History was made in several races during the 2017 off-year elections, with minorities, first-timers, and other under-represented candidates winning their campaigns. But it was no easy feat. Some hopefuls were hit with racial epithets and discriminatory advertisements before they won.
And for them, victory sent a clear message: our state is not a state of hate.
At least this was Virginia’s delegate-elect Elizabeth Guzman’s reaction. She and Hala Ayala this year became the first two Latinas ever elected to the state's House of Delegates. In an interview with Cheddar on Tuesday, Guzman said that many Republicans were mimicking the anti-immigration rhetoric exhibited by President Donald Trump. In her case, her opponent accused her of wanting to protect criminals.
“I think it was a huge response from Virginia to Washington, D.C., and also to Richmond, and Prince William County,” she said about winning. “We are not a state of hate. We are a state that is diverse, and we are proud of our diversity.”
Guzman, who began campaigning in October 2016, says her children were a motivating factor for her run for office. The public administrator and social worker was already heavily involved in her community. As a delegate, she hopes to encourage Latin children to feel represented and hopes more people with her background run for office in the future.
Cheddar looks ahead to what may be in store for President-elect Joe Biden once he takes office on January 20.
A coronavirus action plan from President-elect Joe Biden centers on a mass vaccination campaign and closer coordination among all levels of government.
President Donald Trump has been impeached by the U.S. House over the violent siege of the Capitol.
U.S. Shadow Representative of the District of Columbia Oye Owolewa spoke to Cheddar about his belief that the recent attack on the Capitol building underlined the need for DC's statehood.
Cheddar's Megan Pratz reflects on the chaotic day of the counting of the electoral votes when the U.S. Capitol building became overrun by rioters.
The U.S. government’s deficit in the first three months of the budget year was a record-breaking $572.9 billion.
Airbnb says it will be blocking and canceling reservations in the Washington, D.C. area during the week of the presidential inauguration.
Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York City will terminate business contracts with President Donald Trump after last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
A look at how President-elect Joe Biden's budgetary concerns will fit in with people's changing perceptions of the federal deficit and deficit spending.
Impeachment ahead, the House will first try Tuesday to push the vice president and Cabinet to act even more quickly to remove President Donald Trump from office.
