Ok, everybody take a seat. Democrats. G welcome to virginia blue commonwealth gala. This is important, so i want yall to listen up. Before we get started tonight, listen up. We talkportant that about the pain and sorrow suffered on may 31 in Virginia Beach. Here in virginia, and across the country, we are all too familiar with this pain. Action to stop the scorch of gun violence. And we will take it immediately. We will honor the 12 members of our Virginia Beach community, who we love. Who we love, with our actions. I agree with the governor, he said bots and prayers are not enough. We need action. Room, i dot, in this ask for we have a lot of people from the Virginia Beach community with us tonight, please stand. I asked that you all please stand with them and follow the solidarity for a moment of silence in their memory. Thank you. Crowd. This there are 1800 democrats here tonight. [cheers and applause] one for every democrat running for president. [laughter] in all seriousness, help me say it one more time. There are 1800 fired up democrats in this room. [cheers and applause] the state of the Democratic Party of virginia is stronger than ever. To have two lucky of our president ial candidates with us this evening. Servantsible public would understand the importance of virginia, not just next year, but this year. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who will and senator Amy Klobuchar and their staff at it. Sure, there are a lot of roads that lead to washington dc, but lets be honest. Who wants to go through maryland or West Virginia . The best and smartest route to 1600 pennsylvania avenue is right here in virginia. Trust me, i know. I looked it up on google maps. To beyor and senator, helpful, i prepared three kits to help you with this crowd. With yourrks remarks with, you are happy at be here with the greatest elected official of virginia,. Every elected official here tonight will think you are talking about them. Especially Terry Mcauliffe and mark warner. When asked where you will be on super tuesday, the answer is virginia. Finally, the best way to make a lifelong friend is to add these eight words in your speech. Old. Oks great for 35 years not justwe celebrate our past, but also to commit to joining together to achieve our goal in winning the house and senate this november. Victory. Ot a this is not a victory just for vick three say. It is so we can make sure that the progress we have made under of chuck, jerry, doug, mark, tim kaine, Terry Mcauliffe, and Governor Northam continues. [applause] ms. Swecker we know whats at stake. We just need a few seats in the house and senate to take control of the General Assembly, and with control of both houses, we will raise the minimum wage. [cheers and applause] ms. Swecker we will stop a repressive alabama style abortion ban from coming to virginia. [cheers and applause] ms. Swecker we will pass the equal rights amendment and make it part of the United States constitution. [cheers and applause] ms. Swecker and we will fight like hell to get this done in july. With control of both houses in january, we will pass common sense gun reform. [cheers and applause] ms. Swecker i repeat again, whether it is in three weeks or in january, we will pass common sense gun reform. [cheers and applause] ms. Swecker no virginian should have to fear not returning home when they go to school, work, or worship. Now, our primaries are over. We are once again united by our common values and shared commitment to progress, and with your efforts, with your being here tonight, with your energy, and with your hard work over the next 143 days, we can make 2019 the greatest year in the history of the Democratic Party of virginia. [cheers and applause] ms. Swecker so, lets enjoy the evening and the fellowship, and tomorrow lets get up and go to work. [cheers and applause] announcer now please welcome, from the second district, congresswoman elaine luria. [dont stop believing plays] rep. Luria good evening. Im elaine luria, and i represent the second Congressional District, which includes the city of Virginia Beach. Two weeks ago yesterday, a gunman entered municipal blooming 2 and murdered 12 innocent people and seriously injured four others. Those 12 people went to work friday morning serving our communities, and we are looking forward to one of the first weekends of summer. A summer weekend filled with festivals, childrens sporting events, barbecues, and sunday worship. But instead, their families spent the weekend planning their funerals. One was tara gallagher, a mother of a 22 month old son. One was a native of belarus who wanted nothing more than to be an american. One of those killed was my friends son, keith cox, who led his colleagues to shelter, saving their lives. And once they were safe, he went back out of the room to save more people. Over the past two weeks, you may have heard many people say that this will not define us. That is a sentiment of a community that wants to tell the nation we are better than this. Over the past two weeks, i have prayed with our community, hugged neighbors at a makeshift memorial, clasped the hands of a survivor in a hospital, and shed many tears during nine funerals and wakes for the lives senselessly