Democrats reach historic goal: A full slate in Virginia House races

Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury • May 12, 2025

For the first time in recent memory, Democrats are fielding candidates in all 100 districts, including deep-red turf like the Eastern Shore.

For the first time in recent memory, Virginia Democrats have candidates running in all 100 House of Delegates districts — a milestone party leaders and grassroots organizers say reflects rising momentum as President Donald Trump’s second term continues to galvanize opposition.

Rocco DeBellis, a 57-year-old chef, Bronx native, and Cape Charles resident, filed this week to run in House District 100, making it the final district to be contested and completing the Democrats’ full slate. DeBellis, who runs a catering business and serves as the private chef to TV personality Judith Sheindlin — better known as Judge Judy — is challenging Del. Rob Bloxom, R-Accomack, in a district that spans the Eastern Shore and parts of Virginia Beach.

“Nobody else had put their hat in the ring, so I said, it can’t go uncontested,” DeBellis said. “This guy has to have at least somebody playing a little defense against him. If nobody else is going to step up and do it, I will gladly.”

The decision by DeBellis — who calls himself a Bernie Sanders-style Democrat and critiques what he sees as the outsized influence of corporate power in politics — is emblematic of a broader push by Democrats to compete statewide, even in ruby-red territory.

Trump carried District 100 with 52% of the vote in 2024, and Bloxom defeated Democrat Charlena Jones 60-40% in 2023. The last time a Democrat won the district — three years before the Virginia Supreme Court redrew the maps — was in 2018, when U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine defeated Republican Corey Stewart with 53-47% of the vote.

And this year, some Democratic organizers say they’re refusing to cede any ground.

The full-court press is led in part by Dr. Fergie Reid Jr., a retired physician and longtime political activist who has made it his mission to recruit candidates in every district, especially those overlooked by traditional party infrastructure.

The son of Dr. William Ferguson Reid, the first Black Virginian elected to the General Assembly since Reconstruction, Reid said this milestone holds special meaning in a year when his father, founder of the 90 for 90 Voter Registration Project , celebrated a milestone birthday.

“Dad turned 100 a few weeks ago. There are 100 districts in the state house,” Reid said. “My goal is not to let what happened in 2021 happen again, especially on Dad’s 100th year when he’s watching. He’s been calling me every night to make sure that we get in 100 districts.”

“A unique moment in the future of America”

Four years ago, Democrats had initially recruited candidates in all districts but only ended up fielding nominees in 93 after some dropped out. Reid blames the party for failing to retain them.

“This year, we got 100 districts. And the real reason to have this happen … is that Virginia is the first opportunity for really any state in the United States to answer back to what’s going on in Washington right now,” he said. “It’s going to send a big loud message to the rest of the country and to the world that, yeah, not everybody in America is with Trump.”

Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, who chairs the House Democrats’ campaign efforts, praised the recruitment effort and called it a reflection of the stakes facing the country in 2025.

“This is a unique moment in the future of America in which those who want to preserve our systems of government, our economy, and our freedoms, know they need to step forward,” Helmer said in a phone interview Wednesday.

“We are going to win seats this year. We’re going to hold a majority. We’re going to protect Virginians. We’re going to make sure that we are the bulwark in the storm that is the Trump-Musk administration.”

The historic sweep could also pay off strategically, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington.

“This is a big development from the perspective of turnout,” Farnsworth said. “Even in districts where you’re not going to win, you’re going to help pump up the vote for your party, and that can help statewide candidates.”

After news of DeBellis’ candidacy surfaced online, Loudoun County GOP Chairman Scott Pio voiced his frustration on social media — not at Democrats, but at his own party.

“Oh Look! Democrats competing in every single seat in Virginia. Yet, the Republicans are missing 30 seats,” Pio wrote on X , referencing data from the Virginia Public Access Project showing Republicans fielding candidates in only 70 House races.

Taking aim at GOP leadership, including Republican Party of Virginia Chair Mark Peake, Pio added: “We are headed for disaster in November. It was a campaign promise of mine to contest every single seat in the House. We would have filled every single one of them!!! The RPV does not have their eyes on the prize. Rather just to become famous.”

Party leaders remain at odds with Reid

Despite his effort in putting Democrats ahead of Republicans, Reid’s role hasn’t been without controversy. This cycle alone, he claims credit for recruiting Democratic candidates in 23 Republican-leaning districts and hasn’t hesitated to call out the Democratic Party of Virginia for what he sees as strategic failures. That has sometimes strained relations with party brass.

