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<h3>Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs Friendship Bracelet-Making Town Hall!</h3>Join Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, and sometimes a special guest, for a Virtual Town Hall on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elizabethforvirginia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">Instagram</a> Live every Wednesday from 7-8pm ET to discuss issues facing Virginia voters.

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I was 17 years old...When I first took an oath to the Constitution — an oath I have carried with me ever since. As the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, a retired police officer, and a nurse, I was raised to believe that service isn’t something you talk about. It’s something you live. My family taught me to show up for my community.At 17, that path led me to the U.S. Army, where I later Commissioned as a Tank Commander. I learned responsibility, leadership, and what it means to put something bigger than yourself first. After the military, service didn’t stop. I continued it as a foster parent and advocate for children and families.Now, I'm running for Congress in Virginia's First District. Running for office isn’t about a title. It’s about service.It's about fighting.

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<h3>A People Powered, Grass Roots Campaign.</h3>This campaign is fueled by Virginians — not corporations or special interests. I refuse to take corporate money and will not accept contributions from AIPAC. Real representation can’t be bought, and leaders shouldn’t be influenced by those trying to shape policy from the shadows. Every volunteer, every conversation, and every small-dollar donation is what powers this campaign. My commitment is simple: I will answer to the people of Virginia’s First District, and only them.

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<h4>LIVE with Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs</h4>Tara Setmayer interviews Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs.

<h4>Flipping the district of my main opp</h4>Elizabeth is very clear-eyed about what it will take to win the 1st, a traditionally red district. (now run the 8th)

<h4>Meet the Foster Mom Veteran Running to Flip This District Blue</h4>Maggie Gehlsen-Burnett and Mallory Hagan sit down with Elizabeth Dempsey, candidate running for Congress in VA-08.

<h4>From Tank Commander to Running for Congress</h4>Michelle Glogovac sits down with Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs

<h4>Rebuilding a Government That Forgot Its People</h4>Why people-powered campaigns matter

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<h2>Hi, I'm Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs</h2><h4>I'm running for the US House of Representatives in Virginia's First Congressional District.</h4><img src="https://run.imgix.net/b535ff93-c394-4cb1-a6e5-64a26a981944/3efd4227-fe01-4bef-a7d4-a5e68e8fe3b8/3efd4227-fe01-4bef-a7d4-a5e68e8fe3b8.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C727%2C1080&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>A mother, a firefighter’s wife, a veteran, and an advocate. But above all—someone who has never chosen the easy path.</h3>From the outside, the easy path might have made more sense: a high-paying corporate job, four young children at home, and a life already full of joyful chaos. But every meaningful turning point in my life has come from choosing the path that asked more of me—the one that required service, grit, and heart.At 17, that path led me to the U.S. Army. I raised my hand and took an oath to the Constitution. I became a Tank Commander—one of the first women to serve in that combat arms role—not because it was easy, but because it was right. Because when something matters, you don’t stand on the sidelines.And when the uniform came off, service didn’t.I became a foster parent and an advocate for kids who deserved safety, stability, and love. I thrived in corporate leadership but knew service was on my heart. I learned quickly that doing the right thing is rarely convenient. Sometimes it means waking up in the middle of the night with a child who has never felt safe. Sometimes it means fighting systems that weren’t built with working families in mind. But you do it anyway—because it matters.People often ask why I chose to run for Congress now, at 29, with four children five and under. The truth is simple: how could I not?Because our children deserve better—mine and yours. Because our veterans deserve real support, not slogans. Because families deserve leaders who understand sacrifice. Because communities deserve someone who will fight for them even when it’s hard—especially when it’s hard.The day after I filed to run, a package arrived from my mom—sent before she even knew. Inside were quilts she made for children in foster care, old photos, and a letter I wrote to the local newspaper when I was seven. In that letter, I told them they needed to publish more about the resources in our community, because people wanted to help but didn’t know where to turn.At seven years old, I wasn’t asking for the easy path either. I was asking for the right one.And that’s still who I am.I’m running for Congress because service never stops—and because doing the right thing is worth the fight every single time.

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3/7 - Henrico (Safe Harbor Drive)3/14 - Canceled - Attend the Northern Neck Candidate Forum instead! You can find more info <a href="https://www.mobilize.us/nationalcenterforcivicempowermentinc/event/913103/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.3/21 - Chesterfield3/28 - Canceled - Attend the <a href="https://www.daffodilfestivalva.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gloucester Daffodil Festival</a> or the <a href="https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/910073/?source=indivisible&amp;medium=web" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Richmond Freedom Fest No Kings Rally</a> instead!---<h4>Run with Elizabeth</h4>Join us weather-permitting for a run. Meet Elizabeth, talk about the issues, and sign the petition!Not much of a runner? Take a walk through the park or bring your kids to play in the playground. Elizabeth will hang out for a bit before a run.Know of a park near you that you want to invite Elizabeth to? Let us know!

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<h3>A Future Worth Fighting For</h3>Our country cannot thrive when politics become short-sighted, divisive, and reactive. The challenges facing families today — childcare, housing, education, healthcare, economic stability — require long-term planning and bipartisan cooperation. We cannot keep kicking problems down the road simply because solving them doesn’t fit neatly into a partisan playbook. I am committed to building responsible, future-focused policies that strengthen our communities, grow our economy, and leave a better nation for our children. This campaign is about more than the next election cycle — it’s about the next generation.

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Having face-to-face conversations with voters is incredibly meaningful for our campaign. Help us go out into the community, knock doors and have conversations with voters about the issues. We are getting Elizabeth's name out there, asking voters what issues are important to them, and collecting petition signatures!Never volunteered with a political campaign before? That's OK! We'll provide you with training, a script and even a door knocking buddy if you don't feel comfortable knocking doors alone. We'll be there to support you every step of the way!When and where can I knock doors for Elizabeth? When - We typically knock doors in the evening or on weekends when people are more likely to be home. But if you let us know when you're available, we will try to accommodate your schedule. Where - We are knocking doors all over the First Congressional District. Let us know where you are located and we can find an area near you or convenient for you!

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<h3>Service Driven Leadership</h3>Service is the foundation of my life — as a soldier, a foster parent, and a working mom. In the military, you don’t choose who stands to your left or your right. They don’t have to look like you, vote like you, or believe exactly what you believe. But as their leader, you serve them all the same. That is the mindset I will bring to Congress. Elected office is not a platform for ego or ideology; it is a commitment to serve every constituent with fairness, humility, and respect. The people of Virginia’s First District deserve a representative who listens first and leads with purpose — not party politics.

