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Governor-elect Ralph Northam Collaborates With Ashland Brewery to Create ‘InaugurALE’

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Governor-Elect Ralph Northam might have a new favorite beer. The incoming governor tried a few brews after touring Ashland’s Center of the Universe Brewing last night with owners Chris and Phil Ray. The brothers announced InaugurALE, the official beer of the inauguration they brewed in collaboration with the governor, which will be released Jan 13.

“InaugurALE is going to be my favorite beer,” Northam predicted, “but I like everything made in Virginia.”

Northam met the Rays at an oyster fest last month with his chief of staff, Clark Mercer, who lives near the Ashland brewery. Making a beer with ingredients grown in the Commonwealth was the top priority for the three, Chris said.

Northam and Chris Ray talk beer cans

“We wanted to let the local terroir takeover,” said Phil, after his brother detailed the ingredient list. The all-Virginia production includes grain from the Northern Neck, malted in Sperryville by Copper Fox, Virginia-grown hops, and a yeast strain captured at Agriberry Farm in Hanover by Professor Grace Lim-Fong’s biology students at Randolph Macon, who cultivated the strain in collaboration with COTU.

Lim-Fong shares photos of Agriberry with Northam, Phil Ray

Chris described the beer as light, with complex flavors, and a low alcohol content. Samples won’t be available until the day of the inauguration, but he offered Northam, his staff, and this reporter a beer of our choice from the taproom menu for an impromptu tasting.

After selecting a lighter Kölsch-style beer, Northam talked about priorities and challenges for the upcoming year. “The opioid crisis is our number one challenge. Last year, we lost over 1,400 Virginians,” he said when asked about his goals.

He also talked about bipartisanship and reaffirmed his commitment to expanding Medicaid, despite rumors to the contrary, and offered that beer could help unite political opponents.

“Terry [McAuliffe] is leaving the kegerator,” he said, referring to the craft beer setup installed by outgoing Gov. McAuliffe as part of the campaign that brought Stone Brewing to Richmond. McAuliffe will keep his commemorative handle, but Northam already has plans for its replacement. “Maybe I’ll get one in the shape of the Eastern Shore.”

Like his predecessor, Northam was all-in for craft breweries. “We’re so proud of folks like Chris and Phil. They employ 22 people in good jobs with quality wages,” he said. “Small business and startups are the backbone of our economy.”

When pressed to pick a favorite beer out of the ones he’d tried, Northam signaled a shift. “I’m more used to this type of beer, but I’m ready to convert after trying that,” he said, impressed by a sip of my doppelbock. It prompted a follow-up question: Out of 206 breweries in the state, whose beer does he think he’ll stock in the keg?

“I’ll just have to visit all the breweries and sample them.”

Opinion: I Am a Democrat, I Love My Guns

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The day I went to buy my first pistol, I failed to have all of the required paperwork for the purchase. To be specific, I didn’t have the required number of papers to prove my home address. The dealer looked at my father and I and said, “Is this your dad? He can just buy it and legally gift it to you.” He then went on to tell us that you don’t have to register your weapons in the state of Virginia. So it doesn’t really matter who buys the weapon or who possesses it. (There will be a state police record of who purchased the weapon.)

I truly appreciated at the time how he was helping me get around the paperwork so that I could purchase the weapon. I now have a gun to protect my family. That was my original goal, and I met that goal. I wasn’t concerned about the manner in which I purchased the weapon, mainly because I know I don’t plan to do anything illegal or dangerous with it.

But, how am I to know that someone else will be so confident in themselves, and the fact that they won’t cause unnecessary harm with that weapon? What if someone is looking to hurt people, and they realize that they don’t even have to tell the dealer where they live in order to purchase a weapon?

Photo by Landon Shroder

In 2015, there were 946 firearm deaths in the state of Virginia. 374 of those deaths were homicides. 2014’s numbers were slightly lower at 889 and 339. Those numbers are not in the top 10 for leading causes of death in Virginia during those years. 3 percent of gun deaths in the United States in 2015 took place in Virginia.

I started this by saying I am a Democrat that loves my guns. And this is still true…. with a caveat. I think it was too easy to get my gun, and I think that needs to change. I should not have to go through more paperwork and background checks to rent a $40 storage unit than I did to purchase a weapon. I know that it is not just as easy as snapping a finger and putting policy into action. If things were that simple then 25 million people would be losing healthcare right now. It will take concessions from both sides, and I just honestly don’t foresee that happening.

The NRA claims to support new regulation on bump fire stocks, the attachment that can turn a semi-automatic rifle into an automatic weapon. But a few months after the shooting, we still haven’t seen any pressure from Congress. House Speaker Paul Ryan called for a regulatory fix for bump fire stocks earlier, rather than passing legislation that was proposed in the House and Senate.