taken in this horrific act of violence. Today, as we look back over these two weeks, i want to say that we should let this define us. We should let keiths actions define us. Keith is a hero. As officers rushed in the building to save lives, keith was in the building saving lives. So, i do want this moment to define us. I want to be keith, and i want to be the first responders, and i want to be the grief counselors, and i want to be the stranger who cries at the memorial. We should let this tragedy define us, for in our darkest hour we see hope. We see we have more in common than differences. As the nation has moved on to the next big story, i want you to know that i will never stop talking about keith. In the coming weeks, our community and commonwealth need to have Difficult Conversations to see how we can be keith. We can be bold. We can be brave. We can save lives. As we do this, we will let keith define us. And if there are people in office that dont want to have those Difficult Conversations, then those people dont deserve to represent our communities across the commonwealth. Thank you, and god bless. [applause] announcer please welcome, from the seventh district, congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. [say my name plays] [applause] rep. Spanberger good evening, virginia. Do we have any democrats in the house . [cheers and applause] rep. Spanberger i know you are eating, but i am going to need this to be a little interactive for a minute. How many seats did we flip in 2017 . 15 how many seats did we flip in 2018 . Three how many seats are going to flip in 2019 . All all of them rep. Spanberger all of them im a bit of an optimist, i admit, but when you are in a seat that people say is unwinnable, you have to be an optimist. I will tell you this. This, virginia. If we have learned anything from 2017 and 2018, it is that there is no such thing as an unwinnable district, and there is no such thing as a seat that we cannot flip red to blue. [cheers and applause] rep. Spanberger and the reason we can do it is because of people like you. The reason we can do it is because we have engaged, excited people across virginia who believe that change is possible and who are willing to put the time and energy into realizing it. So let me ask you a couple questions. How many of you were volunteering before 2016 in virginia for Democratic Politics . Raise your hand. Democratic politics, raise your hand. [applause] and how many of you were engaged in 2017, supporting candidates . How many of you did it in 2018 . [applause] and how many of you have ever put your name on a ballot . This is how we win. We win when good people step forward and when good people work and donate their time and their energy and their enthusiasm. And we talk a lot about flipping but itere in virginia, is about so much more than flipping seats. It is about the result that happen when we have people in our legislative bodies who are committed to making our communities better and stronger. In 2019, we have an opportunity to fundamentally change virginia. In 2017, we got Medicaid Expansion. Increase in the felonylarceny threshold. Because we got 15 new seats in the house of delegates. Them by women. [applause] and in 2018, we fundamentally changed what the virginia delegation looks like when you all elected me and elaine luria and Jennifer Morrison and inentz and 2019, we are going to do it again. In 2019, we are going to put the focus back on virginia and we are going to win the state senate because when we get behind good candidates, and there are good candidates here tonight, and there are good candidates running across the, of virginia, that is how we realize the focus of making our communities stronger, and policies better, and we create opportunities. Im going to ask for one more ink. Everyone who is running in the commonwealth of virginia in 2019 who will have his or her name on a ballot, please stand up. [applause] thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It is because of the bravery and the excitement and the fierceness of candidates like you, whether you are running for school board or state senate, then we can foundational he make our communities stronger. Time, please continue working and fighting and donating your time, your energy, your money, because here in virginia, we have proven time and time again that it is worth it, and we are living proof of that, so thank you. [applause] please welcome, from the 10th district, jennifer. [applause] hello, virginia democrats. Than andfer works thanks to you, i probably represent virginias 10th district. Proudly. I know what you are wondering what is it like serving in congress . Im not going to lie, it is pretty also. Pretty awesome. Being one of the women looking out to see the amazing diversity on our side of the chamber is some guy will never forget. Lewis ae call john colleague. And, yes, aoc is really cool and nice. We sit next to each other in Financial Services and she often has candy and she always shares. When it comestalk to democratic socialism. Say so myself, abigail and i have brought a serious upgrade to the virginia delegation. [applause] it is great to be serving in the majority, and great to serve with so many women. That