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Fixing Broken Trust

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<h3>Integrity &amp; Accountability in Government</h3>Trust in government has been broken because too many politicians treat public office like a personal opportunity instead of a public responsibility. No one should become wealthy while serving in Congress. We must ban stock trading for elected officials and their immediate families, strengthen conflict-of-interest rules, and implement meaningful campaign finance reform that puts everyday Virginians at the center of our democracy. I believe leaders should be accountable to the people who elect them — not to donors, special interests, or political pressure. Integrity isn’t optional; it’s the job.

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<h3>Family, Faith, and the Common Good</h3>My guiding principle has always been simple: treat people the way you want to be treated. My faith and experience raising both biological and foster children shape how I view public service — with compassion, responsibility, and honesty. Families deserve stability, predictability, and leaders who don’t add to the chaos. Politics should be boring again: serious, respectful, and focused on results instead of outrage. I will always lead with the Golden Rule, protect the dignity of every person, and fight for policies that strengthen families and communities across Virginia.

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<h3><a href="https://mobilize.us/s/N5HX9K" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary);">Join us!</a></h3><h5>For a weekly community event!</h5>

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<h2>Help Fuel This Run!</h2>If we want a different future, we have to do things differently.That’s why I’m not taking big donor or corporate money. Instead, I’m building this campaign one small donor at a time—by asking people to sponsor a mile of the 1st district.Because I’m not just running for Congress… I’m literally running for Congress.$20 = 1 mile of the 420 miles I’ll be running over the course of this election.Not because the fastest runner makes the best leader—but because no one will work harder for you than I will.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/b535ff93-c394-4cb1-a6e5-64a26a981944/c009df66-0d53-4e05-8566-feee2e296334/c009df66-0d53-4e05-8566-feee2e296334.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1206%2C894&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="30" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">

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Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs - A mother, a firefighter’s wife, a veteran, and an advocate. But above all—someone who has never chosen the easy path.

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Veteran, foster mom, and community leader Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs is running for Congress in Virginia’s 1st District to put service back in leadership, lower costs for families, protect rights, and bring accountability to government. Join our grassroots movement for a future worth fighting for.

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Veteran, mother, and foster parent enters crowded Democratic primary to challenge vulnerable Republican incumbent Rob WittmanHanover Co., VA - Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, a U.S. Army veteran, mother, foster parent, and outspoken advocate for working families, has officially begun collecting petition signatures as part of her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.Beggs entered the race in December, joining a crowded field of Democratic candidates seeking to take on long-time Republican incumbent Rob Wittman, who Democrats view as aligned with an out-of-touch brand of MAGA conservativism and vulnerable in this year’s midterm elections.“From the moment I entered this race, I’ve been focused on listening to voters and showing up for the people,” said Beggs. “Collecting petition signatures is about more than qualifying for the ballot, it’s about making a connection, building relationships, and hearing voters’ concerns.”Beggs brings a deeply personal and service-driven background to the race. “I’m a candidate who understands service, sacrifice, and the realities families are facing,” said Beggs. She is a former U.S. Army Tank Commander, a mother of four young children, and a foster mom. She has been a vocal and unapologetic presence on social media, calling out political extremism, advocating for veterans and military families, and demanding accountability from elected officials who put party over people.Her campaign acknowledges the potential for redistricting later this year, but Beggs and her team say they’re building momentum despite the uncertainty.“Elizabeth is committed to meeting voters face-to-face, building rapport across communities, and making her case directly to the people,” said Ralph Doggett, her Campaign Manager. “This campaign is hitting the ground running. We’re collecting signatures, growing our volunteer base, and getting Elizabeth’s name out there.”As Beggs works to qualify for the ballot, her campaign is focused on grassroots organizing, voter outreach, and expanding engagement throughout the district. Supporters are encouraged to learn more about her campaign online at <a href="http://www.elizabethforvirginia.com">www.elizabethforvirginia.com</a> for updates, opportunities to get involved and to follow her on social media.

Hanover County, VA - Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, a U.S. Army veteran, mother, foster parent, and outspoken advocate for working families, has officially begun collecting petition signatures as part of her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.

Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs Begins Collecting Petition Signatures

<h5>"It is our responsibility to use those blessings to take care of others," Elizabeth Dempsey says of her Angel Tree</h5>By Virginia ChamleeA mom on TikTok says that her budget for her Angel Tree — a viral movement that encourages people to donate gifts to children and elderly people in need for Christmas — is larger than that for her own children's gifts.Elsewhere in the video — which has been viewed more than 767,000 times — mom Elizabeth Dempsey adds, "For me, in my house, Christmas and the holiday season is about taking care of our community, and I think that is the greatest gift I can give my children."As Dempsey explains, her own children — ages 2 and 3 — "have plenty of toys, they have plenty of shoes, they just went on a Disney cruise.""They are fine — but what I do feel like is important for them to know is any financial blessings we have are a gift from God. Yes, we work hard. And yes, we have struggled. And now that we're in a place that we're not, it is our responsibility to use those blessings to take care of others."Dempsey adds that she even enlisted her own children to help her shop for the recipients of the Angel Tree gifts."They did a really good job shopping this year, and they understood they were shopping for other kids and not themselves," she says.In another video, Dempsey shares highlights from her trip go shop for the Angel Tree. In it, she can be seen purchasing everything from large packs of diapers to clothing and shoes.As Dempsey explains, her own kids "do get a lot of toys throughout the year.""And they will have toys at Christmas ... but we do keep those toys really limited, to not make Christmas just about getting gifts," she says.With her kids, Dempsey says, the tradition is to give each a stocking filled with "some wants, some needs, some little trinkets, some little treats" — along with "a smaller gift from Santa," a pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve, and a gift from their grandparents (most likely "one book" each)."If they get a big gift, it's going to be for their birthday and it's definitely going to be from mom and dad, not from Santa," she adds.Dempsey also encourages others to take on the Angel Tree trend, saying in another video that her family budgeted to give to five Angels in 2024."You get a list of needs and a list of wants," Dempsey explains of the program, which is facilitated by The Salvation Army.

<a href="https://people.com/mom-says-her-angel-tree-budget-is-bigger-than-the-budget-for-her-childrens-gifts-8765983" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this People article!</a> "For me, in my house, Christmas and the holiday season is about taking care of our community, and I think that is the greatest gift I can give my children."

Mom Explains Why Her 'Angel Tree' Budget Was Bigger Than the Budget for Her Children's Christmas Gifts

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<a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/relationships/this-gen-z-managers-time-off-approach-is-going-to-shock-you-in-a-good-way-article-151680478" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this Times Now article!</a> A 28-year-old Gen Z manager is going viral for her bold stance on employee time off—and it’s not what you’d expect. With a surprising approach that’s rooted in empathy, mental wellness, and high performance, her philosophy is challenging everything you think you know about modern leadership.

This Gen Z Manager’s Time Off Approach is Going to Shock You (In a Good Way)

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Foster Care Awareness Month Suitcase Drive

Join Elizabeth for Virginia and Amanda's Mild Takes for our Suitcase Drive in support of Foster Care Awareness Week! See RSVP for more details and additional drop off options.

