By Shawn Nowlin
It was a nail-biting day for many, from the candidates themselves to their supporters. On the ballot for Tuesday’s election was every General Assembly seat. The polls closed at 7 p.m. and results started coming in shortly thereafter.
The newly created state Senate District 4, which encompasses Salem, Roanoke, part of Montgomery County and most of Roanoke County, was a more competitive race than many expected. With 24,757 official votes, according to Ballotpedia.org, incumbent (R) David Suetterlein defeated (D) Trish White-Boyd by nearly six percentage points, or 2,721 votes. As Suetterlein comfortably won the counties, White-Boyd did carry Roanoke.
While Suetterlein’s victory ensures that Republicans will have every state senator west of the Blue Ridge in the new General Assembly, however Democrats will take full control of both chambers after two years of divided power.
Republicans campaigned on such issues as supporting parental involvement in schools, lowering taxes, improving public safety and rolling back Democrats- sponsored clean energy mandates. Their colleagues on the other side of the political aisle ran a more progressive agenda, including abortion rights.
“This is a huge sign of Democrats’ continued momentum heading into 2024. With so much on the line, voters showed up at the ballot box and sent the GOP a stark warning — betting big on the MAGA agenda doesn’t fly with everyday Americans, and it will cost them once again in 2024,” Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said in a press release.
Noted Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Mamie Locke, “It’s official: there will be absolutely no abortion ban legislation sent to Glenn Youngkin’s desk for the duration of his term in office, period, as we have thwarted MAGA Republicans’ attempt to take total control of our government and our bodies.”
For nearly two decades, White-Boyd, 60, served as a liaison between the court and city’s Division of Child Support Enforcement, before creating her own home care business.
A Florida native and lifelong Democrat, White-Boyd’s introduction into politics came in 2000 when, like millions of other Americans, she was flabbergasted when the Supreme Court got involved in the Presidential Election between George Bush and Al Gore.
In the years that followed, she worked with President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, President Joe Biden, Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine, Governor Ralph Northam and Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax to make a difference for her community.
She has also served as Roanoke’s Vice Mayor and a city council member.
Bouncing back from adversity is something White-Boyd has done her whole life. Despite the disappointing results on Nov. 7, she would be the first to say that the hard work required to get things done does not stop.