we passed paycheck fairness and voted to close the boyfriend loophole and extend the violence against women act. Lgbtq fighting to protect americans and live up to the fundamental progress of this nation that all americans were created equal. We are fighting for dreamers to give them a fair pathway to citizenship that they deserve, and as the mom of two schoolage boys, i am so proud that our majority took the first guningful steps to end violence in two decades by voting to pass universal background checks for firearm purchases. Yes, it is good to be in the majority. But ive remember what it was like to be in the minority, it is not fun. More important, it is bad for the commonwealth. ,hen republicans hold the gavel gun safety builds are dead on arrival. Special interests and big corporations come before our environment and virginias families. Womens access to reproductive womens access to Reproductive Health care comes under attack, and that is what is at stake on november 5. Health care, clean water and air, knowing that our leaders in richmond are doing everything in anotherwers to stop mass shooting from ever taking place again in virginia. Weve got to keep all the seats that we flipped in 2017. Make sure that we elect all of our delegates so that delegates and we all know that the best defense is a good offense. Amazingfor us, we have candidates who are going to help us succeed. And to our 2020 candidates, we love that you are visiting virginia posts and i. But we love it a lot more if you would come campaign with us in the fall. Thank you so much for joining us tonight, and i know you will be back to help us get out the vote in october. Thank you to our incredible 2019 candidates. I know its not easy what you are doing, putting ourselves out there each and every day. It is only going to get harder but you are not in this alone, we have got your back. Celebratet wait to all the things that we accomplish with virginias new democratic majority. Thank you so much. [applause] please welcome congressman gary conroy gerry connolly. Good evening, fellow democrats. I thought this was going to be a quiet dinner. With a couple of thousand of my best friends. [applause] fellow democrats, listen up. Please listen up. These are no ordinary times. These elections this year and next year are not ordinary elections. It is the opportunity we have, to reclaim our democracy. We are in the fight of our lives for control of our country. [applause] and virginia in 2017 showed the way. And it was an auger of things to come in the midterm elections. We need to win back the state senate, the statehouse, to show america the way to 2020. [applause] it is time to retire the rationalizers and the enablers who see and hear no evil when it comes to donald trump. [applause] we have all but a criminal enterprise that came to the white house through the trump organization. And we need to hold them accountable. In the majority, we are doing just that. And he does not like it. And we need more of us to pick that up. And virginia again has the opportunity to show us the way. Final point. Democrats, after we make our decisions, we must come together. We must be a united team going into battle next year. That is how we retire donald j. Trump. And restore the democratic American Value system and restore americas reputation in the world. So let us make sure that whoever we pick to be our nominee for the president of the United States, that we get behind the nominee. And go into battle as a united party, open to all americans. Thank you for having me here today. Today. And lets go into battle and win against this president. God bless you all. [applause] announcer please welcome from the fourth district, congressman donald mceachin. Rep. Mceachin good evening, my fellow virginia democrats. I am so excited to be here with you tonight. Look at this capacityfilled room. Give yourselves a round of applause. It reflects the enthusiasm and energy of democrats around our commonwealth. We have a big opportunity in this election to take back the General Assembly. What comes with that opportunity is a big responsibility. Each of us needs to knock on doors, to talk to our neighbors, to open our wallets, and to support our candidates. Lets talk about these candidates. Who have put aside their lives and other priorities to run for office. So we will have the opportunity to take virginia forward in a progressive and inclusive way. This past week we saw some emotional candidates in the primaries. Let me thank the winners, and those who did not quite succeed. Those folks all make us a stronger and better party, because of their participation. Now is a time when we must come together. These elections make a huge difference. Remember, we cannot get the General Assembly to take away the despicable ban on gay marriage out of the virginia constitution, even though it is an illegal law. We need a virginia where you can love who you want to love and be who you want to be. And we cannot even get the General Assembly to pass a law for the e. R. A. In the constitution. We need to address Sexual Harassment and assault, and not pretend it is not happening. And we cannot get a simple, Legal Process for restoration of rights for a person who has served