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Michael Wade
Michael Wade (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 91. Wade lost in the Democratic primary on June 11, 2019.
Wade was a 2017 Democratic candidate for District 91 of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Biography
Wade's professional experience includes working in information technology. He has attended Old Dominion University in pursuit of a B.S. in computer science.[1]
Elections
2019
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 91
Martha Mugler defeated Colleen Holcomb in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 91 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Martha Mugler (D) | 54.7 | 11,535 |
 | Colleen Holcomb (R) | 45.0 | 9,487 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 49 | ||
| Total votes: 21,071 | |||
 = 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 House of Delegates District 91
Martha Mugler defeated Michael Wade in the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 91 on June 11, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Martha Mugler | 68.6 | 2,576 |
 | Michael Wade | 31.3 | 1,174 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 5 | ||
| Total votes: 3,755 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2017
General election
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2017. All 100 house seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for primary election candidates was March 30, 2017. The filing deadline for non-party candidates and candidates nominated by methods other than a primary was June 13, 2017.[2] Incumbent Gordon Helsel (R) defeated Michael Wade (D) in the Virginia House of Delegates District 91 general election.[3]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 91 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Gordon Helsel Incumbent |
56.32% | 13,877 | |
| Democratic | Michael Wade | 43.68% | 10,764 | |
| Total Votes | 24,641 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
Democratic primary election
Michael Wade ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 91 Democratic primary.[4]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 91 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Michael Wade | ||
Republican primary election
Incumbent Gordon Helsel ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 91 Republican primary.[5]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 91 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Gordon Helsel Incumbent | ||
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Wade did not complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Ballotpedia candidate survey
Wade participated in a survey created by Ballotpedia. The survey was designed to let our readers know more about the candidates and feel confident that they are voting for the best person to represent them. The survey questions appear bolded, and Wade's responses follow below.
| “ | I believe that a state legislator is responsible for serving the interests of his or her entire community, not just large special interests and wealthy donors. Working at the state level allows for local influences to guide our approach to politics. If elected, I will ensure that the 91st District is represented in full.[6] | ” |
| —Michael Wade | ||
| “ | I believe that the state must enforce reasonable and responsible policies that allow all citizens to be economically stable. By increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour, working-class Americans will be better prepared for life's challenges and provide their families dependable resources. I am confident that these tactics will allow us to rebuild the middle class, who have been on the short end of economic growth for too long.[6] | ” |
| —Michael Wade | ||
| “ | The state legislature must fight to preserve the resources that have sustained our communities. Without a healthy environment, our businesses will not be able to operate to full potential. Though some might suggest that sacrificing our land in the name of economic advancement might be an acceptable approach, I believe that we must have the foresight to provide for the next generation of Virginians.[6] | ” |
| —Michael Wade | ||
Candidate website
Wade’s campaign website highlighted the following issues:[7]
| “ |
Health Care Medicaid Expansion: Too many Virginians still struggle to afford quality health insurance, and this is clearly a moral issue. In Virginia, our ability to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has been hampered by the Republicans in control of the General Assembly. In our district alone, 1500 people could gain coverage if we expanded Medicaid. This year, I believe we have a narrow window in which we can gain control of the State Senate and the House of Delegates. On this issue, it comes down to votes in the legislature - you can count on me to vote “yes” on Medicaid expansion and bring affordable care to 400,000 of our fellow Virginians. Women’s Health: I recognize the importance of protecting a woman’s right to choose, and I will stand firm against efforts to restrict access to women’s health care. Opioids:
