MARK IN THE NEWS
Watch my kickoff speech!
Video: Del. Mark Levine –
History Proves 2019 Virginia Elections Are the Key to American Democracy After 2020
Blue Virginia
Learn about the Rainbow Democrats Extravaganza.
Rainbow Fundraiser Reminds
Virginia That Elections Matter
Falls Church News-Press
Watch me on FOX & Friends!
Defending Joe Biden
Reminding Fox Viewers that Americans are Suffering Economically Under Trump
Listen to a snippet on the radio as I discuss local business.
A 30-second interview on Lost Boy Cider's arrival in Alexandria
WMAL
Read a Letter to the Editor from a constituent.
Your Views: Sewers were an unfunded mandate
Alexandria Times
CONTACT MARK
On the website,
via email,
on Facebook,
or on Twitter.
Or by mail and phone:
Richmond Office:
Pocahontas Building
900 East Main Street, Suite E208
Richmond, VA 23219
804.698.1045
Alexandria Office:
301 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
571.234.8481
This Memorial Day, let us rededicate ourselves to increase our own devotion to honor the members of the military who, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, "gave the last full measure of devotion" in service to our country. Let us reflect with gratitude on how they made the ultimate sacrifice and work toward doing the utmost to prevent lives from being unnecessarily lost in the present or in the future.
I am honored to represent so many service members, veterans, and service families. Please join me this morning at 11 am at the Captain Rocky Versace and Vietnam Veterans Memorial outside the Mount Vernon Recreation Center at 2701 Commonwealth Avenue for a special Memorial Day service.
As we honor those who lost their lives, may we also cherish all those wounded warriors who gave our country everything they could and then some more. May we also celebrate those who remain abroad, separated from their families and wondering when they'll be able to return home. Let us give special thanks to those who, despite being banned by prejudice from serving openly (see below), still sacrifice themselves in putting service before self.
Wishing everyone a thoughtful and reflective Memorial Day.
THREE DAYS AWAY:
This THURSDAY, May 30
My Rainbow Democrats Extravaganza!
All Democrats and the entire Rainbow community are invited to my annual LGBT+ talent show,
an evening of humor and song, storytelling and karaoke, partying and politics.
With our Progressive Majority, we will finally pass the anti-discrimination bills that failed every Session I've served in the General Assembly.
So you'll hear from Don Davenport, who was in the Stonewall Inn on that fateful day
police invaded to arrest the patrons and the patrons (many in drag) fought back.
And of course your standard mix of lesbian comediennes, trans rock and rollers,
gay singers, and personal coming out stories (including my own!)
We're putting on a fabulous show!
Give more than the minimum to get special gifts, like pocket US and Virginia Constitutions.
Speaking Truth to Fox Viewers
Click videos to watch
Defending Joe Biden on Fox and Friends
Some of my liberal friends tell me that when progressives go on Fox News, it legitimizes the famously biased pro-Trump propaganda channel.
I disagree. While I do understand why the Democratic National Committee prefers unbiased channels for its primary debates, I don't think if I personally refused to go on Fox, it would change the nature or prejudice of Rupert Murdoch's notoriously conservative disinformation channel.
Instead, I prefer to use whatever limited time they give me to call out lies on their platform. It's a very large platform. And I believe there is at least some small percentage of Fox News viewers who actually do have the capacity to listen to what I say and respond to facts and reason.
I've attached two recent examples, the first in defense of Joe Biden and the second making clear that all is not rosy under Trumponomics. How do you think I did?
Click the videos to watch.
Reminding Fox Viewers that Democrats Support Economic Policies that Benefit ALL Americans, even those who aren't Millionaires!
The 2019 Summer Alexandria
Metro Shutdown is Upon Us;
Station Platform Renovations Begin
Free Yellow Shuttle (Note it does NOT stop at the Airport)
Free Blue Shuttle (Note it does NOT stop at Braddock Road.)
Enhanced Metrobus
Other Regional Transportation
Defending Transgender Americans
from the Executive Branch
of the Federal Government
In 2018, Delegate Danica Roem and I stood together as my comprehensive non-discrimination bill on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity went down to a party-line defeat.
In 2019, I presented the only Rainbow-rights measure to get a floor vote in Virginia.