“We think the regulatory fix is the smartest, quickest fix,” he said when asked about how to address the devices. But the agency in charge of these types of issues (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) has yet to take any steps in that direction.

The NRA and their allies spent millions on the 2017 Gubernatorial election in Virginia, as did the gun control groups. Ralph Northam, the Democrat and eventual winner, has always claimed to want to tighten up gun laws. “In his first weeks in the Virginia Senate, Northam met Virginia Tech survivors who came to Richmond to advocate for commonsense gun safety reform, and he has been partners with them ever since. He proudly voted to close the Gun Show Loophole and to keep the One-Handgun-A-Month limit,” read a statement on Northam’s campaign website.

The gun control groups loved this, and fed his campaign millions. Meanwhile, the NRA and other like-minded groups spent millions in their own right for advertisements across the state. There aren’t many issues that are as sensitive as gun control on the national stage.

It is not wrong to say that guns cause harm – but it would also be wrong to assume that a law-abiding citizen that has no history of violence or anger can do no good with a weapon. In Texas last month, a man named Devin Patrick Kelley walked into a church and started shooting worshippers. Stephen Willeford lives nearby the church and rushed over with his weapon when he heard the shots. They exchanged gunfire, and the shooter ran away from the church eventually being cornered and killed. Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr spoke on the act, saying, “Had [Willeford] not done what he did, we could have lost more people.”

Banning guns will not stop the violence, and it is naive to think so. Therefore, I fully support the right to bear arms. However, I don’t support the ease with which we can acquire these firearms. The bottom line is although we cannot stop criminals from accessing guns in an illegal manner, we can work to ensure that those who do purchase weapons are properly vetted and documented. Yes, we have a right to carry a weapon – as long as all necessary information is recorded in a responsible manner.

Opinion: Voting Democrat is Still the Lesser of Two Evils for Progressives

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I wasn’t enthusiastic about voting yesterday.

Although I took the day off because some of my professors canceled classes, I wasn’t in a rush to get to my polling place. After I spent my morning and early afternoon catching up on assignments, I headed out on that rainy, dreary day, ready to begrudgingly cast my vote for Ralph Northam and the other Democrats on the ballot. I felt hopeless. Gillespie had this election in the bag, at least I thought. Northam’s campaign had been underwhelming, to put it charitably, and I didn’t know anyone who was actually excited to vote for the Lieutenant Governor. Coming off of the surreal and deeply depressing 2016 Presidential election, I was bracing myself for the worst.

Thankfully, we now know that I was wrong. Northam defeated his Republican opponent Ed Gillespie by nine points, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. And in more riveting news, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Lee Carter defeated House Majority Whip Jackson Miller in the 50th district. Additionally, Democrat Danica Roem, an openly transgender candidate, defeated Republican and notorious bigot Bob Marshall in the 13th District. This effectively threw the longtime incumbent in the dumpster, where I’m sure he’ll angrily draft anti-transgender bills in silence for the rest of his days.

Although it’s important to acknowledge these victories and to celebrate them when they happen, it is equally important to acknowledge the failures of the Democratic Party, especially leading up to this election. After all, this election has been a nightmare for progressives, with Northam lacking in tangible progressive policies and values. Examining the flaws of Northam’s campaign, and the Democratic Party as a whole will help us understand the demands that people need make of the party going forward. And hopefully, by doing so, we can lessen our chances of having a “too close to call” situation between a racist, fear-mongering conservative and a milquetoast democratic candidate.

It is also important to acknowledge the fact that Northam isn’t a progressive. I don’t understand how anyone would consider someone who voted for George W. Bush twice, refuses to take a hard stance against the building of pipelines, and is willing to change his position on something as vital as immigration policy to be a progressive, let alone allow him to get away with branding himself as such.

Photo by David Streever

Admittedly, there are policies that Northam believes which separates him from Gillespie, such as his open support of reproductive rights and the LGBTQ community.

However, this gets at a key frustration I have with the Democratic Party: When I’m voting for a Democrat, I am often voting for my survival. In every election I have participated in, I’ve had to choose a politician who didn’t have any ideas on how to improve the lives of those struggling under capitalism, yet I supported them because they weren’t interested in taking my rights away. In Northam’s case, I voted for him due to the fact that he supports reproductive rights, and because I wanted one of my best friends to continue to safely transition as a trans woman.

