Roanoke Valley Democratic Women

08/15/2026

This part!!

…. The consequences of our political immaturity are no longer theoretical. While we divide our coalitions and search for perfect candidates, others are patiently redrawing districts, reshaping courts, weakening labor protections, privatizing public institutions, eroding environmental safeguards and rolling back civil and human rights. They are playing the long game. If we continue substituting personality for strategy and impulse for discipline, we should not be surprised if it takes a generation to recover what we surrendered in a single election cycle.

There is still time to choose a different path before November.

Candidates can repair relationships. Elected officials can unite rather than divide. Organizations can collaborate instead of competing. Pastors can educate, organize and mobilize. Citizens can reject cynicism and recommit themselves to the long work of democracy.

Most importantly, we can stop looking for political saviors.

There are none.

There never have been.

Democracy does not require perfect candidates. It requires mature citizens willing to place the common good above personal preference and political strategy above political ego.

The question before us is whether we are finally ready to become those people.

… That part!!

Rep. Justin J. Pearson had nearly every objective measure for political success in his Democratic primary for the 9th Congressional District.

08/14/2026

Virginians are already struggling with higher energy bills, and those bills are at risk of growing even more expensive due to the proposed merger of Florida based mega corporation Next Era Energy and our own Dominion Energy, which powers 2/3rds of all households and businesses in the Commonwealth. This would create the largest utility monopoly the world has ever seen. Public comment is now open through the State Corporation Commission regarding the proposed merger. We strongly support you making your opposition heard via the attached petition from People Over Monopolies.

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-the-scc-to-stop-nextera-takeover

08/13/2026

They buried the lede: House Republicans added a provision [in the Big Ugly Bill of 2025] eliminating the $200 tax on suppressors and short-barreled rifles when they passed Mr. Trump’s major spending bill last year.
That change triggered the downfall of the law, which had for 92 years required buyers of restricted arms to submit their fingerprints and seek A.T.F. approval. Gun advocacy groups quickly filed several lawsuits seeking to further weaken the law, arguing that the registration process was unconstitutional without the tax component.

(Republicans have succeeded in making it easier for more rifles and shotguns with short barrels, as well as for suppressors — weapons that Congress sought to curb because they were deemed particularly suited for violent crime — to be on your street.)

The retreat by the Justice Department effectively allowed a pillar of the Prohibition-era National Fi****ms Act to lapse.

08/12/2026

Watch and enjoy. We look forward to seeing you in September at our 2026 fundraiser! https://www.pbs.org/wnet/preserving-democracy/video/we-the-people/
We the People: A Citizen's Guide to Preserving Democracy
"This feel-good animated short celebrates the spirit of America and this country’s democracy, which was built on the foundation that “We the People” are the source of our government’s power. Individuals can have a say in creating the kind of country they want to live in and the life they want for themselves and others.
We, the People, can actively participate in democracy by volunteering, voting, running for office, getting educated, and putting country first. Immerse yourself in the imagery, words and music in this animation and think about ways to participate in making our country stronger." Original animation by Ace & Son Moving Picture Company for Preserving Democracy.

Tickets & Sponsorship: https://roanokevalleydemocraticwomen.com/2026-wine-cheese-event/

This feel-good animated short celebrates the spirit of America and this country's democracy, which was built on the foundation that “We the People” are the source of our government’s power. Individuals can have a say in creating the kind of country they want to live in and the life they want f...

08/11/2026

Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi's Energy Costs Listening Tour is coming to Roanoke.

https://www.vaenergytour.com/

Sign up to be the first to receive venue announcements, event details, speaker updates, and opportunities to participate in your community.

The Energy Costs Listening Tour is a series of community conversations hosted by Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi that brings together local elected officials, energy experts, and Virginians to discuss the proposed Dominion–NextEra takeover and what it could mean for utility bills, grid reliability, and communities across the Commonwealth.

The proposed takeover would reshape Virginia's electric system for decades to come, yet state regulators are currently required to complete their review in just six months. Lt. Gov. Hashmi has called for a more thorough review process, including additional time for legislative oversight, to help ensure this decision is made transparently and with Virginia families—not out-of-state interests—at the forefront.

Each event is designed to inform, engage, and listen. Attendees will hear from elected officials and subject matter experts, have the opportunity to ask questions, and share their own concerns about how the proposed takeover could affect their families and communities. Together, these conversations will help ensure Virginians have a voice before one of the most consequential decisions in the Commonwealth's energy history is made.

08/10/2026

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a senior member of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, introduced the No Preferential Release of Federal Information for Transactions (NO PROFIT) Act, legislation that would make it illegal for social media companies to sell prioritized access to government employees’ accounts that communicate material information. Furthermore, this legislation would make it illegal for a person to knowingly trade in securities, commodities, swaps, or prediction market contracts if the person is doing so on the basis of material information obtained through access to a prioritized account. This bill is a direct result of Truth API, Truth Social’s subscription service for advance access to the president’s posts.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a senior member of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, introduced the No Preferential Release of Federal Information for Transactions (NO PROFIT) Act, legislation that would make it illegal for social media companies to sell pr...

08/09/2026

Join us on Wednesday, September 9 at the The Maridor for 2026 Wine & Cheese Event, RVDW’s annual fundraiser event. Find all the details here (link also in BIO):
https://roanokevalleydemocraticwomen.com/2026-wine-cheese-event/

We’ll celebrate the enduring ideals of democracy, civic engagement, and the principle that our government derives its power from “We the People.”

Keynote Speaker: Beth Macy, Democratic Candidate for Congress (VA-6) and best-selling author.

Member Ticket – $50
Ticket PLUS Membership – $70
Non-Member Ticket – $75
Sponsorships starting at $100

08/07/2026

08/07/2026