We must fight the opioid epidemic with thoughtful, ethical policy. That means treating this disaster as a public health crisis, not as an excuse to implement harsh "tough-on-crime" laws. Environment Climate Change on the Coast: The Republican Party has spent many years denying the collective voice of the scientific community on the issue of climate change. We can’t allow that kind of distortion here, because Hampton Roads is especially vulnerable. When hurricanes invade this region, we rely on barrier islands and coastal salt marshes to protect us from storm surge. Rising sea levels caused by human-induced warming of the Earth weaken those vital protections. That's why it is crucial that we prepare our coastal communities to cope with future floods. Outside of the borders of the 91st, climate change poses an army of threats across the globe, including drought, food shortage, and ecological ruin. As your delegate, I will champion the development of renewable energy, I will work to preserve our marshes, and I will do all I can to keep Virginia in the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of states determined to abide by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, regardless of what Donald Trump wants. Protecting the Chesapeake Bay:
Our beloved estuary is getting healthier: according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s 2017 report, the Bay improved to a grade of C- this year. That’s not good enough, however. The challenges of pollution and economic development remain. The General Assembly must provide all possible resources to continue improving the Chesapeake Bay, because the Bay matters to residents, watermen, tourists, and all of us who appreciate its beauty. Economy Solar Energy: Right now, Virginia is lagging behind our neighbors when it comes to developing solar energy jobs. Let’s not let North Carolina and Maryland beat us at clean energy. I will work to foster the development of solar energy and secure a clean and efficient energy future. Fight for $15: Virginia workers deserve a raise. I support a living wage of $15 an hour, and I believe that we should index the minimum wage to inflation. This will prevent having to battle this issue year after year. Support for Unions: Unions built this country, and I will always have their back. It is despicable that Republicans in the General Assembly tried to add “right to work” language into the Virginia Constitution last year. Don’t be fooled - “right to work” means “right to work for less.” In Richmond, I will champion the right of workers to organize and collectively bargain. Income Inequality: Virginia is better than most states when it comes to economic inequality. However, that doesn’t mean we’re perfect. In the Commonwealth, the top 1% of households keeps 15% of the total income produced, and that number has been growing since the mid-twentieth century. Here’s what I believe: we need to increase taxes on the super-rich to provide government services, like affordable health care and college, for the benefit of the broader society. Like Tom Perriello spoke about during his campaign, I truly believe that our system doesn’t appropriately organize tax brackets. People in the working and middle class should not pay the same 5.75% tax rate that millionaires and billionaires do. It’s time for a fairer tax code. Family Leave:
We need to implement a guaranteed paid family leave policy in Virginia. Working families have it hard enough - they should be able to spend time with their newborn children. Healthy families will create a healthy society. Fighting Against Hate Racial Justice: I know that Black Lives Matter. It is time for a new generation of leaders to take the wheel and continue the development of racial equality in Virginia. I will be a part of the solution, and that means protecting voting rights, expanding economic and educational opportunity, and supporting law enforcement strategies that respect the rights of all people. Virginia has taken appropriate steps to introduce body cameras for our police officers, and we must accelerate that process. I will always listen to the concerns of the community and do my part to foster a healthy relationship between law enforcement and those they serve. Religious Tolerance:
The 91st District is home to the Peninsula’s only place of worship for Muslim Americans east of Williamsburg. In a time of vilification of Muslims on a national scale, I am committed to preventing that bigotry from spreading in the region that I call home. Honoring Veterans Our community highly values the contributions of our veterans, and rightfully so. To those of you who have served, I will always exhibit reverence and respect for your sacrifices. To the families of our heroes, thank you for all you do to uplift them and the entire community. Homelessness: Thankfully, Governor McAuliffe has led us to become the first state in the Union to provide or offer housing to all veterans. I will pressure leaders in the next administration to continue this success and ensure that all veterans have a place to sleep at night.[6] |
” |
Endorsements
2017
In 2017, Wade’s endorsements included the following:[8]
- AFL-CIO
- NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia[9]
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ michaelwadefordelegate.com, "About Michael," accessed August 31, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Candidacy Requirements for the November 7, 2017 General Election," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 November General Unofficial Results," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Democratic Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Republican Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ michaelwadefordelegate.com,"Issues," accessed AUgust 31, 2017
- ↑ michaelwadefordelegate.com, "Endorsements," accessed August 31, 2017
- ↑ NARAL, "2017 Endorsed House Candidates," accessed August 31, 2017