Voting out of fear for the safety of a loved one is a terrible reason to want to vote for any politician. It’s cold, callous, and it proves that our “lesser of two evils” two-party system is broken. However, this fear plays right into the Democrats’ hands. The Democratic Party runs on fear. For the past couple of years, their platform has been the fact that they’re not as bad as the Republican Party. But by giving marginalized people no choice, and offering voters nothing but the security of their basic rights, Democrats are leaving us worse off. For example, single-payer health care is becoming an increasingly popular idea among progressives in the United States. However, establishment Democrats don’t want to embrace this fact, opting to die on the hill of the flawed Affordable Care Act instead. If Democrats want to look like they’re serving the interests of the people, they would consider an issue such as single payer, or at the very least, craft another healthcare solution that would serve more of its constituents.

Even if we buy into the fact that we must vote for Democrats simply because they will protect certain rights, there’s no way of knowing whether they’ll stay true to their word. After all, if Northam is willing to change his position on sanctuary cities, using the lives of undocumented immigrants as a bargaining chip, what else is he open to changing his mind about? More to the point, what other issues does Northam think he can compromise with Republicans on? Are we ever going to see an anti-transgender “compromise” in Virginia, similar to the one we saw in North Carolina?

As a young voter, the only time I felt like I was actually voting for someone I believed in was when I voted for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary. With the Democratic Party undermining Sanders’ popularity and his more progressive policies ever since the primary, and with reports of corruption occurring within the party itself, it’s clear that the Democratic Party does not care about my opinions as a leftist person of color.

This is why we need to step up and make our voices heard. This is why pro-sanctuary city protesters interrupting Northam’s acceptance speech last night is not only important, but absolutely necessary. If we don’t push Democrats to care about progressive issues — which are issues that impact a majority of people in the United States — they won’t care about them. It is our job to challenge these politicians, to make it clear that they work for us, and not the other way around. In these tumultuous times, we cannot get caught resting on our laurels. There’s a lot more work that needs to be done, and the only way we’re going to make progress is by getting active, both inside the electoral system, and in progressive organizations outside out of it.

I’m glad Ralph Northam won the election. Now, it’s time to keep him in check.

Governor-Elect Northam Holds First Press Conference After Last Night’s Victory

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Governor-Elect Ralph Northam held his first press conference this morning in the Patrick Henry Building on Broad Street, after a resounding victory that saw him beat Republican challenger Ed Gillespie by almost nine points. In a room packed with journalists, state-employees, and well-wishers, Northam struck a conciliatory tone, claiming that he will govern for all Virginians in the “Virginian Way.”

He fielded a wide range of questions about how to reconcile voters from both parties, what his cabinet would look like, and how he would work with President Trump. “There are things that President Trump has talked about wanting to do for this country that would be beneficial to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Northam when prodded by a reporter. “For example, building up our military… I believe in a strong military and as you know, we build some of the greatest warships and submarines right here in Virginia, in Newport News.” Northam also made it clear that if there are “detrimental policies coming out of Washington” he would stand up to them, such as the travel ban, the Paris Accords, and healthcare. “Any plan that puts 30 million Americans at risk of losing their coverage is a non-starter with me.”

Photo by David Streever

When asked by a reporter from the Virginia Pilot about a comment made by former Gov. Bob McDonnell that referred to him being “co-opted by the leftist agenda,” he responded, “I don’t think I have been taken over by a national agenda… this is about Virginia, and moving Virginia forward.”

Northam closed by circling back to a question on his signature phrase about governing the “Virginian Way.” “We can agree to disagree,” he said, but “at the end of the day we do what is in the best interest of Virginia.” To further make his point he pointed to legislation he passed in the Senate about banning smoking in restaurants and resisting tobacco lobbyists in the interests of all Virginians – claiming that this is the “Virginian Way.”

“We live in the greatest state in this country, and we have so much potential. It is time to put some of the ideology and divisiveness aside and bring people to the table, and again move Virginia in a positive direction.”

 

Virginia Politics Sponsored by F.W. Sullivans

 

Trump Tweets About Gillespie’s Election Loss

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Democrats swept today’s election in Virginia with an unprecedented victory for the Governorship, LT Governorship, and Attorney General seats, along with potentially picking up 12 delegate seats in the General Assembly. In addition, the first transgender woman, Danica Roem, was elected to the General Assembly unseating her anti-LGBTQ rival, Bob Marshall.

Even with the massive sweep by Virginia Democrats, President Trump was quick to blame his party’s failure on Ed Gillespie’s inability to embrace him. In a tweet posted 30 minutes ago, Trump said, “Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Don’t forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!”