their time to become a productive citizen, with all rights and responsibilities. And our family, friends, and neighbors continue to be victims of senseless gun violence. We need commonsense sense gun safety and universal background checks. And limits on magazines. We cannot get an acknowledgment of Climate Change as it becomes more extreme and more dangerous. What has become of the responsibility we have to our children and grandchildren, to leave the world a better place . And apparently, women cannot be trusted to make their own Health Care Decisions . We need to trust women. And we still live with the remnants of a 400year history. We need to address systematic racism. To make it the Progressive Home we all want. We need to win these elections. I know we will. Your dedication, your commitment, your belief makes it possible and give me confidence. Do not ever doubt that you make a difference. Every march, every postcard. You are the true champions. Just know that i and all of us up here, will be out there with you this fall, when we ride on your shoulders. For all you have done and all that you will do, i offer you a heartfelt thanks. And i would be remiss if i did not thank one other group of people. 400 years ago, came to our shores the first africans in chains. People who are Strong Enough mentally and physically to survive what we would call the middle passage. To them, we thank them here, and we stand on their shoulders. To the ancestors known and unknown, god bless you. And look at what happens. One of your children is a United States congressman. God bless you. [applause] [cheers applause] announcer please welcome, from the third district, congressman bobby scott. [applause] rep. Scott virginia democrats, good evening i would like to welcome senator Amy Klobuchar and mayor Pete Buttigieg for being with us tonight. With candidates like this, we know that we are going to take over and win the white house in over and win the white house in 2020. Give them a round of applause. [applause] [cheers applause] virginia is already on the way to winning our country back in 2017 we flipped 15 seats in the house of delegates. Then, in 2018, we put three remarkably talented women into congress. Elaine luria, Jennifer Wexton, and Abigail Spanberger, along with don mceachin, gerry connolly, and myself. We can do it, and we are going to do it again. This year, we are going to repeat. We are going to take over the house of delegates and state senate. And then in 2020, winning back the white house, winning the senate, and holding the house of representatives. We know that when we elect democrats, we are putting the interests of working people over those of special interest. Over the years, we have seen republican obstruction in the General Assembly. We overcame that with your hard work. Democrats gained the house of delegates in 2017. Because of your hard work, we expanded medicaid to 400,000 virginians, who now have access to affordable, lifesaving health care. [applause] i want all of the members of the house of delegates and state senate to stand up so that we can show our appreciation for what you did. All of the members of the General Assembly. And then, all candidates, join them. Because you will make the difference when we take over the house and the senate. [cheers applause] thank you. And in the u. S. House of representatives, the new democratic majority is passing legislation that is putting working people first. And moving an agenda that is actually for the people. In less than six months, we have already passed legislation to eliminate the pay gap. To ensure rights for lgbtq virginians and americans. We have reformed laws, and passed legislation for a pathway to citizenship for dreamers. We passed legislation to make sure that the United States upholds its obligation to Climate Change under the paris agreement. And we passed legislation to address gun violence. In the weeks and months ahead, the democrats on the education and labor committee, will pass legislation to raise the minimum wage to 15 per hour by 2024. That would be the first increase in minimum wage in a decade. [applause] we are going to pass legislation to protect pensions. We are going to pass legislation to make college more affordable. We are going to make it easier to join a union. And we are going to create millions of jobs by fixing our crumbling infrastructure and modernizing our public schools. These make a difference, and could make a difference if United States republicans take up the bills and consider them. Instead of what theyre doing nothing. Virginia is lucky to have mark, and tim, and amy, are working. But they need help. In 2020, it is important for us to focus on the white house. And also focus on making sure that mark warner returns to the United States senate. So, virginia democrats, we have much to celebrate. We have a lot of work ahead of us. And we have to this year organize, register voters, knock on doors, and remind everybody that we have a critically important election in virginia. And the blood, sweat, and tears we put into 2019, will help to take over the house of delegates and the Virginia Senate. And also, make the groundwork to ensure that virginians are once again in the democratic