By Susan Laume:
Actor Alec Baldwin spent Tuesday afternoon visiting four of the forty Democratic campaigns in Virginia endorsed by People for the American Way (PFTAW) in the 2019 election.
Baldwin, a PFTAW board member, delivered pizza to Dan Helmer’s campaign headquarter and addressed campaign workers at a phone bank. Helmer is the Democratic candidate for Delegate in House District 40. Baldwin’s message was the importance of taking just 10 minutes to talk to your friends about candidates like Helmer, who embody all one wants in holders of public office. He spoke of the multitude of benefits for people in a Blue Virginia; the new policies that could be established, and the ability to become the 38th State to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
Helmer’s race is one considered key to flipping the Virginia House to a Democratic majority in November. National attention to the race has brought other notables to Helmer’s canvass territory, including gun control advocate, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, former Virginia Gov.Terry McAuliffe, and national presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, among others.
Joining Baldwin on his visit were Delegate Charniele Herring, who represents part of Alexandria; and well-known American labor leader and civil rights activist, Deloris Huerta, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez. Huerta urged the crowd of Helmer supporters to recognize they “have the power — people power.”
Baldwin also visited the campaigns of Amanda Pohl (Senate District 11), Joshua Cole (House District 28), and Qasim Rashia (Senate District 28).
People for the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. They encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more here.
Photos at top: Alec Baldwin delivers pizzas; Dan Helmer addresses supporters.
Susan Laume is a member of the Springfield District Democratic Committee and a director of the NoVA Coalition for Animals. With her dog, she works as a therapy dog team.