In a Feb. 8 email obtained by The Mercury, Tina Winkler, a top DPVA official, warned local party leaders to be cautious when dealing with Reid, accusing him of being “harassing and intrusive” and urging that they were “not obligated to take his calls.” She also expressed concerns that he was encouraging some candidates to skip the required petition process.

Reid, in response, refuted the latter as a “flat-out lie,” and defended his efforts. “They like to call it being pushy. I don’t call it that,” he said. “I might be a thorn in the side of folk, but that’s because this exposes the fact that they’re not doing their homework.”

UMW’s Farnsworth, however, said Democrats should recognize Reid’s value.

“Fergie Reid is doing a huge favor for the Democratic Party of Virginia, even if they don’t want to recognize it as such,” he said. “Persuading someone to run in a district that is overwhelmingly supportive of the other party takes some serious energy.”

Asked about Reid’s contributions, Helmer was careful with his words but acknowledged the broader team effort.

“I’m grateful for all of the amazing partners we have, and thankful for all the people who have stepped forward to run,” he said. “We, as a House Democratic caucus, have provided support to more candidates than ever in history, and will continue to do that in order to make sure that we deliver for the people.”

As for DeBellis, the chef-turned-candidate said he’s not running with illusions of flipping the seat easily — but with the conviction that every voter deserves a choice. Raised by a single mother with disabilities, he said he saw firsthand how government aid could make the difference between dependency and independence.

“She got government assistance to get a van so she could go to work and not stay home on welfare,” he said of his mom, who is deceased. “She was my idol, she was a fighter — and she was a Trump supporter for one issue — abortion.”

DeBellis said he doesn’t know much about his opponent Bloxom personally but believes it’s fair to ask what he’s delivered for the district.

“He’s been there for over a decade, and I’m curious as to what have the people gotten from it?” he said. “I’m sure he’s a wonderful man, but I’m just curious — what has he been doing?”

Bloxom notched several bipartisan legislative wins this year.

He sponsored bills to streamline permitting for marine construction projects, shift dredging grant oversight to the Marine Resources Commission, and eliminate redundant state licensing for produce dealers already covered by federal law.

Bloxom also broke with most Republicans in 2024 to support legislation safeguarding same-sex marriage in Virginia.

In a phone interview Wednesday, Bloxom said having a Democratic challenger this year means he’ll need to kick his campaign into gear and begin fundraising.

While redistricting has altered the boundaries of House District 100, Bloxom said the core character of the district remains unchanged, particularly on the Eastern Shore, where local issues often outweigh party politics.

“My experience has been that some of the people who’ve moved here from off the Shore came to learn that we were always more concerned with the Eastern Shore, and it didn’t really matter if you were a Republican or Democrat,” Bloxom said.

“(Former delegate) Lynwood Lewis carried the area for 10 years before me, and he was a Democrat, and my father had it before Lyn, and he was Republican. But some of the people that have moved here in recent years are just so die hard. I mean, you can’t even talk to them.”

DeBellis and his wife Lenore now live full-time in Cape Charles, where she owns a café and he sometimes teaches boxing at the local YMCA. As campaign season heats up, DeBellis said he’s ready to lace up the gloves — politically speaking.

“I think corporate America is greedy,” he said. “They have put us in a position now that we’re in with all these oligarchs running around, and Trump is a disaster for any sense of this. He’s a disaster just as a human being, forget the presidency.”

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Markus Schmidt is an award-winning journalist who covers Virginia politics from the state Capitol in Richmond. His coverage area includes the General Assembly, the executive branch and elections in Virginia.

This article was originally published in Virginia Mercury, which is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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Eastern Shore Delegation: 2025 “Highlights”

By Jared Schablein, Shore Progress • May 13, 2025

Let's talk about our Eastern Shore Delegation, the representatives who are supposed to fight for our nine Shore counties in Annapolis, and what they actually got up to this session.