column for the white house in 2020. Virginians deserve a General Assembly that works for them. The American People deserve a congress and a president that works for them. And all of that work starts right here in 2019. So lets get to work. Thank you very much. [cheers applause] [video clip] in 2017, i saw the direction our country was going. I decided we needed change. My state had not been won by a democrat in 26 years. With the help of many of you, i was able to win my district. The firsttime candidate. The Democratic Party of virginia was there every step of the way. I felt like i had support from the party, i had support from democrats all around the state of virginia. Over the past decade, the Democratic Party of virginia has been on the front lines fighting. In 20, staff and volunteers knocked on over 4. 5 million doors and contacted nearly a million voters, which contributed to flipping nearly 15 house seats. In 2018, we knocked on over 2. 7 million doors and contacted 232,000 voters in support of our candidates. During the 2018 election, we helped elect congressman bobby scott and gerry connolly. We also helped elect three women into congress. Elaine luria, Abigail Spanberger, and Jennifer Wexton. The Democratic Party of virginia is committed to electing Democratic Leaders from the courthouse to the statehouse to the white house. We have been able to expand medicaid to more than 400,000 virginians, ensuring they have access to Quality Health care. We have restored the rights of 200,000 virginia citizens. We have done so much more. There is so much at stake in 2019 and 2020. You never know when your one vote can be the one vote that decides an election. Can you imagine the possibilities if i had just had one more field organizer, or one more person making phone calls . One vote matters. One vote. Your vote. Could make that big of a difference. Lets make this the year that we empower women, people of color, and our lgbt brothers and sisters. Lets make this the year that we take back the house of delegates. Lets make this the year that we take back the Virginia Senate. Lets make this the year we make every vote count. Lets make this here we enact gun violence prevention. Lets make this the year we try even harder for virginia that works for us. Folks, this is an exciting Election Year here in virginia. For the first time in 26 years, we can win the house, and the governors mansion. Think of the great legislation that we can get done. The e. R. A. , protecting Health Care Social security, medicare, gun safety bills. We cannot let this opportunity go by. This is a historic moment for the commonwealth of virginia. A historic moment for progressive democrats. We can change virginia forever. We need your help. We need it right now. A critical resource needed to make every phone call, to make sure we knock on every single door. We need the help of the party. With an additional 10,000, we can hire the field staff to knock on thousands more doors. You know that i once wrestled an alligator to raise money for the Democratic Party. I am not asking you to do that. But i am asking you to give money to the Democratic Party. Help us put the folks on the ground and do what we need to do. You can start right here, right now. Will you join us . [applause] announcer please welcome richmond mayor levar stoney. Mayor stoney good evening virginia democrats i want to welcome you to the great city of richmond. A city that is putting children at the forefront of our agenda. A city that is taking a more inclusive approach. We are building new schools. In the city of richmond, we have a record investment in Public Education. In the city of richmond, we have expanded afterschool programs, so every elementary schooler and every middle schooler has access. Localities like ours, we cannot do this by ourselves. We need a progressive majority in the virginia General Assembly. Tonight, we stand on the precipice of change in virginia. 10 years ago, we were reduced to 39 seats in the house of delegates. Two years later, we were at our lowest number. 32 seats. They said our party was done. But we came roaring back. Tonight, lets commit ourselves to finishing the job. And winning back the General Assembly. So we can pass the e. R. A. , common sense gun laws, and protect our rainbow community. Tonight we not only need your time, but also we need your treasure as well. So get out your phones. Get out your phones, everyone. And lets text 97779, so we can ensure that our candidates will win all over the commonwealth of virginia. Thank you [applause] announcer please welcome delegate Jennifer Caroll foy ms. Foy all right, so clap twice if you can hear me. I said, clap twice. All right. Good evening. Hello in the room. I said good evening. I represent williamsburg and i represent Prince William and stafford. And first i would like to thank our hosts for giving me the opportunity to speak with you tonight. Im going to start with a brief story of a conversation that i had in 2017. As i was knocking on doors, and going to candidate forums, i met a woman named eunice. And when i tried to tell her about the things i wanted to do as her next delegate, she was a she was a very short, petite woman with salt and pepper hair. Dark