<h5>By Emma Tucker, Taylor Galgano and Zenebou Sylla, CNN</h5>When Elisa Smithers was deployed to Iraq in 2005, there was a ban on women serving in ground combat operations.Smithers was a “female searcher” with the National Guard and was attached to an infantry unit to help with searching detained Iraqi women, among other tasks. But she returned home to find she wasn’t offered the same support by the US Department of Veterans Affairs that male combat veterans were offered, Smithers said.Now, the 48-year-old veteran fears the progress made for women in combat since then will be reversed after President-elect <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/pete-hegseth-secretary-of-defense/index.html">Donald Trump announced Pete Hegseth</a> this week as his pick for secretary of defense – a Fox News host and Army veteran who has criticized efforts to allow women into combat roles.The ban on women serving in ground combat units <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/03/politics/u-s-military-women-combat-positions/index.html">was lifted in 2013</a> and, in 2016, all US military combat positions were opened to them, allowing women to fill about 220,000 jobs that were previously limited to men – including infantry, armor, reconnaissance and some special operations units. Women account for roughly 17.5% of the Defense Department’s active-duty force, according to 2022 data from the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3580676/defense-department-report-shows-decline-in-armed-forces-population-while-percen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">agency</a>.Hegseth, who has a long record serving in the military in Afghanistan and Iraq, has not announced any plans to reinstate the ban if he’s confirmed, but has previously accused the military of lowering standards to allow women into combat jobs.Speaking about his book, “The War on Warriors,” published this year, Hegseth said in a recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoN5ovwB8s4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcast</a> he was surprised “there hasn’t been more blowback” on the book, “because I’m straight up just saying, we should not have women in combat roles.”“It hasn’t made us more effective, hasn’t made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated. … We’ve all served with women, and they’re great,” Hegseth said last week on “The Shawn Ryan Show.” “But our institutions don’t have to incentivize that in places where, traditionally — not traditionally, over human history — men in those positions are more capable.”Even if a combat exclusion policy is reinstated, Smithers said women will still be pushed into such roles in an unofficial capacity like she was, just with less recognition and access to benefits like before.“They will still need these women in these roles,” Smithers told CNN. “So, we’ll go back to this, like, pseudo attaching them to the unit. And then this perception by the men that, you know, the women are not in combat roles.”US Army veteran Elizabeth Beggs said women in military service have already proven they’re capable.“Let’s not get it twisted. Women have been in combat since the beginning of history,” Beggs said.But she does agree with Hegseth on one thing: “Not all women are capable – just like not all men are capable,” Beggs said.<h3>Vets say Hegseth is diminishing women’s accomplishments</h3>More than 2 million female veterans live in the US – and the number is expected to continue to grow, according to the <a href="https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/materials-and-resources/facts-and-statistics.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Department of Veterans Affairs</a>.The combat exclusion policy was lifted shortly before 27-year-old Beggs joined the US Army. She went on to hold several roles during her four years of service, including armor officer, tank commander and platoon leader.“I believe it’s incredibly divisive to water down and diminish the accomplishments that I and other women have made serving in these roles, not just to women, but to men who’ve gone through the same courses and hit the same standards, especially in a time where we should be unifying,” Beggs said.Lory Manning, a 25-year Navy veteran, takes issue with Hegseth accusing the military of lowering standards to allow women into jobs with the Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Marine Special Operations, and jobs such as those in infantry, armor and artillery units.Hegseth has specifically criticized having women in roles where strength “is the differentiator,” he said on the podcast last week.“I’m not talking about pilots… I’m talking about physical, labor-intensive type jobs,” Hegseth said. “Seals, Rangers, Green Berets, MARSOC, infantry battalions, armor, artillery.”Manning, also the former director for the Service Women’s Action Network, said Hegseth’s assertion the military lowered their standards to accommodate women is a false, yet repeated one.“Sometimes, it’s said to protect women who don’t need protecting,” Manning said.In <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/womens-rights/baloney-message-women-combat-naysayers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a 2013 op-ed</a> for the American Civil Liberties Union, Manning refuted the claim that “tough combat training standards will be lowered by making them ‘equal’ for both genders.”“Women have already been integrated into air and sea combat duties with no lowering of standards,” Manning wrote.While the ban on women participating in ground combat operations wasn’t lifted until 2013, women have been flying in combat operations and serving aboard US combatant ships since the early ’90s.Like Manning, veteran Smithers believes a woman should be allowed to serve if they qualify for the “physical, labor-intensive type jobs” that Hegseth has a problem with them taking on.“At the end of the day, in order for us to be a dynamic and agile force and the great military that we are, we’ve got to have diversity. And that includes women in our force,” Smithers said. “Diversity always makes us better.”<h3>Concerns about culture of sexual assault</h3>Another female veteran, who identifies as a military sexual assault survivor and asked not to share her name out of fear of retaliation, said she worries how Hegseth’s rhetoric as the leader of the military, if confirmed, would influence the culture in the armed services, which is already grappling with issues of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/27/politics/military-sexual-assaults-report/index.html">sexual harassment and assault.</a>“Whenever a man does not see a woman as an equal, that’s where you’re going to see that kind of culture continuously get worse,” the 46-year-old disabled veteran told CNN. “It’s going to hurt the military force.”Roughly 20% of women serving in the military reported experiencing military sexual trauma during their service as of 2021, compared to about 1% of men, according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics.The statistic, according to <a href="https://www.cfvfunited.com/frequently-asked-questions-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Combat Female Veterans Families United</a>, underscores the “prevalence and impact of gender-specific challenges faced by female veterans during and after their time in service.”In August, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/07/politics/senate-coast-guard-sexual-assault-report-invs/index.html">findings from a Senate investigation</a> into misconduct within the US Coast Guard were released, detailing “systemic sexual assault and harassment, including a culture of silencing, retaliation, and failed accountability.” And in 2023, a study by the US Army Special Operations Command showed how its women are facing significant discrimination including sexual harassment and sexism from their male counterparts<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/21/politics/army-women-special-operations-study/index.html">, CNN reported</a>.Brandy Cottrill-Cox, a Purple Heart recipient who served in combat while stationed with the US National Guard on the border of Kuwait and Iraq in 2004, called Hegseth’s comments “dangerous rhetoric to target women.”During her second tour in Iraq, Cottrill-Cox said she was given a rape whistle.“There is a rape culture that is not being addressed,” Cottrill-Cox said. Women across the country who have served in the military are accessing resources for their trauma from experiencing sexual harassment and assaults while in service – many of which go unreported, she said.<h3>‘That’s basically telling a woman she’s not good enough to serve’</h3>Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, said Hegseth is “dangerously unqualified.”Earlier this week, Duckworth wrote about her “Alive Day” anniversary <a href="https://x.com/SenDuckworth/status/1856348106457055510" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">on X</a>, commemorating the day the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.As a result, she lost both her legs and partial use of one of her arms, according to her <a href="https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/about-tammy/biography" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">biography page</a>. She remains proud of her service.“By choosing to put a TV personality with little experience running much of anything in charge of the Defense Department’s almost 3 million troops and civilian employees, Donald Trump is once again proving he cares more about his MAGA base than keeping our nation safe—and our troops, our military families and our national security will pay the price,” she said in a statement.Wendy Coop, a 45-year-old US Navy veteran, called Hegseth’s comments on women serving in combat roles a “very disturbing and potentially dangerous take.”Coop, who lives in St. Augustine, Florida, graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2001 before she went on active duty on a ship doing maintenance work which included painting and working with tools.While Coop did not serve in combat while in the force, she said Hegseth shows a “lack of understanding of the military complex,” stressing the many other military jobs that support those who engage in combat – chaplains, nurses, logistics and doctors.“His comments open the floodgates to people who just say that women don’t belong in the military at all, as though we are too weak, as though we don’t have the personality to do the job,” she said.She also worries any course reversal on women serving in combat will have a sweeping impact on women serving in other government jobs.“We have to look at the individual and stop saying your gender determines your ability to serve in the military,” Coop said. “And then what happens is that people say, ‘oh, well, they don’t belong in the military?’ They also don’t belong in the police force. They also don’t belong as firefighters. They don’t belong in the Secret Service.”The veteran who did not wish to share her name said the discourse around a potential rollback of women serving in combat roles is “very disparaging.”“It’s a slap in the face for a lot of the women who have worked so hard to get to where they’re at,” she told CNN. “We served this country with pride, dignity and respect.”“And when you have someone say that women are not good enough to be in combat, that’s basically telling a woman that she’s not good enough to serve.”

