Monica Gary
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Monica Gary (independent) ran for election to the Virginia State Senate to represent District 27. She lost in the general election on November 7, 2023.
Gary completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Monica Gary was born in Falls Church, Virginia. She earned a bachelor's degree from the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in 2021. Her career experience includes working as a supervisor.[1]
Elections
2023
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2023
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 27
Tara Durant defeated Joel Griffin and Monica Gary in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 27 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tara Durant (R) | 48.1 | 34,180 |
 | Joel Griffin (D) | 46.3 | 32,927 | |
 | Monica Gary (Independent)  | 4.6 | 3,282 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 653 | ||
| Total votes: 71,042 | |||
| = 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 27
Joel Griffin defeated Ben Litchfield in the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 27 on June 20, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joel Griffin | 59.9 | 6,331 |
 | Ben Litchfield | 40.1 | 4,239 | |
| Total votes: 10,570 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 27
Tara Durant defeated Matt Strickland in the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 27 on June 20, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tara Durant | 57.0 | 8,066 |
 | Matt Strickland | 43.0 | 6,094 | |
| Total votes: 14,160 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gary in this election.
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Monica Gary completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gary's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a native Virginian, wife of a Marine Corps veteran, mother of seven children, and Stafford County Supervisor for the Aquia District. My three adult sons now serve in the USMC and the Army.
As a child, my family depended heavily on government assistance for basic needs such as food, housing and medical care. I had my first son when I was seventeen and difficult life circumstances made me vulnerable to an abusive relationship and ultimately trafficking. As a result, I worked in strip clubs for several years. I was able to leave that situation in part because I had access to abortion. I care deeply about protecting those freedoms and I have compassion for people who have endured the procedure like myself. It took many years for me to heal from that experience. I have over a decade of experience in ministry as well as my Theology degree and am currently earning my Master of Divinity at the John Leland Center for Theological studies. I became active in politics when COVID hit, and I saw the turmoil in our community coupled with a lack of wisdom from our elected officials.
- Reproductive Rights
- Funding Education
- Campaign Finance and Election reform
Reproductive rights are incredibly important to me because having access to abortion allowed me to leave my trafficker and build a new life. I am also passionate about economic opportunity for all, including the ability to participate in politics and run for office. Presently, it is cost restrictive for most people who are not wealthy to run for public office, and voters are also stuck with the "lesser of two evils" because those in power perpetuate a system that serves the two parties rather than the people. Despite my family's poverty, I had access to a wonderful public education in Fairfax County and I want every child to have the same and better opportunities. All of my children attend public school in Stafford County. I have worked tirelessly to fund public education, and succeeded, during my time on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. Public education needs record investment, particularly in the arts and educator pay. I will fight against any attempt to pull funding from public education for "school choice" vouchers.
I look up to principles. I admire anyone who embodies truth and compassion.
Any readings on Deitrich Bonhoeffer. His life and revolt against nationalism is inspirational to me, It keeps first things first, with people and justice at the center.
Honesty, compassion, and wisdom to know when to flip a table.
While earning my degree, I was a stay-at-home mother for almost two decade and in ministry for one. My passion is for servant leadership. I understand the slow work that it takes to cultivate good things in policy and in people. I have the endurance and vision to bring a healthier way of governing that we desperately need.
To be accessible and responsive to the needs of the public. Also, to be proactive and create sustainable legislation that will not be overturned with a change in the legislature.
I try to leave everything, and everyone, better than I found it/them. There is a trail of grace through my life that has sustained me, and I want to leave that in the lives of others.
My first job was at Trak Auto. I worked there for about six months.
Tax the Rich by Morris Pearl, Erica Payne and the Patriotic Millionaires. It is a book that we should all read if we want to understand the influence of money and private corporations on our government.
How Sweet It Is by Marvin Gaye. My husband bought me a balloon that played it when tapped and I love that song.
I am committed to personal growth, and I have had many struggles. The most important is that I continue to improve and grow as a person. I have much to learn from the experiences of people around me and I am deeply committed to continuing the deconstruction of my own worldview for a fuller understanding of humanity.
Representatives, particularly in my state of Virginia during this current administration under Youngkin, have taken to supporting whatever the Governor's agenda is instead of truly representing their constituents' interests. The relationship between the legislature and the Governor should not be so. It ought to be professional with respect for the offices held, but also allow room for criticism and improvement of the systems to better serve the people who put them there.
Codifying reproductive rights and funding education. Our workforce is not yet strong enough to handle the mental health crisis or allow local economies to thrive. We need to generate revenue by setting up an equitable retail market for cannabis and also protect the environment by partnering with localities to invest in sustainable development plans, particularly to aid in planning for data centers and solar.
Absolutely. I am the most qualified because have served on the Board in Stafford County. I don't know how anyone could adequately do this job without having at least local experience first.
A successful organization has collaboration as well as challenges. Legislating is all about relationships. I have worked hard to build and maintain those relationships, even with my competitors throughout the campaign. I want to ensure that the people I represent are always in the best position possible to get help when needed and those relationships allow me to serve them well.
Not at this time.
There is a young couple in Fredericksburg who I met while knocking on doors. They had worked hard together to get their first place to live and had previously been unhoused. Now they continue to work around the clock to make a better life for their young daughter. I want ot make is easier for people like them to achieve their dreams and provide for their families.
Absolutely, but compromise on an issue should never entail compromise on principle. If that is the cost, it is too high. Compromise should never be at the expense of the wellbeing of the people I serve,
The bill to codify Reproductive Rights and reduce he requirement of doctors' opinions from three to two for later term care.
Endorsements mostly from community leaders. Our campaign is grassroots. Endorsements by other organizations have been difficult to acquire as they are often pledged to Partisan candidates and I am independent.
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
2023 Elections
External links
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Candidate Virginia State Senate District 27 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 10, 2023
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
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
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
District 33
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)