black and deep swollen eyes. Before i could get started, she reached out her hand and she said, i have done everything right. I have done everything that i was told to do. I have raised my kids and my three grandkids. I have worked every single day of my life. I have worked long and i have worked hard. And there is this narrative of their that poor people dont matter. That poor people want a handout. That poor people dont want to work, and that is not true. She said, poor people are some of the most hardest working people i have ever met in my life. [applause] some of the most hardest working people i have ever met in my life. [applause] and it isoy expensive being poor. Higher interest rates. Higher taxes. No one looks out for the little man. Even when you do everything right. Told me how she was at her job. And she has had three, working at the same time and raising her three grandkids. She ignored these headaches and she cannot afford to see a doctor. She popped pills after pills after pills. Until one day, eunice hit the floor. She crawled into the fetal she crawled into the fetal position until the emergency medics are called. And when she arrived at the hospital, they told eunice she had a tumor on her brain. On tois tumor would go take the site in one of her eyes. And now, she is legally blind. So, eunice leaned into me. She said my sight loss could have been prevented if i wouldve had medicaid. Have stoppedld playing politics with my life. Now, what are you going to do for me . What wee tell you dpva did. We expanded medicaid to 400,000 virginians. For people like eunice. That is what we did. [applause] delegate foy because that is who we are. We feed the hungry. We house the homeless. We give voices to the voiceless. And the faces of people that we will never see. Are the party. We are inclusive and not exclusive. But i have to let you know dpva that our work is far from done. We have to pass common sense gun safety legislation. We have to fully Fund Education to pre2008 reception levels. Levels. To recession we have to care about clean air and clean water. An insurer women can stand ensure women can stand in the sun as full equals. And we have to pass rights pass the equal rights of the first amendment, our work is not done. When we actually pass 15 minimum wage, we can have a conversation. This is what i need you all to do. I need you to donate to dpva, because dpva will donate to all of us. We have the opportunity to flip the house and flip the senate. But we can only do that with your help. So, you cannot be on the bench. You cannot sit on the sidelines. We need all of you in the game, doing what needs to get done in order for us to take a majority in 2019. Are you with me . Va, are you with me . Yes at summation point yes delegate foy thank you all. Announcer please welcome, jennifer mcclellan. Evening democrats. We are almost to our goal. Blued you to text 9779 to get to our goal. I have been in the Minority Party in my entire time in the General Assembly and i am tired of it. I am tired of bill after bill that should not be partisan dying on a partyline vote. Of bills to end discrimination and housing, and employment on the basis of Sexual Orientation and gender. Dying on a partyline vote if it gets hurt at all. I am tired of the equal rights amendment dying on a partyline vote. I am tired of gun safety legislation. Legislation dying on a partyline vote. Right tod of a womans choose dying on a partyline vote. So what are you going to do about it . We are going to knock on doors. We will make phone calls and flip the house and senate. We will flip some of our local elections. We will get progressives to believe in criminal Justice Reform. We are going to get School Board Members to believe in fully funding education. We will get bored of supervisor members to fully fund our education system. But we need your money. We need to reach our goal. We are not there yet. We need 10,000 tonight to help us flip all of the seats. Blue to 9779. If you do that, you do your part, we will do our part, we will flip the house and senate and have a blue wave in virginia that will lead the way to a blue wave in 2020 that says, number 45, and then continued a blue wave on and on and on. Thank you all virginia democrats. [applause] announcer please welcome this the 69thnth governor and your senior senator, mark warner. Warner good evening virginia democrats. I know it is a little loud in here, but from of hear you guys look marvelous. Virginia democrats, we are going to hear from two of our candidates for president. Know mayor pete through the new deal organization. That is withon young and local state officials from around our country. Passion, passion, and his unique story, a vision for america that you will all want to hear. Amy klobuchar and i have worked together for 10 years. Our families are friends. We socialize with them on a regular basis. She sits at me and Democratic Leadership meetings. She also brings a unique set of minnesota values that you need to hear about tonight in terms of her vision for our country as well. I won a start were others have already spoken, but to say thank only inway you did, not 2017, but what you did in 2018. You flipped three wonderful seats in the