2025 General Assembly Report: Results for Working Families on the Eastern Shore

By Jared Schablein, Shore Progress • April 22, 2025

The 447th legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly adjourned on April 8. This End of Session Report highlights the work Shore Progress has done to fight for working families and bring real results home to the Shore. Over the 90-day session, lawmakers debated 1,901 bills and passed 878 into law. Shore Progress and members supported legislation that delivers for the Eastern Shore, protecting our environment, expanding access to housing and healthcare, strengthening workers’ rights, and more. Shore Progress Supported Legislation By The Numbers: Over 60 pieces of our backed legislation were passed. Another 15 passed in one Chamber but not the other. Legislation details are below, past the budget section. The 2026 Maryland State Budget How We Got Here: Maryland’s budget problems didn’t start overnight. They began under Governor Larry Hogan. Governor Hogan expanded the state budget yearly but blocked the legislature from moving money around or making common-sense changes. Instead of fixing the structural issues, Hogan used federal covid relief funds to hide the cracks and drained our state’s savings from $5.5 billion to $2.3 billion to boost his image before leaving office. How Trump/Musk Made It Worse: Maryland is facing a new fiscal crisis driven by the Trump–Musk administration, whose trade wars, tariff policies, and deep federal cuts have hit us harder than most, costing the state over 30,000 jobs, shuttering offices, and erasing promised investments. A University of Maryland study estimates Trump’s tariffs alone could cost us $2 billion, and those federal cuts have already added $300 million to our budget deficit. Covid aid gave us a short-term boost and even created a fake surplus under Hogan, but that money is gone, while housing, healthcare, and college prices keep rising. The Trump–Musk White House is only making things worse by slashing funding, gutting services, and eliminating research that Marylanders rely on. How The State Budget Fixes These Issues: This year, Maryland faced a $3 billion budget gap, and the General Assembly fixed it with a smart mix of cuts and fair new revenue, while protecting working families, schools, and health care. The 2025 Budget cuts $1.9 billion ($400 million less than last year) without gutting services people rely on. The General Assembly raised $1.2 billion in fair new revenue, mostly from the wealthiest Marylanders. The Budget ended with a $350 million surplus, plus $2.4 billion saved in the Rainy Day Fund (more than 9% of general fund revenue), which came in $7 million above what the Spending Affordability Committee called for. The budget protects funding for our schools, health care, transit, and public workers. The budget delivers real wins: $800 million more annually for transit and infrastructure, plus $500 million for long-term transportation needs. It invests $9.7 billion in public schools and boosts local education aid by $572.5 million, a 7% increase. If current revenue trends hold, no new taxes will be needed next session. Even better, 94% of Marylanders will see a tax cut or no change, while only the wealthiest 5% will finally pay their fair share. The tax system is smarter now. We’re: Taxing IT and data services like Texas and D.C. do; Raising taxes on cannabis and sports betting, not groceries or medicine; and Letting counties adjust income taxes. The budget also restores critical funding: $122 million for teacher planning $15 million for cancer research $11 million for crime victims $7 million for local business zones, and Continued support for public TV, the arts, and BCCC The budget invests in People with disabilities, with $181 million in services Growing private-sector jobs with $139 million in funding, including $27.5 million for quantum tech, $16 million for the Sunny Day Fund, and $10 million for infrastructure loans. Health care is protected for 1.5 million Marylanders, with $15.6 billion for Medicaid and higher provider pay. Public safety is getting a boost too, with $60 million for victim services, $5.5 million for juvenile services, and $5 million for parole and probation staffing. This budget also tackles climate change with $100 million for clean energy and solar projects, and $200 million in potential ratepayer relief. Public workers get a well-deserved raise, with $200 million in salary increases, including a 1% COLA and ~2.5% raises for union workers. The ultra-wealthy will finally chip in to pay for it: People earning over $750,000 will pay more, Millionaires will pay 6.5%, and Capital gains over $350,000 get a 2% surcharge. Deductions are capped for high earners, but working families can still deduct student loans, medical debt, and donations. This budget is bold, fair, and built to last. That’s why Shore Progress proudly supports it. Click on the arrows below for details in each section.

Speak up for Eastern Neck and NWR System

By Friends of Eastern Neck Board of Directors • April 16, 2025

Let your elected representatives and business and cultural leaders know that our Refuge and others like it all over the country deserve to be protected. They deserve our stewardship for the natural wonders they shelter, and because they provide refuge for people, too.

