Jasmine Moawad-Barrientos

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Jasmine Moawad-Barrientos

Independent

Jasmine Moawad-Barrientos (independent) ran for election to the Virginia State Senate to represent District 13. Moawad-Barrientos did not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 5, 2019.

Moawad-Barrientos completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2019

See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2019

General election

General election for Virginia State Senate District 13

John Bell defeated Geary Higgins in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 13 on November 5, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Bell (D)	54.3	44,762
		Geary Higgins (R)	45.6	37,645
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	95

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 82,502
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jasmine Moawad-Barrientos (Independent)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 13

Geary Higgins defeated Ron Meyer Jr. in the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 13 on June 11, 2019.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Geary Higgins	65.3	6,609
	Submit photo	Ron Meyer Jr.	34.5	3,486
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	21

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,116
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2019

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jasmine Moawad-Barrientos completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Moawad-Barrientos' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Women protection ,Education,( implementation of IB programs in Loudoun county passing legislation against bullying prevention in children,including hate crimes and transportation eliminating the toll road on 267 Dulles airport pushing alternative roads and pushing legislation that would also eliminate the cost of expensive fines for crossing toll roads without the sufficient resources.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm passionate about civil rights and passing legislation that has the people's choice over the parties

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I'm an immigrant and I looked up to my grandfather the former president of Bolivia, Rene Barrientos but furthermore, I look after up to father who fought to abolish communism in the cold war in United States of America under NATO.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I wrote many articles under my name that were published at the University of Law in Arkansas explaining Sharia laws and the rule of law ,and also at Huffington post for civil and immigrants rights and passing legislation against bullying in schools.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity and Independency, no candidate should bend over an interest of a party but the interest of the people. We are elected by the people not by the parties.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Experience in working for four years passing legislation with my political action committee.

Experience in law and immigration.
Serving as Americorps for two consecutive years.
Owner of three businesses, two internationally recognized.
Graduated from the University of Virginia through the School of Sorensen in political leadership.
Certified by Harvard university.
Winner of many recognitions like 40 under 40 Prospanica for my work with vulnerable women and children.

Ted talks speaker and motivator and recently asked for publishing a memoir book.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

When my 15 year old son got bullied, beaten and gun pointed by an off duty FBI agent who act bravado in a children's party exchange, I personally promised him that I will deliver results and justice.

And so I did, because two years later this man got convicted of a crime.

An official is the voice of the community that does not have a voice. officials should offer is the responsibility of delivering results and justice.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I am already the first Latina running for Virginia Senate, I'm also the only women in the ballot, but my legacy is not about me but us,

I would like to show for the first time that people stick and vote for independent thinkers. We are independent voters and make history for the first time in our commonwealth of Virginia. Many more brave people like me, will start running without parties but for their constituents directly without the middle man.

That will be a legacy to show from all of us and an example of determination but furthermore to change now and shift our ideologies.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

911 and the recession aftermath, I think what impacted me and many other people historically

I couldn't believe that many
foriegn ethnicitys we wete becoming victims of a Hate Crime for no reason. Just because we were demonized by some extremists of the Islam, this created and still creates much chaos pain and terror for years to come.

The big bubble, because I owned a bussines and that s how I learned to become an activist for people's rights and not for the corporations.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was a street cleaner assigned to a neighborhood.
I had a son to feed and God was blessing me with a job.

What happened on your most awkward date?

My awkward date , ha, I was walking in Washington DC and my shoe heel got stuck and stick inside those sewer water vents and I trip and i fall down and I said to him ,, please call the ambulance"

I think I broke my knee!!!

The ambulance was never called I was picked up

But really this was just intentional ,wink wink .

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

I like Christmas eve and Ramadan , people get together and celebrate the love of humanity without being judgemental.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The greatest salesman in the world by Og Mandino , I read it when I was 10 years old and I still open it up till now when I feel discouraged.
I also like to get courage when in campaigns trough the encouragement of the writing of Dr.Martin Luther King.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Wonder woman but the one from the 70s, with the American costume red white and blue, she is the personification of the uncorrupted justice seeker and I am like her as many women.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

I love wine with cheese and olives , coffee mostly espresso and my favorite hookah to smoke our tobacco.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Despacito, I think is a bit catchy, and is mostly playing around the World in different languages, it makes me feel home when I'm around the world.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Everything was a struggle in my life , but I have always come back triumphantly, as an immigrant, and even before, I was cared and raised the most of my teenage years by three wonderful men, my father my uncle and my grandfather. since they were men, I couldn't tell them many things myself.

