ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) — With primary season in full swing across the Commonwealth, Virginia has kicked off early voting to determine candidates for critical federal races this upcoming November.
In the 9th District of Virginia, a trio of hopefuls is campaigning to become the Democratic contender for the U.S. House of Representatives. On Wednesday, all three gathered in Abingdon to present their cases to potential voters on why they should earn their support.
Douglas Crockett, who hails from Wythe County and holds a degree from Emory and Henry, boasts a background in both law and ministry.
In a conversation with News Channel 11, Crockett highlighted his ambition to enhance the region by focusing on the development of affordable housing.
“It is an economically depressed area. Medicaid, we’re at 25%, which is quite a bit higher than other parts of the country. We have challenges in health care and broadband infrastructure, employment. We have people moving away,” Crockett said.
Joy Powers grew up on a cattle farm in Bedford County. She told News Channel 11 that she is basing her campaign on a few key topics.
“When I look at things like rural healthcare and agricultural enterprises opportunities and making sure we actually have jobs and education systems that work here, I think that we need to make sure we have someone who actually understands what it means to live and work in a rural community,” Powers said.
Adam Murphy told News Channel 11 that his main objective is to restore healthcare for Southwest Virginia.
“For Southwest Virginia, we need to focus on three main things. Strengthening and protecting our rural healthcare systems, making sure our rural EMS are reimbursed at better rates, make sure health care in this country is treated as a human and an American right,” Murphy said.
Representative Morgan Griffith has held the reliably red district since 2011. But all three candidates believe they can flip the district blue.
“He buys into what I am trying to run against, which is partisanship,” Crockett said. “From Democrats, I hear he’s just never around. He does not respond. We don’t see him. I’m not sure how he’s relating to Republicans, if that’s their opinion. But I think that’s something that I would not [do]. Those are two things I would not want to be. “
“We’ve had zero town halls. We’ve really had no legislation that made meaningful consequence here,” Powers said. “I think that what we need to do is we need to push him on his actual deliverables. And what have you delivered to this district?”
“I’d like to replace Morgan Griffith on the Health Care Subcommittee. I believe, you know, my entire campaign, I’ve said this to people before, I would trade away every aspect of this campaign, even running at all, if I can guarantee a Medicare for All bill that would pass, that is my absolute highest priority,” Murphy said.
In a statement to News Channel 11, Rep. Griffith said he will continue to defend the conservative values of the 9th District and that he, “will continue to work on health care issues, general agriculture in the district and try to keep the federal government in check when it comes to trying to take away individual liberties.”
The primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia is August 4. The registration deadline is July 24. Early in-person voting lasts until August 1. The general election is on November 3.