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Laura Sellers
Laura Sellers (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Virginia State Senate to represent District 28. Sellers lost in the Democratic primary on June 11, 2019.
Sellers 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 28
Incumbent Richard Stuart defeated Qasim Rashid in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 28 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Richard Stuart (R) | 57.5 | 40,193 |
 | Qasim Rashid (D) | 42.5 | 29,696 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 60 | ||
| Total votes: 69,949 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 28
Qasim Rashid defeated Laura Sellers in the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 28 on June 11, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Qasim Rashid | 59.1 | 3,302 |
| Laura Sellers | 40.4 | 2,256 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 25 | ||
| Total votes: 5,583 | |||
| = 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
Laura Sellers completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sellers' responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Education; Transportation; Access to healthcare
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Over the course of this campaign, I have found myself becoming extremely passionate about rural Virginia. Rural Virginia is not experiencing the same levels of success as other areas. Poverty, drugs, and other social issues not only drain them economically, it is draining them spiritually. Their schools are falling apart, teachers leaving and more younger people are choosing against returning home. They do not feel they have a voice and they do not feel they are seen. I want rural Virginia to know they have an ally in me, which is why I am talking about issues related to accessing healthcare, not simply expanding it. I want to bring attention to struggling rural economies and bring attention to the fact that while a lot of Virginians earn a lot of money, an even larger portion of the population struggles every day. We need to focus economic development programs toward struggling rural areas. Instead of taking trips to China looking for a manufacturing company, why not look in rural Virginia and see if we can invest in a struggling Virginia owned company. I am passionate about every day people, doing every day things.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to my parents and, particularly my mother. My paternal grandfather died a few weeks after returning home from Vietnam. At that time, they diagnosed him with lung cancer but today his diagnose would be injuries related to agent orange. At 9 years old, my mother watched her father die a slow painful death and from that moment forward she raised an alcoholic and abusive mother. Her and my father met in high school welcoming my older sister into the world at 17 and 18 - they married a few months later. Prior to joining the Air Force, my parents lived in government housing while working two jobs each and attending college. When my father left for basic training, he was told to eat at a buffet for a few days and to not use the restaurant when weighing in out of fear he would be underweight. In their 28 years of marriage, my parents have raised four daughters all with graduate level educations and all working daily to change the world. They have traveled the nation living in seven different states and with my dad deploying while two of us were teenagers. Through everything in life my parents have raised us to always choose kindness, to apologize when you hurt someone, work hard, say thank you, show up, do your best, and that never ever give up! Throughout my life, our family has welcomed strangers into our home simply because they needed a place to stay. When asked if my mother worried about something bad happening, my mother would say everything in our house can be replaced so as long as we were alive, we were fine. My parents are my role models. They are kind and forgiving, loving and supportive. Even though things were not always easy, they kept pushing ahead and kept giving back.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
Brene Brown's Dare to Lead
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Kindness, humility, and integrity.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am a clinically trained social worker who catches spies for a living. I have seen people at their best and at their worst. I've been in good neighborhoods and bad. Nothing really scares me and I am programmed to never give up! The stakes are too high and the lives are too important.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
I think the most important role of any elected official is their ability to empower others. I am an expert in why people spy and mental health. I am not an expert on everything else. For this reason, I found it better to find places to empower others to become their own advocate by placing them on committees or inviting them to participate in something they truly care about. Additionally, I believe it will be my role to help build the bench for future democratic legislators and elected officials by unleashing their inner badass and making sure their experience is positive.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I hope people remember me for the way I treat others. Laws, budgets and programs change with time but making sure people feel seen is extremely important to me.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I grew up military so I have more than just one... I was in the 8th grade when the Columbine massacre happened. I vividly remember having to either carry a transparent back pack or none at all throughout high school. In 9th grade, my backdoor neighbor was killed on the U.S.S. Cole, which was the first time I ever knew someone killed in battle. In 10th grade, we lived through hurricane Floyd in eastern North Carolina. In 11th grade, September 11. By 12th grade, we lived in Stafford, Virginia so we lived through the D.C. Sniper, my aunt killed herself, and then our country went to war. I've had quite a few experiences that have left lasting memories on my life.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
McDonald's in front of North Stafford High School in Stafford, VA. I worked there a year or so in high school.