See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this CNN article! "US Army veteran Elizabeth Beggs said women in military service have already proven they’re capable. “Let’s not get it twisted. Women have been in combat since the beginning of history,” Beggs said.”

Trump’s defense secretary pick said women shouldn’t be in combat roles. These female veterans fear what comes next

Healthcare is a family issue, an economic issue, and a moral issue. Every Virginian deserves quality, affordable care, no matter their income, ZIP code, or background. As a mother, a veteran, and a foster parent, Elizabeth has seen firsthand how our system is failing families.America spends more on healthcare than any other nation, yet families are paying more for less. In Virginia, too many communities face doctor shortages, long wait times, high prescription costs, and mental health services that are impossible to access. Maternal mortality is rising, especially for Black mothers, and medical debt remains the leading cause of bankruptcy.Corporate consolidation and insurance red tape have turned healthcare into a business model instead of a service. Even insured families struggle with high premiums, denied claims, and surprise bills. Foster youth and military families face additional challenges—disrupted care, limited specialist access, and gaps during placement or duty station changes.Elizabeth believes healthcare should be affordable, accessible, and centered on the needs of families. Her priorities include:<ul><li>Lowering prescription drug costs and banning predatory pricing</li><li>Working toward Medicaid for all within the next 6 years, while focusing on improved access and affordability today, with a profit cap for insurance companies and reducing admin costs.</li><li>Expanding access to primary care, OB/GYNs, and mental health providers</li><li>Increasing postpartum and maternal health support</li><li>Strengthening Medicaid and protecting coverage for foster and low-income families</li><li>Improving TRICARE access and continuity of care for military families</li><li>Enforcing hospital price transparency and cracking down on monopolies</li><li>Ending medical debt interest and reducing surprise billing</li></ul>Healthcare is a right—not a privilege. Elizabeth will fight for a system that puts patients first, protects families, and ensures every Virginian can access the care they deserve.

In the wealthiest country in the world, we have the most expensive healthcare — and too many families still can’t afford it. Healthcare should be accessible and patient-centered, including reproductive care. We must lower costs, expand mental health services, strengthen rural access, and ensure every Virginian gets timely, high-quality care.

Write a short blurb about an issue your campaign is highlighting. Try to keep the text a similar size between the various issue blurbs.

Healthcare

“We’re not talking about just the everyday person off the street who’s willing to enter these roles,” said Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, who served as an Army armor officer for nearly five years. “We’re talking about serious soldiers who want to go into combat arms and take that level of responsibility seriously.”...Dempsey Beggs, who is running for a Congressional House seat in Virginia, was one of the first 50 women in the Army to join a combat arms unit. As a tank platoon leader at the 1st Infantry Division in 2019, Dempsey Beggs was the only woman in her company for her first six months.To qualify as an armor officer, Dempsey Beggs said all soldiers faced the same physical tests.“It includes picking up dummy rounds, putting them down, running with gear on, sled pulls — these things that actually measure whether you’re capable of doing that job physically and those never changed when you were first starting out,” she said. “The targets, like gunnery, are the same whether you’re a man or woman.”...Another major misconception, Dempsey Beggs said, is the varied standards for men and women in Army-wide fitness testing. While performance standards in combat arms jobs are gender-neutral, Army-wide fitness tests have long been curved for both gender and age.“People love to neglect the age part of that scale too — that it gets ‘easier’ as you get older,” Dempsey Beggs said.But combat arms soldiers are held to a higher, gender-neutral standard in job-specific physical training. And women in combat arms now must meet male numbers on the Army-wide fitness test.“People like to push that and say, ‘Oh, well, like there’s a different physical fitness standard.’ No, there’s not. There is not to be in these combat roles,” said Dempsey Beggs. “There is not a different fitness standard. And there are a lot of men serving in these roles who also cannot make this fitness standard.”<a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/news/women-react-review-combat-jobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read More!</a>

<a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/news/women-react-review-combat-jobs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this Task and Purpose article!</a> “We’re not talking about just the everyday person off the street who’s willing to enter these roles,” said Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, who served as an Army armor officer for nearly five years. “We’re talking about serious soldiers who want to go into combat arms and take that level of responsibility seriously.”