Letter: These Republicans Are Right — Hogan is Responsible for Maryland’s Budget Deficit

By Elaine McNeil • April 9, 2025

The Budget Deficit In a recent debate on closing Maryland’s budget deficit, Minority Leader Jason Buckel, a Republican delegate from Allegany County, made an important point: “The man upstairs has only been there for two, three years. I don’t blame him for our economic failures of the last 10,” referring to Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, who was elected in 2022. Ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial elections, Buckel’s comments highlight a key reality that many of his Republican colleagues seldom admit: It isn’t right to blame Gov. Moore for a budget deficit that has been brewing for years. Now projected at $3.3 billion, Maryland’s structural deficit is a problem that started long before Moore took office. In fact, it was first projected in 2017, during the tenure of former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan. This isn’t an opinion — it’s a fact that Buckel and other lawmakers, including Republican Del. Jefferson Ghrist, have bravely acknowledged. During that same debate, Ghrist remarked that the Department of Legislative Services had warned about this deficit throughout Hogan’s administration, yet he did little to address it. Ghrist pointed out that during Maryland’s “good years,” when the state received a flood of federal covid-19 relief dollars, spending spiraled without regard for long-term fiscal health. Hogan used these one-time federal funds to support ongoing programs, which masked the true state of Maryland’s finances and created an illusion of fiscal stability. Hogan continues to take credit for the “surplus” Maryland had in 2022 — even though experts repeatedly note it was caused by the influx of federal dollars during the pandemic. As Ghrist correctly observed, the lack of fiscal restraint and slow growth during the Hogan years laid the groundwork for the $3.3 billion structural deficit the state faces today. Indeed, Maryland’s economy has been stagnant since 2017, especially in comparison to its neighboring states, well before Moore took office. Compounding these challenges are President Donald Trump’s reckless layoffs and trade wars with our allies. Thousands of federal workers who live in Maryland are losing their jobs, which will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue. Trump’s tariffs will also put an enormous strain on local businesses, including Eastern Shore farmers, who are now subject to up to 15% retaliatory tariffs on chicken, wheat, soybeans, corn, fruits, and vegetables. FY2026 Budget Considering this grim reality, Maryland’s lawmakers are making difficult, but necessary, decisions to shore up the state’s finances. Gov. Moore and state legislative leaders recently agreed to a budget that prioritizes expanding Maryland’s economy without raising taxes on most residents. In fact, 94% of Marylanders should see either a tax cut or no change at all to their income tax bill under the proposed agreement. Lawmakers also plan to cut government spending by the largest amount in 16 years, while at the same time making targeted investments in emerging industries, such as quantum computing and aerospace defense, so the state is less dependent on federal jobs. While the richest Marylanders might see their income taxes go up, it’s reasonable to ask someone making over $750,000 a year to pay $1,800 more to support law enforcement, strengthen our schools, and grow our economy. As for the proposed tax on data and IT services, these products aren’t subject to Maryland’s sales tax under current law. Maryland leaders want to modernize our tax code by levying a 3% sales tax on these products. Because they don’t raise income taxes on the majority of Marylanders and because state leaders are also cutting spending by billions, these ideas are fair. They’re also necessary after Gov. Hogan chose to kick the can down the road instead of addressing Maryland’s long-predicted deficit and now that Trump’s policies will lay off thousands of Marylanders and his tariffs will hurt our state. By making responsible choices now, Maryland leaders are putting the state on a path to long-term economic stability. Their decisions will help Maryland thrive, create jobs, and invest in the vital services that every resident relies on — without burdening hardworking families. I’m confident Maryland will emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to lead in the industries of tomorrow. Elaine McNeil is chair of the Queen Anne’s Democratic Central Committee.