What happened on your most awkward date?
My date told me his dream job was to be a porn star.... Needless to say, there was not a second date.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
I love every holiday!!!! Birthdays are definitely among my favorite. For my son's birthday, we start his morning with flowers, balloons and (a new tradition) an ice cream sundae from Duck Donuts for breakfast - you only live once!
What is your favorite book? Why?
Tuck Everlasting. Moving around so made learning to read very difficult for me. In 2nd grade, my teacher realized I couldn't read so I went to tutoring and used "hooked on phonics" to learn to read. The first book I ever read cover to cover was Tuck Everlasting.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Mary Poppins. For one, her bag is absolutely amazing. More importantly, she shows the importance of imagination and play while showing the importance of dedication and work. Our country and world could benefit from someone like Mary Poppins.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My son's artwork. I've been framing his artwork since he was in preschool and it always make me smile.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
"Hard to say I'm Sorry" by Az Yet
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Putting my own needs behind the needs of everyone else.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
Senators have an opportunity to touch more issues. Committees are divided by 40 people instead of 100.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes. Spending four years as a locally elected official gives me a policy foundation that my opponent (in the primary) and any future opponent cannot touch. I can discuss everything from zoning ordinances impacting signs or flags on personal property all the way up to securing funding for a road or jail. Not to mention, serving in local government forces a person to get along with others. As the only democrat on a seven member board, I did not have the luxury of playing partisan politics. Playing partisan politics would have left me unsuccessful and would have been a huge disadvantage to my constituents and district. I learned very quickly how to build bridges between myself and my colleagues, which provided myself and my district a lot of success.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
The budget. Virginia's budget is plagued with set asides and political earmarks that seek to undermine every program throughout the state. I would say gerrymandering is a close second. While the republicans have been in power for awhile, the democrats in office were not shy to make sure they benefited from the gerrymandering of districts too. We need to get the gerrymandering under control.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
The governor establishes a vision and the legislature need to work together to fund and promote that vision.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Yes. Quite simply, you never know when you will need a vote but as a locally elected official, we found ourselves in the middle of some very tough times. Had we not made a concerted effort to get to know each other personally, we would not have had so much success. As a board, we found a way to actually enjoy each other's company, which other localities throughout the state often commented on and wanted to be part of.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I would commission a university or community college to conduct the study, present the options and then have the elected body vote on it.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Honestly, I want the committees that no one else wants. In local government, I found the committees people didn't want were the ones with the greatest potential for making a difference!
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
Not exactly. I want to represent the people of the 28th district and I do not want to take on any role or position that would jeopardize my ability to be a true advocate for the people I represent.
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Interestingly enough, the legislator I most respect in Richmond is the one I am in a primary to challenge in the general election- Richard Stuart. Senator Stuart was a great ally of mine while I served in local government. I truly believe he cares and wants to make a positive impact on our community; however, I do not feel he takes enough initiative. The 28th Senate district represents a large area. We are just south of Northern Virginia and just north of Richmond so many of our constituents do not feel the impact of all the things happening in Virginia. For example, the expansion of medicaid brought health insurance to hundreds of thousands of Virginians. For the first time, many people carry an insurance card. Unfortunately for those of us outside of a metro area, we cannot use the insurance because the providers do not accept medicaid. For them, having a card that they have no where to use it is almost worse. Additionally, they feel left out because no one consider the enormous access issues found in rural Virginia.
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
Yes. I would like to eventually represent the Commonwealth of Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
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?
First was when a women told me that she didn't even know she had a state senator because he never returned her phone calls. The second came from a teacher describing how she and her children stay at the school until very late sometimes because she cannot afford to pay for internet.
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