Women in ground combat jobs say they prove their ‘effectiveness’ every day

<h3>Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, 29</h3>Graduated from Airborne School&nbsp;Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs (left) with fellow soldiers during military training. She graduated from Airborne School and was among the first women to serve in combat roles after the ban was lifted in 2015. (Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs)When 29-year-old veteran Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs heard the Pentagon was going to review the effectiveness of the military with women in combat roles, she initially felt “sorrow and fear” for her friends who are still active-duty and serving in these roles. Then, she felt anger but not surprise —&nbsp;she knew that Hegseth had criticized women’s participation in the military.&nbsp;“We’ve done the studies, and we have the data,” said Dempsey Beggs, who is currently running for Congress as a Democrat in Virginia’s 1st District. “He could take that time, energy, money, effort and actually make the lives of service members better, but he’s choosing to go down a witch hunt because women have done what he can’t.”&nbsp;Dempsey Beggs completed Airborne School and was one of the first 50 women to serve in combat roles after Congress lifted the ban in 2015 — and the first from Kentucky. She was an acting company commander at Fort Benning in Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic. She and her husband, also a company commander at the time, had two daughters.&nbsp;One morning, Dempsey Beggs had to leave at 4 a.m. to lead a training event.&nbsp; Her husband was supposed to watch their 6-month-old but unexpectedly had to take an injured service member out of state at 3:30 a.m. Dempsey Beggs — who was pregnant with her second daughter — strapped her baby on her chest and put her rucksack on her back and hiked five miles.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I just kept doing my job,” Dempsey Beggs said.&nbsp;She sees the review as designed to push active-duty women to leave the armed forces and not try for combat roles.&nbsp;“These combat roles already have physical fitness standards that are gender neutral,” Dempsey Beggs said. “Women and men fail them. No one is arguing that every single woman should be able to fill these roles, just like we never want every single man to be able to fill these roles. Everyone who is qualified and who is willing to serve is who we want in these roles.”&nbsp;

<a href="https://19thnews.org/2026/02/women-combat-roles-pete-hegseth-pentagon-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this Task and Purpose article!</a> When 29-year-old veteran Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs heard the Pentagon was going to review the effectiveness of the military with women in combat roles, she initially felt “sorrow and fear” for her friends who are still active-duty and serving in these roles. Then, she felt anger but not surprise — she knew that Hegseth had criticized women’s participation in the military.

Women combat veterans want Pete Hegseth to know that they already passed the test

Everywhere I go across Virginia’s Eight District, families are telling me the same thing: everything costs more, but paychecks aren’t stretching any further. Groceries, rent, childcare, healthcare, utilities, insurance—prices keep rising, and families feel like they’re doing everything right but still falling behind. For too many Virginians, the American Dream hasn’t just slipped out of reach, it feels like someone moved it entirely.This crisis didn’t appear overnight. It is the direct result of decades of short-sighted economic policy that prioritized corporate profits and billionaire wealth over the stability of working families. The wealth gap in this country is now wider than at any point since the Great Depression. While CEOs and large corporations post record profits, families in the middle are drowning under the rising costs of simply existing.As a New Deal Democrat, I believe that a strong economy begins with strong families. We know from history that when working people have stability, opportunity, and fair wages, the entire economy grows. When families thrive, small businesses grow. When workers earn a fair share, communities strengthen. And when billionaires and corporations pay what they owe, the entire nation benefits.But today, the opposite is happening. Billionaires pay lower effective tax rates than teachers, firefighters, and nurses. Corporations use loopholes to avoid billions in taxes while raising prices and buying back stock. And families are left to shoulder the burden.It doesn’t have to be this way.<h2>My Plan to Make Life More Affordable for Virginia Families</h2><h3>1. Lower Everyday Costs for Families</h3>We need bold federal action to rein in the costs of essentials—prescription drugs, housing, childcare, groceries, and utilities. That means expanding price-gouging protections, strengthening FTC enforcement, and holding corporations accountable when they hike prices without cause.<h3>2. Raise Wages and Protect Workers</h3>Wages have not kept up with productivity, and families feel that gap every single day. I support raising the federal minimum wage, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, protecting workers’ right to organize, and ensuring that family leave and childcare are affordable and accessible.<h3>3. Restore Fairness to Our Tax System</h3>Working families should not pay a higher tax rate than billionaires. It’s time to close loopholes, end corporate tax giveaways, implement a minimum tax on ultra-wealthy individuals, and require corporations—especially those making record profits—to pay their fair share.<h3>4. Invest in Our Communities Like We Believe They Matter</h3>The original New Deal transformed America by investing in infrastructure, jobs, education, and families. It didn’t just rebuild, it uplifted. We can do that again by expanding affordable housing, modernizing transportation, investing in rural broadband, and creating pathways to good-paying jobs in clean energy, tech, and skilled trades.<h3>5. Stop Corporate Price-Gouging and Market Manipulation</h3>Companies shouldn’t be allowed to raise prices simply because they can. We need stronger antitrust enforcement, limits on stock buybacks, and penalties for corporations that manipulate supply and profit at the expense of family stability.<h3>Why This Matters</h3>Virginia families don’t want handouts, they want fairness. They want a government that works as hard as they do, and an economy that rewards effort, not just wealth. We cannot move this country forward without addressing the structural inequality that holds working people back.Restoring affordability is not about left or right; it’s about rebuilding the foundation of the American Dream. It’s about ensuring that every family, regardless of zip code or income, has access to stability, opportunity, and dignity.This campaign is about rewriting the story of what’s possible. About building a country where families can breathe again. A country where hard work leads to a good life. A country where corporations and billionaires contribute their share so that the burden doesn’t fall on those who already give the most.That’s the future worth fighting for.

Virginia families are being crushed by rising costs while wages lag behind. As a New Deal Democrat, I believe in lowering everyday expenses, expanding childcare, raising wages, and closing loopholes that allow corporations to exploit our people. Families deserve stability, opportunity, and an economy that finally puts people first.

Affordability

Protecting Rights, Privacy, and Equality for AllOur nation was founded on the belief that every individual deserves freedom, dignity, and equal protection under the law. Those principles are not abstract—they shape the everyday lives of families across Virginia. Ensuring that every person can live safely, access necessary healthcare, and form the relationships they choose is essential to a strong, stable, and free society.Today, many of those fundamental rights are under pressure. Decisions once made privately between individuals and their doctors, or between two consenting adults, have become subjects of political intervention. My position is rooted in a simple but important belief: government should protect people’s freedoms, not restrict them.<h2>Abortion &amp; Reproductive Healthcare</h2>Elizabeth knows the way we lower the rate of abortions is not through bans, it is investing in our communities and addressing the root cause of abortions. The issues is not black and white. Healthcare decisions belong to patients and their medical providers—not politicians. Reproductive care, including abortion, is part of comprehensive healthcare. People deserve the freedom to make medical decisions based on their own circumstances, values, and needs. Restricting access does not make families safer or healthier; it creates barriers that disproportionately impact low-income individuals, survivors of violence, rural communities, and those without consistent healthcare access.Supporting reproductive freedom means ensuring safe, legal access to care; strengthening maternal health services; supporting contraception and family planning; and respecting the privacy and expertise of medical professionals. Trusting women and doctors is not only common sense—it is consistent with longstanding principles of medical ethics and patient autonomy.<h2>LGBTQIA+ Rights &amp; Equality</h2>Every person deserves the freedom to live authentically without fear of discrimination. LGBTQIA+ Americans contribute to every part of our communities—as teachers, service members, parents, business owners, and neighbors. Protecting their rights strengthens families, enhances community wellbeing, and upholds the constitutional promise of equal protection.Marriage between consenting adults is a personal decision, not a matter for government intrusion. The ability to access healthcare, secure employment, participate fully in public life, and raise families without discrimination is foundational to a free society. Standing against discrimination means supporting policies that ensure equal treatment in housing, education, public accommodations, and employment.A nation committed to liberty must ensure that no person is denied dignity or opportunity because of who they are or whom they love.

