Johanna Gusman
Johanna Gusman (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 87. Gusman lost in the Democratic primary on June 11, 2019.
Gusman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2019
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 87
Suhas Subramanyam defeated Bill Drennan in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 87 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Suhas Subramanyam (D)  | 62.0 | 17,693 |
 | Bill Drennan (R) | 37.9 | 10,818 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 25 | ||
| Total votes: 28,536 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 87
Suhas Subramanyam defeated Hassan Ahmad, Johanna Gusman, and Akshay Bhamidipati in the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 87 on June 11, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Suhas Subramanyam | 47.0 | 3,052 |
 | Hassan Ahmad | 23.2 | 1,502 | |
 | Johanna Gusman | 18.6 | 1,207 | |
 | Akshay Bhamidipati | 10.8 | 701 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 26 | ||
| Total votes: 6,488 | |||
| = 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
Johanna Gusman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gusman's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Health Care Gun Control Climate Change
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Social justice and fighting inequality in any form. My career has been focused on health, gender and income inequalities, but the patterns of discrimination and exclusion that lead to these inequalities are similar and we know how to stop them. We just need leaders that are brave enough to reform the systems that perpetuate them.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
My parents. They raised me to be who I am today. The very nature of their relationship made them activists, so it’s no wonder that I have become one too. I also joke with people that I work for the United Nations because I am the product of two nations united.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
What an excellent question! Book(s): The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs, Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder (on life of Dr Paul Farmer), Half the Sky by Krisoff and WuDunn, The Good Immigrant (collection of essays) Essay: Why I Write by George Orwell (really any essay by Orwell...), also I read the New Yorker and the Atlantic religiously—so if I knock on your door, tell me your favorite too! Movie: The Motorcycle Diaries (also a book), The Constant Gardener, 13th (Netflix), Planet Earth—I am a documentary junkie.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Trust. You have to believe that the person you vote for will do what they said they would do when they lobbied for your vote. Transparency is a great way to build that trust.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
Authenticity and conviction. I don’t run for office for the ‘fame’ or the paycheck (it’s a part-time, citizen legislator kind of deal). I run for office because I have the genuine desire to represent US and our collective interests in Richmond in order to make our community better. I have the conviction to do what is right in passing laws that help people, not hurt them.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Representing the people and being a voice for the voiceless. When you include the people in the margins, you include everyone.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I want to be a part of the historic legislature that ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) making Virginia the 38th State and sending this issue to Congress once and for all so that women can have fully realized constitutional rights. It will help stop this abortion ban nonsense and bring America into line with the majority of countries around the world. #womensrightsarehumanrights
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
9-11. I was a Senior at Potomac Falls High School, 17 years-old. On a happier note, I also remember electing our first African American President. I was living in New York City at the time interning for Amnesty International after having graduated with my Master’s from Georgetown. We took to the streets dancing and singing. It meant so much to my generation. I was 24 years-old at the time.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Very first job out of college: AmeriCorps Volunteer in Boston. Very first job ever: Camp Counselor for Triple C Ranch Day Camp (who from the community remembers this?)
What happened on your most awkward date?
Haha. Being pulled over by a cop trying to learn how to drive stick-shift in his Shelby Mustang. I was terrible at it.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving. Fall, food and family. Just the best.
What is your favorite book? Why?
This is too tough. I truly have so many. I can probably narrow it to a few authors at least: Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, Virginia Woolf, George Orwell, Margaret Atwood...I have so many! Best latest book I have read as of this year: Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Rani Eddo-Lodge
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Katniss Everdeen
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My collection of street art from all of the places that I have lived around the world (Peru, Argentina, South Africa, the Philipines, Samoa, Egypt, Switzerland, England, etc.) because it brings me joy.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys. Haha. Christmas in summer I guess?
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
When I was four, it suddenly became very difficult for me to walk or use my hands. Doctors did not know what was wrong with me. It was not until I was seven that we learned I had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Being a child with a chronic, incurable autoimmune disease is incredibly difficult. The medication I was given is low-dose chemo drugs. Needless to say, I was aware from a very young age the injustices of the healthcare system. But I also know how to overcome odds and never give up despite what others may say. While I still have rheumatoid arthritis, I have managed my disease with no more chemo drugs and since you’ve seen me on doors, you know I can walk again, haha. So now, let’s fix healthcare.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
Probably all of the issues I plan to lead on, especially gun control and climate change. But we have to learn to talk to one another if we are going to be able solve these complex problems. This is where my international diplomacy skills may actually come in handy at the local level. We have to transcend party politics to do what is best for Virginia and I think ALL voters understand that.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Not really and sometimes it’s better to have the people in office that are not beholden to any particular interests so that they are free to represent everyone.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Climate Change. It’s also our national and global challenge.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
Checks and balances on power.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Absolutely, yes. You legislate together, not alone. It is a major problem how polarized we have become and if we are going to legislate effectively we have to so by working together.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
End gerrymandering. That is the process I favor.
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Jennifer Carroll Foy, Jennifer Wexton, Jennifer Boysko—we’ve got great Jennifers in the Commonwealth!
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
Let’s just get past June 11th—vote for Johanna Gusman! This election is my top priority.
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 had so many good interactions at doors, but on stands out as it was during the week that Alabama passed the most restrictive law since Roe v. Wade. She was scheduled for an abortion the same week that the devastating earthquake hit Southern California and it actually destroyed the clinic she was supposed to visit. Yet even after an earthquake, she was able to get rescheduled and obtain the safe and legal abortion she needed. It matters for women to make the healthcare decisions they need to make. They need control over their reproductive destinies. Full stop.
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
External links
Footnotes
