts of energy it takes to operate these data centers. He said that tech companies would need to build their own power stations or front the costs of updating the grid to accommodate their data center’s needs. It seems that the intention is to also cut environmental regulations to fast track the approval process and allow more natural gas power stations to be built more quickly. Even though renewable energy sources are a perfectly viable option to help accommodate the power needed, it seems the President has more interest in protecting the oil and gas industry than making sure we have clean air to breathe. Trump is reportedly meeting with Tech companies today to further discuss plans. Elizabeth has voiced that the proliferation of Data Centers needs to be managed carefully and through proper channels. Elizabeth believes that the people that would be affected by proposed Data Centers should have a say and should be given affordability plans and not empty promises of lower rates.

Safe Harbor Run with Elizabeth

This week our Run with Elizabeth event will be paired with a community drive for Safe Harbor. Safe Harbor is a community-based nonprofit that is providing life-changing support for survivors of sexual and domestic violence and human trafficking. Safe Harbor offers free, trauma-informed services including emergency and transitional shelter, counseling for adults and children, court advocacy, and a 24-hour confidential helpline. They are in need of the following items: toilet paper, paper towels, OTC medications, protein bars, snacks, tuna packs and juice boxes. We hope you can make it and encourage you to bring one or more of the listed items to donate to Safe Harbor. Can’t make it but still want to contribute? You can donate directly to Safe Harbor here!

Newsletter 2/25/2026

GW College Dems Postcard Party

On Monday night, Elizabeth spoke with students at George Washington University at a postcard writing event hosted by the GW College Democrats. Elizabeth was delighted to speak with members of the GW College Democrats, answer questions, and talk through the postcard writing process. We managed to get over 500 postcards written and addressed while enjoying root beer floats. Thank you to all that joined and a special thank you to the George Washington College Democrats for putting this together.

DCCC Forgets there are Primaries

The Democratic Congressional Campaigns Committee (DCCC) has decided to overlook the fact that there is more than one campaign vying for the democratic nomination in various swing and target districts. The DCCC’s “Red to Blue” program provides organizational and fundraising support to candidates in targeted seats currently held by vulnerable republicans. In Virginia, Rob Wittman’s seat is one of them.

Despite the fact that there are multiple candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination in the First District, the DCCC, an entity that should be impartial ahead of primaries, has publicly backed a candidate hand-picked by the Democratic establishment. The DCCC’s messaging implies that a nominee has already been selected and this is a clear assault on the voices of the people of the First District. We should expect the Democratic party to uphold democratic ideals and not tip the scales. Voters deserve better, they deserve candidates chosen by the people, not by the parties. That’s why Elizabeth joined more than a dozen candidates from across the country to call out the DCCC’s meddling

State of The Union

Last night, President Trump gave the State of the Union address. Amid a recent Supreme Court decision that dealt a massive blow to Trump’s tariffs, concerns over the Trump administration’s handling of the economy and sinking approval ratings; Trump pulled out every stop to try and reassure the American public that everything is just peachy. Between welcoming the men’s Ice Hockey team while seemingly claiming ownership of an Olympic Gold Medal victory he had nothing to do with and presenting awards of bravery for wars he’s starting, Trump failed to mention ways that his so called “Big Beautiful Bill” cut hundreds of thousands from SNAP and other safety net programs. He touted his administration as being responsible for new jobs in the private sector but failed to mention how DOGE cut thousands of hard working Americans from the federal workforce. Trump seemed immensely bothered by the fact that the Democrats in attendance would not clap for his false achievements, particularly as it pertained to Trump’s murderous immigration policies.

After the State of the Union, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger gave a speech in Williamsburg as a rebuttal. She highlighted how the Trump Administration has failed to make the cost of living more affordable for Americans. She also noted that Americans do not feel more safe under Trump, pointing to the murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by ICE agents and how tensions are escalating at home and abroad.

Elizabeth knows that America isn’t doing “just fine” as Trump wants to claim. She knows that families are suffering as a result of the cuts to SNAP and other safety net programs. She knows that families are hurting as a result of DOGE, she has lived experience as her family was victim to DOGE cuts. She knows that people are scared to be in public because of Trump’s immigration policies. When elected to office, Elizabeth will fight to help working families, she will fight to help those who have been affected by DOGE cuts, and she will fight for families who are being torn apart by ICE.

 Running the District

Not only is Elizabeth running for Congress in Virginia’s First Congressional District, she is also running Virginia’s First Congressional District. That’s right, Elizabeth has committed to running the approximately 480 mile boundary of the First Congressional District, from Chesterfield to Henrico, Hanover to the Northern Neck, Smith Point to Gloucester Point, and from Yorktown to New Kent. This will be a several day trek, a journey through the wonderful communities of Virginia’s First District, powered by Elizabeth’s determination to be your representative and fueled by the generosity of her supporters. Elizabeth is planning to run the district in June; the route and planning will be finalized as voters determine the fate of Virginia’s redistricting plans. And should the district boundaries change, Elizabeth will adapt accordingly. No one will work as hard for you as Elizabeth will. Help fuel Elizabeth’s run here.