house. Now we have a democratic majority in the house of representatives. [applause] you also sent back my friend of 39 years, tim kaine, who, if you can ever get off of highway 95, which we have all dealt with for decades, will be here shortly. But tims leadership, turning back the trump Corey Stewart agenda was an incredible message all across the nation. Wevirginia, mayor pete, never take a year off. 2019, as you have heard from earlier speakers, if you care about Medicaid Expansion you will get out and work. If you care about the passage of the e. R. A. , you will get out and work. If you dont want virginia to fall in with georgia at alabama and missouri on Womens Health care, you will get out and work. Gunou care about sensible legislation, you will get out and work. If you care about our rights to vote, you will get out to work. And if you believe that people ought to choose politicians, rather than politicians choosing their voters so we can have independent redistricting, you will get out and work. [applause] part of when we change, we also change what our legislator looks like to make it look more like the people of virginia. I will acknowledge the leadership of a brandnew path, the rising virginia path leadership that supports women, and particularly women of color at local and state elections. Would everybody at table 82 stand up . [applause] there is one other item. One other brief item. , many of you today, board during the reception have kindly come up and said, senator, thank you for what you are doing in washington. Standing up for rule of law should not be viewed as extraordinary. Time int a moment in our politics in washington, unlike anything i think any of us have seen in our lifetimes. We have a president who would rather pick a fight with canada and stand up to vladimir putin. We have a president who believes its better to have a trade war that hurts virginia farmers, than to actually have an economic policy. Says,e a president that its all right to rip families apart at the border, then try to find every program that helps the poor and cut it. Thought, in, and i the world of trump, in the world of trump i thought things could not get any weirder until last week. Roomany of us in this thought that we would need, or if aany ambiguity about foreign power tries to intervene in our elections, what the right thing to do is . Donald trump, the right thing to do is to not say thank you. The right thing to do is to call the fbi. [applause] so what we need to do, if we are going to send that message, not only to flip our legislature, but we know the path to washington, the path to the white house, leads through virginia, we have to send a message to donald trump. That respect for the rule of law is a minimum requirement. We need to pass legislation that says if a foreign power intervenes, call the fbi. We nee to pass legislation that Amy Klobuchar and i are working on, that says, for every voting position in america, when you vote, you have a paper ballot trail, so nobody can interrupt that voting process. We need to make sure that the social Media Companies that lead to too to hatred and misrepresentation, as the russians used twitter, facebook, and google in 2016, put reasonable rules of the road going forward. Nothing less than our democracy is at stake. And it all starts here in virginia in 2019. Lets get out there and win thank you. [cheers applause] please welcome, his excellency, the governor virginia. Gov. Mcauliffe good evening, fellow democrats. It is great to be back. Look at this crowd tonight i have never seen anything like this. And i want to thank Susan Swecker and the state party. I want to welcome amy and pete to the commonwealth of virginia, the greatest state in america. I know pete, and i know amy. And minnesota is a beautiful state, and so is indiana. But you are here in the action. We have it all going here. We got it all. We got lakes, we got mountains, we got oceans, you come to Virginia Beach, dolphins come up to the beach and give your children ride. They drop them back off. And pete and amy, while you are here, 382 wineries. Eight varieties of oysters. Craft breweries. You come to virginia, you drink our wine, you drink our beer, you eat are oysters. Virginia is for lovers. You figure out the next step. Folks, a month and a half ago, i was running for president of United States of america. But i decided that you have got to go where you can make the biggest impact in life. And i decided that i had to come back to the commonwealth of virginia, to help us win the house and senate this year. [cheers applause] for the first time in 26 years, we can win the house, the senate , and have the governorship. [cheers applause] now, think about this, i asked all of you fellow democrats, five years ago, when i took office, our state was mired in debt, a 2. 