Every person deserves dignity, equality, and freedom from discrimination. I support protecting reproductive rights, standing with the LGBTQ+ community, and ensuring government stays out of private medical and personal decisions. Social justice means equal treatment under the law, safe communities, and defending the rights of all Virginians.

Social Justice

America is a nation of laws—and a nation of immigrants. We can, and must, be both.I believe our immigration system is broken not because immigrants fail America, but because our federal government has failed to build a system that is legal, humane, affordable, and functional.<h3>Immigrants Make America Stronger</h3>Immigrants are essential to our economy, our communities, and our future. They are workers, parents, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and service members. They start businesses, fill critical labor shortages, and contribute billions in taxes each year. America’s strength has always come from people willing to work hard and build a life here—and that remains true today.<h3>Accountability and the Rule of Law</h3>I do not support unlawful or unconstitutional actions by any federal agency, including ICE. No agency is above the law. Enforcement must respect due process, human dignity, and constitutional rights. Tactics that rely on fear, racial profiling, or family separation undermine public trust and make communities less safe. I am committed to articles of impeachment for Kristi Noem and holding all agents who have committed unlawful acts accountable.As an Army veteran, I believe deeply in the rule of law—and that includes holding our own institutions accountable.<h3>Ground-Up Immigration Reform</h3>America needs comprehensive, ground-up immigration reform that recognizes reality and creates legal, workable pathways—not political theater.That means:<ul><li>Making legal immigration more accessible and affordable, especially for workers, families, and caregivers</li><li>Modernizing visa systems to match real labor needs</li><li>Creating earned pathways to legal status for long-term, law-abiding immigrants who contribute to their communities</li><li>Protecting Dreamers and mixed-status families from unnecessary harm</li><li>Ending policies that separate children from their parents</li><li>Focusing enforcement on genuine threats to public safety, not families and workers</li></ul><h3>A System That Works—For Everyone</h3>When legal immigration is realistic and accessible, we reduce chaos at the border, protect workers from exploitation, and strengthen national security. When we rely on fear instead of policy, everyone loses.I’m running for Congress to help build an immigration system that reflects our values: lawful, humane, practical, and rooted in the belief that America is stronger when we live up to our ideals.

America is a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. Immigrants make our country stronger. I oppose unlawful actions by ICE and support immigration reform that is humane, constitutional, and practical—making legal immigration affordable and accessible, keeping families together, and focusing enforcement on real public safety threats, not hardworking families.

Immigration

Military &amp; Veterans: Keeping Our Promise to Those Who ServeVirginia’s Eight District is home to thousands of service members, veterans, and military families. Some of you chose this assignment, and many of you didn’t — that’s the nature of military life. But I want you to hear this clearly: I’m glad you’re here. Whether your stay is two years or twenty, you are part of this community, and you deserve to be supported, respected, and welcomed.As an Army officer, I learned early that service isn’t just a profession — it is a sacrifice carried by the entire family. Behind every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, Guardian, and Coast Guardsman is a spouse juggling careers interrupted by PCS orders, a child switching schools again, or a family navigating deployments and uncertainty. We cannot claim to honor service without honoring the people who make that service possible.My commitment is simple: If you wear the uniform, have worn the uniform, or support someone who does, you deserve a representative who fights just as hard for you as you fight for this country.<h2>Supporting Military Families</h2><h3>1. Expanding Military Spouse Career Opportunities</h3>Military spouses face one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation — not because they lack skills, but because they move constantly. We must break down barriers that prevent spouses from building stable careers. That means strengthening remote work policies, expanding interstate licensing reciprocity, creating career pipelines with local employers, and incentivizing federal contractors to hire and retain military spouses.<h3>2. Improving Childcare, Schools, and Community Support</h3>Frequent moves can disrupt kids’ education and strain family stability. We need stronger partnerships between DoD schools and local districts, expanded access to affordable childcare, and increased support for EFMP families so no one feels left behind or forced out of service because their child’s needs cannot be met.<h3>3. Making Virginia a Welcoming Duty Station</h3>No service member should feel like a temporary visitor in the place they’re ordered to live. From improving housing quality to strengthening community connections, I will work to ensure that every family stationed here feels valued, supported, and at home.<h2>Standing Up for Our Veterans</h2><h3>1. Strengthening VA Community Care &amp; Reducing Wait Times</h3>Too many veterans still struggle to access timely mental health care, specialty appointments, and essential treatment. Community Care should be a lifeline — not a maze. We need clearer referral pathways, stronger oversight, expanded provider networks, and modernized systems so veterans get the right care, when they need it, where they live. No veteran should wait months for an appointment or drive hours for care that could be provided locally.<h3>2. Meaningful Tax Incentives for Companies Hiring Veterans</h3>Hiring a veteran shouldn’t be a PR move — it should be a strategic investment. Veterans bring leadership, discipline, problem-solving, and mission-focused work ethics that strengthen any organization. I support tax incentives for companies that hire veterans at all levels — not just entry-level positions. We must create pathways into management, skilled trades, cybersecurity, engineering, logistics, and leadership roles where veterans’ experience can shine.<h3>3. Expanding Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources</h3>We lose more veterans to suicide than we ever should. Expanding crisis support, peer programs, transition assistance, and access to culturally competent mental health providers is essential. Transitioning out of service shouldn’t feel like falling off a cliff — and no veteran should ever feel alone.<h3>4. Protecting GI Bill, Home Loan, and Earned Benefits</h3>These benefits were promised — and they must be protected. I will oppose any attempt to privatize, limit, or undercut the GI Bill, and I will work to ensure veterans have the support they need to buy homes, pursue education, and build stable futures.<h2>Why This Matters</h2>Service is not a political talking point — it is a bond of trust. When Americans volunteer to defend this country, we promise in return to care for them and their families. That promise must be honored fully, not halfway. I’ve led soldiers, been a military spouse, lived the grind of the military lifestyle, and seen firsthand how service shapes every part of a family’s life. I know what it means to shoulder responsibility, to endure deployments, to move every few years, and to build resilience in uncertain circumstances.My approach is rooted in respect, experience, and action. Because supporting our military and veterans isn’t charity — it’s a debt we owe.This district, this state, and this nation are stronger because of you. And as your representative, I will never stop fighting to make sure you receive the support, dignity, and opportunities you’ve earned.