Gillespie, while not outwardly embracing Trump during the campaign, embraced the president’s messaging strategies and tactics, using the politics of fear and race-baiting to paint Ralph Northam as someone who was weak on crime and supported MS-13 – the international criminal gang. Clearly, Virginians throughout the Commonwealth did not agree with Gillespie or Trump.

Northam Wins in Democratic Sweep of Virginia

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Following a blowout victory, Ralph Northam will be the next Governor of Virginia after a Democratic sweep of the Commonwealth. It’s the conclusion to a contentious race dominated by negative advertising and messaging, focused on anxieties about immigration, race, and crime. This tidal wave of blue across Virginia has not been seen since then-Senator Obama won the presidency in 2008.

A wide range of voter polls showed Northam with a sliver-thin advantage heading into the election, and Democrats feared the loss of another moderate candidate in a repeat of the Trump-Clinton race. Joining his victory are Justin Fairfax and Mark Herring, both of whom won their races for Lt Governor and Attorney General by similar margins. And in a surprising twist to the election, a slate of delegate candidates are now poised to flip the House of Delegates blue for the first time in 20 years.

Turnout was on par with expectations, with some areas reporting 50 percent of registered voters casting their ballots throughout the day. Down-ballot races and Democratic resentment of the Trump presidency were key factors for many voters, especially in Richmond, where 58,800 voters chose Northam to Gillespie’s 12,263.

Many media figures and progressive pundits predicted a low turnout for Northam, citing a perceived lack of enthusiasm among young voters, but VCU campus activists disagreed. “I voted for Northam in the primary, too,” said Molly Salavantis, who also volunteers with NextGen America. She was at VCU Commons with her sister and other volunteers handing out donuts and reminding students to vote. She was optimistic about turnout. “We registered 3,000 new voters at VCU alone.”

Christopher, reluctantly voted for Northam. Photo by Allison MacEwen

News outlets also predicted voter backlash against Northam for his mixed messages on sanctuary cities. This cost him the endorsement of Democracy For America, but didn’t particularly hurt his relationship with Latino Victory Fund, a group that attacked Gillespie in the last days of the campaign. “I voted for Northam, but I’m pissed off about [waffling on] Sanctuary Cities,” said Christopher, a voter originally from Appalachian Virginia who didn’t want to use his last name. “I was a [Tom] Perriello guy,” he said, referencing the progressive runner-up in the Democratic primary. “I liked him. I really like Justin Fairfax too, he opposed the pipeline.”

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline was a motivating factor for other voters. One of those voters was Paul Harvey, who cited the ACP as a factor in his vote for Cliff Hyra, the Libertarian candidate for Governor. Harvey also pointed to the negative ad campaigns as an influence driving him away from the Republican and Democratic candidates. “The guys on TV suck,” he said, referring to the back-and-forth ads, beginning with Gillespie’s ad invoking fear of immigrants through references to MS-13, the violent gang with ties to El Salvador.

Carli Viola wore her woman’s hat to the polls

Many voters cited opposition to Trump and the Republican agenda in influencing their vote. Early voter Carli Viola wore her pink crochet hat to her polling place at First Baptist Church on Monument Avenue, memorabilia from the Women’s March held last January. Kathryn Wirtz supported the Democratic slate, citing concerns for people who face discrimination. “This election really matters for a lot of people. It’s my duty to come out and vote to protect their rights.”

Elijah Morgano and Breanna Jones

Virginia Commonwealth University’s new polling place at Commons was overwhelmed with voters. Officials were unable to provide voter counts to reporters and lines were longer than at other polling stations throughout the day, even during the earliest shifts. Local activists Elijah Morgano and Breanna Jones were among many volunteers greeting visitors and directing them to the polls upstairs in the ballroom.

John DiJulio, a bike commuter. Photo by Allison MacEwen

One of the last voters at the Carver polling station was John DiJulio, a bike commuter who arrived just before the close at 7 pm. “I work out by the raceway,” he said, apologizing for being flustered from his rush home. He’d also supported Perriello in the primary, but thought the stakes were too high to be picky. “I’ll take any Democrat in the end,” he said, referring to a slew of policies and social issues that motivated his vote.

The race was called before 8 pm, with Northam’s lead nearing 3 percent less than an hour after polls closed, which is expected to grow as high as 10 percent before the end of the night. For Democrats it’s a welcome victory after a rough presidential election, and a show of unity for a party divided from debates dating back to the 2016 primary election.

Despite the victory, those divisions are likely to continue, with pundits and party leaders alike questioning the polling methodology and looking for lessons for future candidates and races.

*Caitlin Barbieri and Nidhi Sharma contributed to this report. Photos by David Streever or Allison MacEwen

 

Virginia Politics Sponsored by F.W. Sullivans