Fighting the President’s Executive Orders

By John Christie • April 2, 2025

Among Donald Trump’s most recent targets is what he calls “rogue law firms.” At 6pm last Thursday, March 27, he issued an Executive Order (EO) aimed at my old law firm, WilmerHale, as one of those “rogue” firms. Approximately 15 hours later, the firm filed a 63-page complaint challenging the EO on multiple constitutional grounds. The EO is an “unprecedented assault on the bedrock principle that one should not be penalized for merely defending or prosecuting a lawsuit” and constitutes an “undisguised form of retaliation for representing clients and causes Trump disfavors.” And by 8pm on Friday, March 28, a little over 24 hours after the EO was first issued, a federal district court judge in Washington granted a request for a temporary restraining order, blocking key provisions of the EO from taking effect for now. In doing so, the Court found that “the retaliatory nature of the EO is clear from its face. There is no doubt that it chills speech and legal advocacy and qualifies as a constitutional harm.” The Executive Order The EO and a so-called “Fact Sheet” that went with it recites that the Administration is committed to addressing the significant risks associated with law firms, particularly so-called “Big Law” firms that engage in conduct detrimental to critical American interests. Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale) is yet another law firm said to have abandoned the legal profession’s highest ideals and abused its pro bono practice by engaging in activities that “undermine justice and the interests of the United States.” The specific examples offered in support of this conclusion: The EO asserts that WilmerHale “engages in obvious partisan representations to achieve political ends,” an apparent reference to the firm’s representation of Trump’s political opponents — namely the Democratic National Committee and the presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The EO cites WilmerHale’s “egregious conduct” in “supporting efforts to discriminate on the basis of race,” an apparent reference to the firm’s representation of Harvard in the Students for Fair Admissions litigation. The EO accuses WilmerHale of “backing the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes,” an apparent reference to the firm’s litigation related pro bono practice and successful challenges to immigration related policies. The EO accuses WilmerHale of “furthering the degradation of the quality of American elections,” an apparent reference to the film’s involvement in challenges to restrictive state voter-identification and voter-registration laws. The EO singles out certain current and former WilmerHale partners, including Robert Mueller, for special criticism by describing Mr. Mueller’s investigation as “one of the most partisan investigations in American history” and having “weaponized the prosecutorial power to suspend the democratic process and distort justice.” The EO then Revokes security clearances held by WilmerHale attorneys; Prohibits the federal government from hiring WilmerHale employees absent a special waiver; Orders a review and the possible termination of federal contracts with entities that do business with the firm; Calls for the withdrawal of government goods or services from the firm; and Calls for restrictions on the ability of WilmerHale employees to enter federal buildings (presumably including federal courthouses) and on their “engaging” with government employees. WilmerHale’s Complaint WilmerHale engaged Paul Clement, a former Solicitor General during the George W. Bush administration and a well-known advocate frequently representing conservative causes, to represent the firm in this matter. Assisted by some 15 WilmerHale litigators, the complaint names the Executive Office of the President and 48 other Departments, Commissions, and individual Officers in their official capacity as defendants. A variety of constitutional violations are alleged: The First Amendment protects the rights of WilmerHale and its clients to speak freely, and petition the courts and other government institutions without facing retaliation and discrimination by federal officials. The separation of powers limits the President’s role to enforcing the law and no statute or constitutional provision empowers him to unilaterally sanction WilmerHale in this manner. The EO flagrantly violates due process by imposing severe consequences without notice or an opportunity to be heard. The EO violates the right to counsel protected by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments and imposes unconstitutional conditions on federal contracts and expenditures. The complaint alleges that WilmerHale has already suffered irreparable damage in the 16 hours since the EO issued. The firm has been vilified by the most powerful person in the country as a “rogue law firm” that has “engaged in conduct detrimental to critical American interests. The EO will inevitable cause extensive, lasting damage to WilmerHale’s current and future business prospects. The harm to the firm’s reputation will negatively affect its ability to recruit and retain employees. Further Proceedings Temporary restraining orders constitute emergency relief upon a showing of likely success on the merits and irreparable harm were the temporary relief not entered. A later hearing will be held in order for the judge to determine whether a preliminary injunction should be issued preventing the government from executing the EO during the continued length of the litigation. Editorial Note: In light of the recent capitulation of several “Big Law” firms to the unreasonable and unconstitutional attacks by the Trump administration, WilmerHale is providing a blueprint for resistance as it fights back. More law firms need to be inspired by WilmerHale’s response to Trump’s demand for revenge on his so-called political enemies. John Christie was for many years a senior partner in a large Washington, D.C. law firm. He specialized in anti-trust litigation and developed a keen interest in the U.S. Supreme Court about which he lectures and writes.

Remembering Tom Timberman

By Bill Flook & CSES Staff • April 2, 2025

Tom Timberman was one of the founders of Common Sense for the Eastern Shore. Sadly, he died last month. He will be missed. Common Sense exists because of his leadership and inspiration. His vision was to provide factual and timely commentary and analysis on topics that concern people who live and work on Maryland's Eastern Shore, and to provide factual reporting to help readers shape their own lives. It was important to Tom, as it is today to the editorial board, for Common Sense to help voters to be aware of the effects — personal and local — of decisions made at the federal and state levels. Especially relevant now is this from our Mission Statement: “We seek an America responsive to its citizens and its constitution.” We reprint this tribute from Bill Flook, President of the Democratic Club of Kent County : Many of us were deeply saddened to learn of TomTimberman’s passing last week. It’s hard to believe that such a strong Democratic voice is gone. I worked with Tom for much of the past decade on many good projects promoting our values and activities, including helping on his campaign for County Commissioner, and I’ll particularly miss following his lead as Captain of the Dawn Patrol. Our group met most Saturday mornings for coffee and some good chat, before heading up to Dems HQ to set up the booth there. We’ll miss you, Tom!