Confirmation comes a day after Governor Ralph Northam endorsed Terry McAuliffe.
April 9, 2021, 10:01 a.m.
6 min read
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Ben Jealous, a prominent civil rights activist who led the NAACP for five years, supports Democrat Jennifer Carroll Foy in the race for Virginia’s next governor and gives the former state delegate a significant boost a day after her rival, the former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe received high profile endorsement from Governor Ralph Northam.
With the assistance of Carroll Foy, Jealous relied on her “lived experiences” to argue that she is both ready to face the moment and to be a strong steward of the Commonwealth’s future.
“Jennifer Carroll Foy’s commitment to justice and justice is head and shoulders above the crowd,” said Jealous, who currently serves as president of People For the American Way. “As a defense attorney, she saw the two-tier criminal justice system up close: one that left black Americans behind and one that works for everyone else. As chairman of the legislature, Jennifer fought hard for justice – and she won.”
“Her proven track record and plans for Virginia, based on her experiences as a working mother and someone who struggled, make her uniquely qualified to become Virginia’s next governor. She is a new leader who is ready to fight the fight for a fairer Virginia where no one is left behind, “he added.
Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy sits at her desk on the floor of the House of Delegates at the State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia, January 14, 2020.
Jealously pursued a 2018 campaign to become Maryland’s first black governor, but it was unsuccessful. He rarely wades into the primary, but supports Carroll Foy’s offer and, according to a source trusted in the endorsement, sees it as aligned with his views and the power to win.
Carroll Foy said she was “proud” of his support and that of the group he leads, and said she was committed to building a fairer community.
“I take pride in fighting for justice on the front lines for all Virginians because I know what it is like to make impossible decisions just to survive. I am determined to move Virginia forward so everyone has the opportunity to unfold, “she said in a statement.
The move by Jealous, once the youngest president of the NAACP in its history, underscores a tricky intra-party conflict over racial policy that was undermined by competition – two years after Northam came under heavy pressure to resign, including McAuliffe, as a racist yearbook photo of him popped up from the 1980s.
For Carroll Foy, earning jealousy translates into the nudge of the state’s top Democrat. Northam decided to join McAuliffe as his successor in one of the diverse and possibly historic candidates on the Democratic deep bench.
Carroll Foy and Senator Jennifer McClellan both battle it out for the first black female governor in the nation’s history. Northam also elected McAuliffe to his own deputy, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, only the second nationally elected African American in Virginia, who was also embroiled in controversy over sexual assault allegations, which he denied.
Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia (from left to right), Del. Lee Carter, Former Governor Terry McAuliffe, State Senator Jennifer McClellan, Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy and Virginia Governor Justin Fairfax attend a debate at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia, April 6, 2021.
Potentially, the Virginia story hinders McAuliffe, who knows and is the obvious front runner in the race, with widespread notoriety, fundraising skills, and a list of Democratic leaders behind his offer. But Carroll Foy is proving to be an excellent competitor, raising $ 1.8 million in the first three months of the year and ending the quarter with $ 2.3 million in the bank.
And she’s not the only one responding to McAuliffe’s eyebrow approval from Northam.
McClellan, who recently played a key role in the passage of a comprehensive voting bill for the Commonwealth, claimed that “Virginia has the worst record of electing women in America,” and made it clear that she hopes to change that.
“It’s no surprise to see one governor backing another. But that choice is up to Virginia voters. The Virginians aren’t looking back, they’re delighted,” she said in a statement hours after Northam’s approval. “The Virginians are looking for a new perspective: the perspective of a mother, a black woman, and a leader who has been driving progress in Richmond for 15 years.”
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