Service members and their families sacrifice daily, and they deserve leaders who show up for them. We must expand military spouse career opportunities, improve base housing and childcare, strengthen VA Community Care, support mental health, and create real career pathways for veterans. Service should be honored with action, not rhetoric.

Our Military and Veterans

From the <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-reviewing-effectiveness-women-combat-roles-decade-after/story?id=129134643" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ABC Article</a>:Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs chose one of the Army's most demanding paths where officers command tanks, a field known for relentless tactical complexity and one that demands a mastery of some of the military's heaviest weapons.Commissioned through the Army's Reserve Officers' Training Corps, she graduated in 2018 and entered a field that had only recently opened to women. She was among the first, and soon found herself leading soldiers at Fort Riley, Kansas."Tanks are really cool," Beggs, who's running for Congress as a Democrat in Virginia, said in an interview with ABC News.What drew her to the job, she explained, was the time in the field and that she wanted to fight if needed."I knew I wanted to be on the ground," she said. Her father was an armor officer in the Marine Corps....Beggs said there was skepticism in the ranks when she entered a job field that had been exclusively male. Some questioned how she would take part in hand-to-hand combat training, which involves grappling and close physical contact, or how she would manage basic needs, such as using the bathroom while in the field."I went in with the attitude that this is new," she said. "I wanted to make it an open space and answer questions without judging anyone."Over time, she added, that unease faded."Once they served with women themselves, that negativity and skepticism was gone," she said of her fellow soldiers.Hegseth has loosely moderated his once categorical opposition to women serving in ground combat roles after years of arguing that women should be excluded from front-line units.See full ABC article <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-reviewing-effectiveness-women-combat-roles-decade-after/story?id=129134643" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-reviewing-effectiveness-women-combat-roles-decade-after/story?id=129134643" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this ABC article!</a> Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs chose one of the Army's most demanding paths where officers command tanks, a field known for relentless tactical complexity and one that demands a mastery of some of the military's heaviest weapons.

Pentagon reviewing effectiveness of women in combat roles more than a decade after integration

See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this 19th News article! When 29-year-old veteran Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs heard the Pentagon was going to review the effectiveness of the military with women in combat roles, she initially felt “sorrow and fear” for her friends who are still active-duty and serving in these roles. Then, she felt anger but not surprise — she knew that Hegseth had criticized women’s participation in the military.

Women combat veterans want Pete Hegseth to know that they already passed the test

<a href="https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/40954-dems-red-to-blue-list-sparks-primary-election-backlash" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary);">See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this Smoky Mountain News article!</a> “The reason I got into this race was because as a foster parent and veteran my voice was not being heard,” said Beggs, who says she’s advocating for firefighters, teachers and social workers. “I took an oath, multiple times, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States because I believe in democracy. I trust voters and our democratic practice, but when the DCCC goes outside of Primary Elections and works to only support one candidate, it works against the ideals of democracy. It disenfranchises voters and works to ensure that we do not see change from grassroots candidates who are not tied to a corporate political agenda and can truly represent the people they serve.”

Dems’ ‘Red to Blue’ list sparks Primary Election backlash

<h5>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h5>February 24, 2026Democratic Candidates Call for Open Primaries and Voter-Led NominationsLeaders across the country warn that state and national Democratic party intervention undermines trust, grassroots energy, and democratic legitimacyOn February 23rd, the Democratic Party’s campaign arm - the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) - announced its first wave of candidates selected for its “Red to Blue” program. According to the DCCC, these candidates will receive strategic guidance, staffing resources, training, and fundraising support to strengthen their general election prospects.But such early institutional backing also carries significant influence in the primary process — often shaping fundraising pipelines, access, and perceived viability before voters have had the opportunity to evaluate the full field. Across the country, Democratic candidates are raising concerns about a growing pattern of early intervention in primary elections from the DCCC — a trend they say risks weakening voter trust and diminishing the role of voters in selecting their own nominees.In multiple states and districts, party leadership has signaled preferred candidates well before voters have had the opportunity to evaluate the full field. Through early infrastructure support, fundraising advantages, and institutional backing, these actions show that outcomes are being shaped before ballots are cast.“Primaries are not an inconvenience, they are the foundation of democratic legitimacy,” said a coalition of candidates aligned on the issue. “Constituents deserve the opportunity to compare ideas, hear open debate, and decide for themselves who will represent them rather than being told who to vote for.”Candidates emphasize that their concern is not opposition to party infrastructure or general election strategy. Rather, they argue that legitimacy in the primary depends on fairness and openness in the months prior.“You cannot argue that democracy is on the ballot in November while narrowing democracy in the primaries from now through August,” the coalition states. “If a candidate is strong, they should be able to earn support in open competition. Protecting them from competition is not confidence”Over the past decade, many Democratic voters have expressed frustration with what they perceived as insider-driven decision-making. Candidates calling for reform say restoring confidence begins with reaffirming a simple principle: trust voters.“Parties play an important role in building infrastructure and supporting nominees, but voters must choose those nominees freely. Open primaries, transparent processes, and robust debate are not obstacles to victory — they are the path to it. The Democratic Party will be strongest when voters, not insiders, choose its nominees.”Coalition of Candidates:Iman Bah, AZ-06Travis Terrell, IA-01Xavier Carrigan, IA-03Diop Harris, MI-04Zelda Briarwood, NC-11Dr. Richard Hudspeth, NC-11Paul Maddox NC-11Dr. Joyce E. Neal, TN-05Dr. Jim Torino, TN-05Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, VA-01Salaam Bhatti, VA-01Lewis Littlepage, VA-01Mel Tull, VA-01Dr. Nila Devanath, VA-02Patrick Mosolf, VA-02Matt Strickler, VA-02Emily Berge, WI-03-----<h4>Read More:</h4>Smoky Mountain News: <a href="https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&amp;sa=t&amp;url=https://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/40954-dems-red-to-blue-list-sparks-primary-election-backlash&amp;ct=ga&amp;cd=CAEYACoUMTM0NTE3ODg5NDIwMTE2OTAyNDIyGjg2ZTg2NDM2YjRhNjcwZTI6Y29tOmVuOlVT&amp;usg=AOvVaw3MYnVf8X27ZUdtC2K6Zz2q" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dems' 'Red to Blue' list sparks Primary Election backlash - Smoky Mountain News</a>Virginia Scope: <a href="https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&amp;sa=t&amp;url=https://www.virginiascope.com/dccc-faces-pushback-from-democratic-candidates-for-tipping-the-primary-scales/&amp;ct=ga&amp;cd=CAEYACoTNTIwMTc0NzE3MDYwOTgzMzM2MzIaNjUyMWQwOGNiNzM2OGUwZDpjb206ZW46VVM&amp;usg=AOvVaw3XTaCLXZEw9dR2tukr1A3-" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DCCC faces pushback from Democratic candidates for tipping the primary scales</a>Legal Insurrection: <a href="https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&amp;sa=t&amp;url=https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/02/democrats-accuse-the-party-for-corrupting-the-primary-process-with-red-to-blue-initiative/&amp;ct=ga&amp;cd=CAEYASoTNTIwMTc0NzE3MDYwOTgzMzM2MzIaNjUyMWQwOGNiNzM2OGUwZDpjb206ZW46VVM&amp;usg=AOvVaw0aUc_oIChEn8wjs-1ooMLg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Democrats Accuse the Party of Corrupting the Primary Process With 'Red to Blue' Initiative</a>RVAMag: <a href="https://rvamag.com/music/are-virginia-primaries-being-decided-before-voters-weigh-in.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Are Virginia Primaries Being Decided Before Voters Weigh In?</a>