Newsletter 2/18/26

Elizabeth Joined Protest Outside Rob Wittman’s Office

On Tuesday, Elizabeth joined the 50501 organized protest outside Rob Wittman’s office in Glen Allen. She joined three other candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to take on Wittman. Elizabeth’s daughter kicked-off Elizabeth’s speech by voicing that Rob Wittman is a “Poopyhead”. In her remarks, Elizabeth criticized Wittman’s poor representation, his failure to support foster families and his recent vote for the SAVE Act. Thank you to the 50501 Movement for being such a strong and consistent voice against the atrocities of the current administration.

The SAVE Act Betrays

The Republican led US House of Representatives passed the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act, with the support of Virginia First District Republican Rob Wittman, which would effectively disenfranchise millions of Americans. This bill is a clear assault on American Democracy, requiring voters to provide a passport or birth certificate in addition to a driver’s license when registering to vote. In addition, married women who have changed their name may even need to provide a marriage certificate to account for their name change just to prove citizenship. Republicans tout the bill as a means to ensure that only citizens have the right to vote in the United States, but that is, in fact, already the case. The bill changes the law to place the burden of proof on the voter rather than the government, and, if passed, it will mostly be minorities and low-income Americans who pay the price, as they are the least likely to have access to the required documents. Additionally, it would make it harder for people to register to vote online or by mail, meaning that our military and those serving our country in uniform abroad or stationed away from home will have greater trouble registering and voting. The bill is just one step in Trump's attempts to nationalize voting in an assault on states’ rights and autonomy. The SAVE Act still needs to pass the U.S. Senate, where it will likely fall short of the 60-vote filibuster. Elizabeth has been outspoken against the bill and is particularly critical of the ways it could potentially disenfranchise Americans serving abroad and married women.

Virginia Supreme Court Allows Redistricting Referendum To Move Forward

The Virginia Supreme Court is allowing the redistricting referendum to go forward as planned, despite the likelihood that the court won’t come to a final decision until after Virginians vote on April 21st. The date of the primary for both the U.S. House of Representatives and the US Senate races in Virginia is likely to be delayed due to the redistricting process. The current June 16th primary is likely being pushed to August 4th. These measures allow campaigns some extra time to adapt to the new districts and make it easier to acquire the required documentation to qualify for the ballot. Nonetheless, because the Supreme Court has the final say, it’s still possible that the referendum will be found null and void even after Virginians vote on it. Get ready Virginia, it’s already a wild mid-term election year. Elizabeth is committed to running in Virginia’s First Congressional District whether the referendum passes or not.

Team Dinner in Fredericksburg

On Friday, Elizabeth’s campaign staff gathered in Fredericksburg for a team dinner. As a token of her appreciation for their hard work to help Elizabeth’s campaign, Elizabeth treated them to dinner. We had interns coming down from the DC area and from the Charlottesville area. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other, acknowledge our achievements and discuss the hard work still ahead of us. A special thank you to Maeve, Chloe, Josie and Quinn for taking the time and making the trip. We have such an awesome team!

Newsletter 2/11/26

The Redistricting Map Was Released

Last week Democrats in the General Assembly finally agreed on a proposed map that redraws the Congressional Districts in Virginia. This proposed redistricting is in response to the Trump Administration's efforts to get Republican-led legislatures around the country to pass measures making it easier for Republicans to hold on to their slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Governor Spanberger approved the legislation that calls for a redistricting referendum and now the Virginia Supreme Court is all that stands in the way of Virginia voters getting the opportunity to vote on these proposed district lines in April. The map with the newly proposed district lines was released late last Thursday. The map is widely perceived to give the Democrats a 10-1 advantage, which would be a 4 seat gain from the current 6-5 delegation. This is achieved by several districts extending into deep blue areas in Northern Virginia while also meandering deep into other parts of the state. Prior to an agreed upon map, a Tazewell Judge ruled the procedures used by the Democrats in the General Assembly illegal and the Court of Appeals has since referred the case to the Virginia Supreme Court for a speedy decision. The referendum is set for April 21st pending the Virginia Supreme Court's ruling.

Elizabeth’s Response to the Map

Upon release of the map, Elizabeth and her campaign staff quickly went to work analyzing the proposed new districts. Elizabeth came to the determination that while she resides in the First Congressional District now, she just so happens to also be among the less than 15% of voters in the current First District that overlaps with the newly proposed First District. As such, she made public her intentions to run in the First Congressional District whether the maps pass or not. She voiced that she is not going to use redistricting as a means of playing politics. The First District is her home and that is where she is running. “I will keep fighting for the people,” Elizabeth said. “As a veteran, a foster parent and a firefighter’s wife, I see every day how our systems are failing the people they're supposed to serve. My mission to put the people first, my commitment to lead with integrity and my resolve to do the right thing, remains unchanged and undeterred.” Although Democrats have confidence that the referendum will pass, this campaign is continuing to operate according to the current district lines and will do so until the voters decide otherwise.