Then I migrated here and I had to learn a different language and a different system. Respect the laws and judicial system ,therefore I made mistakes and I did struggle.
I paid my education with lots of efforts and it was an struggle.
I have realized medicine was very expensive here whereas other parts of the world and sometimes I got sick and stayed home afraid to go to the doctor unable to afford the bill.
I got in a car accident I was in coma and in a wheelchair for months depressed and with narcotics for the pain for months.
I finally found my son almost getting killed by an off duty FBI agent for no reason .

So in every step of the way I have learned to stand up ,fight learn not to give up and be strong like I have always say " if you can't be resilient be resistant "

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The legislative chambers are a challenge, definitely, when we have legislators talking things in the past that do not apply nowadays because they are not representing the real communities due to their age mostly seniors I respect their gray hair but and their service but it becomes really tedious and is a slow process that most of us are not used to it between cameras and some legislation that is considered priority because of the big donors behind (money and politics).

Also there is a sickening party stagnation which doesn't let anyone go anywhere.

Much waste of time that could be fixed with independent candidates.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Absolutely, experienced in serving the community not robbing the country.

Some legislators have experience in receiving the big checks and pushing legislation on favor of those with big money ,meanwhile the people has to suffer the consequences ignoring completely what's going on, all in a sudden they got hammered by toll roads or traffic tickets and don't even know where to go and complain.

Those legislators have to leave and be replaced by people with experience in protecting the community, with experience in legislation, public service ,the real heroes, the ones that show like me thirteen years of advocacy for communities.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

The labor union getting extinguished and gerrymandered territories.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

Our governor in Virginia is not a person that can do much, however the relationship with the legislative body and our governor Ralph Northam has been enduring,some chaos per se lately

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Of course we should always build relationships with uncorrupted leaders whether they are legislating or not ,this will clean our assembly in years to come.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Communities are basic units of decision, this process should be transparent and reflective of the changes of the specific district.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Almost four years ago I created my own PAC in which we push legislation in favor of vulnerable people.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I have to be grateful for the role of Elizabeth Guzman the first Latina elected as representative in Virginia did to all of us ,as a woman and as a community.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

The future ahold in politics tends to be uncertain, what is certainly in my future is that I want to empower women to run for office whether I'm in a political chair or as Chair of my nonprofit organization.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have this wonderful inspirational stories while I'm campaigning.

My story resonates and resembles with everyone,
Is the story of becoming free .
If you can't drive in traffic with peace of mind because you are afraid of being pulled over and be racial profiled?
Are you truly free.
If your children can't access to higher education because many universities are becoming unbelievably expensive , are you truly free?
When you get sick and feel that you should call for a naturist friend for some herbs and placebos so you avoid paying a doctor or expensive medication
Are you truly free?
When you send to your children to an school scared if he or she will come back alive .
Are you truly free?
We are the number one country in the world for incarceration and gun violence, but we used to be the number one country in the world for prosperity.
Living in fear, unhealthy or unhappy is not quality of life.
Let us wake up, I can change it.

Vote for an independent thinker.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2019 Elections

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Footnotes

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Current members of the Virginia State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Scott Surovell

Minority Leader:Ryan McDougle

Senators

District 1

Timmy French (R)

District 2

Mark Obenshain (R)

District 3

Chris Head (R)

District 4

David Suetterlein (R)

District 5

Travis Hackworth (R)

District 6

Todd Pillion (R)

District 7

Bill Stanley (R)

District 8

Mark Peake (R)

District 9

Tammy Mulchi (R)

District 10

Luther Cifers (R)

District 11

Creigh Deeds (D)

District 12

Glen Sturtevant (R)

District 13

Lashrecse Aird (D)

District 14

Lamont Bagby (D)

District 15

Ghazala Hashmi (D)

District 16

Schuyler VanValkenburg (D)

District 17

Emily Jordan (R)

District 18

Louise Lucas (D)

District 19

Christie Craig (R)

District 20

Bill DeSteph (R)

District 21

Angelia Graves (D)

District 22

Aaron Rouse (D)

District 23

Mamie Locke (D)

District 24

J.D. Diggs (R)

District 25

Richard Stuart (R)

District 26

Ryan McDougle (R)

District 27

Tara Durant (R)

District 28

Bryce Reeves (R)

District 29

Jeremy McPike (D)

District 30

Danica Roem (D)

District 31

Russet Perry (D)

District 32

Kannan Srinivasan (D)

District 33

Jennifer Carroll Foy (D)

District 34

Scott Surovell (D)

District 35

Dave Marsden (D)

District 36

Stella Pekarsky (D)

District 37

Saddam Salim (D)

District 38

Jennifer Boysko (D)

District 39

Adam Ebbin (D)

District 40

Barbara Favola (D)

Democratic Party (21)

Republican Party (19)