Leaders across the country warn that state and national Democratic party intervention undermines trust, grassroots energy, and democratic legitimacyOn February 23rd, the Democratic Party’s campaign arm - the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) - announced its first wave of candidates selected for its “Red to Blue” program. According to the DCCC, these candidates will receive strategic guidance, staffing resources, training, and fundraising support to strengthen their general election prospects.

Democratic Candidates Call for Open Primaries and Voter-Led Nominations

Public Safety &amp; Criminal Justice Reform: Safe Communities Through Smart InvestmentEvery family deserves to feel safe in their home, their neighborhood, and their community. But true public safety is not achieved through soundbites or fear—it is achieved through smart policy, accountability, and investment in the root causes of crime. We know what works: strong communities, stable families, good schools, good jobs, and a justice system that treats people fairly.I grew up in a law enforcement family. My father served as a police officer and later became a criminal justice professor, and his commitment to integrity shaped how I understand safety, justice, and responsibility. For too long, our nation has relied on reactive approaches to crime rather than preventive ones. We criminalize poverty while ignoring the conditions that create it. We overuse incarceration while underfunding mental health care, addiction treatment, and youth programs. And in too many places, the justice system has become something it was never meant to be: a for-profit industry, driven by fees, fines, and incarceration quotas rather than fairness and rehabilitation.We can do better—and we must.<h2>Investing in Communities to Prevent Crime</h2>Communities with strong schools, accessible childcare, stable jobs, and affordable housing experience significantly lower crime rates. When we invest in people, we reduce the factors that lead to crime and create long-term public safety.That means expanding after-school programs, supporting youth mentorship opportunities, increasing access to mental health care, and creating job pipelines for young adults. Prevention isn’t “soft”—it is the smartest, most cost-effective approach to public safety we have.Public safety is not just a policing issue. It’s a community issue.<h2>A Criminal Justice System Rooted in Fairness, Not Profit</h2>Justice should never be influenced by profit. We must eliminate private prisons and end predatory practices like exorbitant court fees, cash bail systems that punish poverty, and probation structures that trap people in endless cycles of debt and incarceration.Reform is not about being lenient—it’s about being effective. We need policies that reduce repeat offenses, support reentry, and ensure that punishment fits the crime. Justice should be equal, consistent, and guided by data, not by profit margins.<h2>A Balanced Approach: Accountability and Opportunity</h2>Lowering crime requires a “carrot and stick” approach. That means:• Addressing the root causes of crime—poverty, lack of opportunity, addiction, untreated trauma. • Offering real second chances—education, workforce training, rehabilitation, and reentry support. • Being firm and consistent in holding people accountable when laws are broken.This is not an either/or conversation. Safe communities require both strong accountability and strong opportunity.We must be tough on violent crime, protect victims’ rights, and ensure law enforcement has the training and support they need. At the same time, we must stop wasting resources on policies that criminalize addiction, homelessness, and non-violent offenses without solving the underlying issue.<h2>Modernizing Drug Policy &amp; Legalizing Marijuana</h2>It is time to legalize and regulate marijuana at the federal level. Criminalizing marijuana has clogged the justice system, disproportionately targeted communities of color, and drained resources without making communities safer.Legalization paired with expungement of low-level marijuana offenses will:• Reduce unnecessary incarceration • Generate new tax revenue • Improve public health oversight • Allow law enforcement to focus on serious crimeAddiction should be treated as a public health issue, not a criminal one. We need more treatment beds, more mental health professionals, and more early-intervention programs to break cycles before they begin.<h2>Common-Sense Gun Safety</h2>Gun violence is an epidemic - and there is balance between public safety and responsible firearm ownership. I support an assault weapons and high capacity (more than 12) magazine ban. Ghost guns are becoming the largest threats to all of our safety. To combat this I support expanding background checks, ban private sales of firearms, and banning 3D printing of firearm or firearm parts. We must close the Charleston loophole and federally mandate waiting periods of 7 days. <h2>Why This Matters</h2>Every parent wants to raise their children in a neighborhood where they feel safe walking to school, playing outside, or running errands. Every family wants a justice system they can trust—one that protects them, treats them fairly, and invests in their future.Public safety is not created by slogans. It’s created by smart investments, modern policies, and accountable systems that focus on real results. When we strengthen our communities, we strengthen our safety. When we reform our justice system, we restore trust. And when we approach crime prevention holistically, we build a safer future for everyone.A strong, safe community is one where opportunity is wide, accountability is fair, and everyone has a stake in the success of their neighbors. That’s the future we can build together.

Safe communities come from smart investment, not slogans. We must address the root causes of crime, reform a justice system that shouldn’t profit from people, support mental health and addiction treatment, legalize marijuana, and hold all offenders accountable. Prevention, opportunity, and fairness together create real public safety.

Public Safety

<a href="https://rvamag.com/music/are-virginia-primaries-being-decided-before-voters-weigh-in.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-secondary);">See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this RVAMag article!</a> “What concerns me most is the DCCC’s recognition of the importance of flipping these seats, paired with its extreme intervention and disregard for other candidates who share the same mission,” Beggs said. “By fundraising for certain establishment picks under the guise of ‘this is who will flip the seat,’ and amplifying that message while soliciting donations from their base, they misinform voters and unintentionally lead them to believe there is no one else running.”

Are Virginia Primaries Being Decided Before Voters Weigh In?

<a href="https://news.ssbcrack.com/pentagon-reviews-women-in-combat-roles-amid-concerns-over-gender-equity-in-military/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);">See Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs mentioned in this SSB Crack News article!</a> Others like Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs, who became one of the first women to serve in combat roles following the policy change in 2015, expressed concern about the review’s implications. “We’ve done the studies, and we have the data,” she stated. “He could take that time, energy, and effort and actually make the lives of service members better.””

Pentagon Reviews Women in Combat Roles Amid Concerns Over Gender Equity in Military

Elizabeth Dempsey Beggs is running for Congress in VA-01 to put service back in leadership, lower costs for families, expand veterans’ support, protect rights, and bring integrity back to government.

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