Spanberger Approves Constitutional Amendments

In addition to the redistricting amendment, Governor Abigail Spanberger approved three other constitutional amendments, paving the way for Virginians to vote on them come November. These constitutional amendments will enshrine access to reproductive care into the Virginia constitution, classify love as love and guarantee that Virginians have the right to same-sex marriage, and also automatically restores voting rights for the formerly incarcerated without the requirement for the Governor’s approval.

While Virginia is already a state where same-sex couples are allowed to get married and where there is legal access to abortion and reproductive care, these measures, should Virginia voters elect to approve them, will ensure that it would take a US Supreme Court decision breaking with Virginia’s stately autonomy to infringe on these rights. And with regards to automatic restoration of rights, according to current Virginia law, the formerly incarcerated are required to apply for their right to vote to be restored by the Governor or by petitioning the courts. Virginia is one of ten states that don’t have automatic restoration after time served. Former Democratic Governor Ralph Northam took Executive Action to allow anyone released from prison to qualify for restoration of voting rights, but this was reversed by former Republican Governor Youngkin. The constitutional amendment will prevent the Governor from being able to play politics with people’s right to vote.

These are impressive steps for progressives considering as recently as 2018, Republicans had a 66-34 majority in the Virginia House of Delegates. A slim Democratic majority in the State House and State Senate last year paved the way for these constitutional amendments to pass after a massive win for Democrats in last year's elections, which ushered in a Democratic Trifecta and a 13 seat gain for Democrats in the House of Delegates. Now, these constitutional amendment will be voted on by the people of Virginia in November. Elizabeth has voiced support for these three constitutional amendments, and she believes that a future where her children get to enjoy the same rights she did is a future worth fighting for.

Virtual Town Hall with Paige Connell

Elizabeth held a virtual town hall on Monday with Paige Connell, a working mom and influencer. Paige Connell, a working mom raising four kids, and Elizabeth discussed issues facing moms and working families. They shared stories from their own lived experiences, spoke on ways to remedy the systems that keep failing working families and ways that policies that actually work can make a real impact. Going forward, Elizabeth will have a weekly virtual town hall, occasionally with a special guest, starting next Wednesday. The town hall is free but you can also join in on some friendship bracelet-making fun! If you are able to make a strong impact on the campaign by making a small contribution, we’ll even send you a friendship bracelet-making kit!

Newsletter 2/4/2026

Harris Book Tour

On Monday, Elizabeth attended Kamala Harris’ tour promoting her book “107 Days”. At the event people approached Elizabeth to introduce themselves because they recognized her from this Congressional race. They wanted to talk, take photos, and one person even FaceTimed their mom to show her they had met Elizabeth. It’s moments like these that show how this campaign is growing movement. Elizabeth got a signed copy of Harris’ book and a chance to be part of a Meet and Greet with the former Vice President. Elizabeth got a brief chance to chat with her and they discussed the importance of the upcoming mid-terms and the need to protect our democracy.

ICE Detention Center Gets denied

Last week the Hanover Board of Supervisors met on Wednesday and denied the Department of Homeland Security plans to purchase the warehouse property at 11525 Lakeridge Parkway to turn it into a 10,000-bed capacity detention center. A massive crowd of protesters gathered outside 7516 County Complex Road where the Board of Supervisors met. In turn, since the Hanover Board of Supervisors’ decision and due to the widespread opposition, Jim Pattison Developments, the owner of the facility, backed out of the deal. Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs was present at the protest, she has voiced that ICE should cease operations and be dismantled in favor of a bipartisan solution to border and customs patrol. As per usual, Rob Wittman was nowhere to be found through all this.

Redistricting Runs Into Roadblocks

This past October Democrats in the General Assembly passed a Constitutional Amendment calling for a referendum for Virginia’s electorate to vote on mid-decade redistricting in response to the Trump administrations push for Republican states to redraw lines to favor Conservatives ahead of the 2026 midterms. This past week, that process got stalled when a Tazewell judge, Jack S. Hurley, Jr., ruled that the proper procedures were not met. Originally, the maps were supposed to be release by January 30th but in addition to the delay due to Judge Hurley’s ruling, State Senate and State House Democrats haven’t seemed to agree on which maps they prefer. Rumors are circulating that certain members of the General Assembly are vying for specific maps that pave an easy path for them to run for Congress unincumbered by Democratic incumbents. As of today the Virginia Court of Appeals has sent the case to the Virginia Supreme Court for a hurried hearing.

Richmond area Welcomes Walk for Peace Monks

On Monday about two dozen Buddhist monks and their rescue dog, Aloka, stopped in Richmond as part of their 2,300-mile cross-country walk to promote peace. Their stop in Richmond marked their 100th day since they embarked on their trek from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Their journey will end when they reach Washington DC next week. Elizabeth was among the thousands that gathered from around the central Virginia area to line the streets and wish the monks well and give flowers and gifts. She also encountered Primary opponent Tim Cywinski,  whom at one point even carried one of Elizabeth’s daughter on his shoulders to get a better view of the Monks. It was a special moment that is testament to the way we are stronger together and an example of how this campaign is about community and integrity in leadership. In honor of the Monks visit to the area, Governor Abigail Spanberger declared February 2nd “Walk for Peace Day” across the Commonwealth.