Every single one of the 49 Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates voted against
LGBT bigotry. But every single one of the 51 Republicans voted for bigotry.
So long as Republicans retain their bare majority, bigotry will continue to prevail in Virginia.
Representation matters. I'm proud to serve as an openly gay man. Danica is proud to serve as an openly trans woman.
We must continue to come out unafraid, even in the face of rank prejudice.
We will not hide who we are any longer.
We shouldn't have to hide at all in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Monthly Meetup Next Sunday
Mark your calendars for next weekend, Sunday, June 2, at 2 pm for my monthly meetup at Los Tios in Del Ray. Let's talk about what matters to you.
Tuesday, June 11 is Primary Day
Early voting has already begun!
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As you know, unlike most other states, Virginia has elections in June and November every single year. Primary day -- Tuesday, June 11 -- is right around the corner.
And early voting has already begun. In-person absentee voting for the June 11, 2019 Democratic Primary Election continues through Saturday, June 8.
Click links below to learn more about how to vote early in your jurisdiction:
Alexandria early voting information
Arlington County early voting information
Fairfax County early voting information
These primary elections may very well decide who becomes the next general election winner in each of these jurisdictions. So please get out and vote!
I have made endorsements in some of the races in the three jurisdictions I'm proud to represent.
In Alexandria, I support Greg Parks for Clerk of Court.
In Arlington, I support Parisa Dehghani-Tafti for Commonwealth's Attorney and
Barbara Favola for State Senator.
In Fairfax County, I support Steve Descano for Commonwealth Attorney,
Jennifer Boysko for State Senate, and Kelly Hebron for Lee District Supervisor.
Read my next newsletter to find out why.
Making a Difference...
Starting with this newsletter, we are introducing a new segment which will feature constituents and other Virginians we have helped on a specific issue.
Folks who attended my Campaign Kickoff heard stories from three different families about my work to prevent elder abuse and reform our guardianship laws to make sure people deemed mentally incapacitated can still spend time with their loved ones. If you attended, you surely remember my constituent Mike Jacobs' emotional story of being prevented from seeing his life partner Jane for years as she fell into the depths of Alzheimer's.
If you missed the Kickoff, you can watch their testimonials by clicking below.
Click above to watch testimony about my work to prevent elder abuse by guardians.
I will continue to fight for legislation to rein in guardian abuse and protect the right of people with dementia to see their loved ones.
But, in the meantime, I am happy to report one major success for my constituent Mike Jacobs. This week, after almost two years of being separated from Jane Lopez, his life partner of fourteen years who suffers from dementia, Mike was finally able to see his long-lost love. We will continue to push Jane's guardian to give Mike regular visitation with the woman who called him "the only man I've ever loved."
Mike and Jane, together for the first time in nearly two years!
In the Community
Speaking at the Commonwealth Transportation Board meeting in support of allowing Arlington County to change the name of Jefferson Davis Highway to Richmond Highway.
United Way's Senior Walk took place on a beautiful day for a beautiful cause: fighting homelessness.
At the Arlington County Democratic Committee's Blue Arlington dinner.
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At the announcement of Lost Boy Cider coming to Alexandria.
Supporting Greg Parks for Alexandria Clerk of Court.
At the NOVA Labor dinner with fellow Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy.
Proud of my constituents and friends, Russ Wiley and Russ Davis, who were honored at the NOVA Labor dinner for their grassroots political activism in support of working people.
Strategizing with Ben Hoyne of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy about how to build support for my legislation that gives localities the authority to raise their minimum wages.
Meeting with a group of folks at last month's Mark's Monthly Meetup.
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At the Shirlington Spring Artisans Market. Great works on display and for sale!
At the Fairfax Labor lunch with union organizers and fellow pro-labor elected officials.
Teaching effective civic action with TC Williams students who asked me about the best way to fight conversion therapy.
Meeting with officials from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
and Arlington County to discuss monitoring wells installed at Fairlington Glen
and the next steps to be taken to protect the community's environmental health.
Upcoming Events
Please Join Me!
Monday, May 27
555 23rd St. S., Arlington
2615 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria
every one of the 23 polling locations
in every one of the 23 precincts
It is always my honor and privilege to serve you.
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Delegate Mark Levine
Serving Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax in Virginia's 45th District