4 Million Dollar debt left over by the republicans. Our state was a laughingstock. They pushed antiwomen, antilgbt legislation. Nobody wanted to come to this state. We got to work over the last four years. We got our state humming again. And we have the largest surplus in the history of the commonwealth of virginia. Hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Billions of dollars in new investment. That is what you get with democrats. Fiscal responsibility, highpaying jobs. We also made sure that virginia was open and welcoming to everyone. I had to veto a record 120 bills passed by the republican legislature, that would have allowed folks to carry loaded shotguns in their cars. Sell machine guns out of gun stores. And for an absentee ballot, you would have to faxing your drivers license. We vetoed all 120. And thanks to the democrats in the assembly, i never lost one veto, 1200. But folks, it was bigger than that. Over the last five years, we worked to get every Virginian Health care. We were the largest state proportional to get folks to sign up for the marketplace. After five years of struggle, we got medicaid expanded here in the commonwealth of virginia. [applause] wei leaned in on these big issues and health care. We also leaned in on education. I am proud that under our four years, the largest investment in Public Education in the history of the commonwealth virginia. That is what you get with democrats. Pay raises for teachers. We got rid of five sols. Virginia led the nation, we had thousands of children who went to school hungry every day. And next to the efforts of my wife and our former first lady, our last year in office, we saw nearly 15 million more breakfasts served to needy children in the commonwealth of virginia. I would like my wife to stand up, to give her a great round of applause, to make sure we know she knows we know it she led the effort. That is not enough. We cannot rest until every child in virginia has access to a healthy meal. Because that is how they learn. The other big issue that we leaned on, which is so important, is criminal Justice Reform in the commonwealth of virginia. Our criminal Justice Reform system was antiquated. We were putting people in prison too long. We were putting people away for drug offenses. So we made an effort. I had a young man i pardons before i left office. Lenny singleton had five robberies. He stole a total of 550, nobody was ever injured. Do you know what his sentence was . Two life sentences, plus 110 years. We have to end the sentencing discrimination that we have with that we had in the commonwealth of virginia. We knocked it out of the park. Two young, progressive democrats stepped up to the plate in january. In arlington and fairfax county, no cash bail, and fair sentencing. And we knocked off both Commonwealth Attorneys. We won both of those. Tonight i have as my guest the new Commonwealth Attorney for arlington county. Please give her around applause. [applause] so folks, are you ready to share . This is not a republican fundraiser, i cannot hear you. [applause] this is our time. Both chambers. And you know what will happen . After you helped us get elected in 2013 . In 2016, we were the only Southern State that went for hillary clinton. We were proud to be blue. Then we wanted 2017. Folks, we are going to win this year in 2019. And come 2020, during charlottesville, which was one of the worst days in our states history, when a thousand neonazis and White Supremacists came to our state, screaming the most vile things against africanamericans and members of the jewish faith. Donald trump failed us that day. He said there were good people on both sides. There are not good neonazis in the United States of america. There are not good white supremacist. I stood up and told him to get the hell out and go home. That you are not wanted here in the commonwealth of virginia. And in 2020, we are going to tell donald swap, donald trump, delusional donald trump, we are going to tell them to get the hell out of the white house and go back to maralago where he belongs. That begins this year. [applause] [cheers applause] plays welcome virginia Democratic Leaders, gore and hering. Hello everybody, good evening. I am proud to be the leader of the House Democratic caucus. And i am honored to be the chair of the House Democratic caucus. Together, along with owl of our members and all of you, we are the House Republicans worst nightmare. [cheers applause] and together, we get to spend a lot of time. They are doing all they can from to stop us Democrats Gain the majority. But we are not going to let them, are we . We can hear you. Are we going to let them . Speaking of no, we have heard a lot of that last year from the House Republicans. We were stuck on so many fronts by the republican majority. A majority selected out of a ball. We heard no so many times. No on the environment and environmental justice. No on making it easier to vote. No on an increased minimum wage. No on workers rights. No on discrimination. No on Womens Health care and affordable reproductive rights. They even said no to making virginia the 38th state needed to ratify they call rights amendment. So how about we start saying yes . [cheers applause] yes to each and every one of these most important issues. We have a special session on july 9. We will give it our all to introduce reasonable gun violence prevention measures into place. And to our colleagues across the aisle, when it comes to guns, when it comes to guns, saying no and doing nothing is not an option. When we won seats, we were able to use our power to do so many things. We agreed on a budget that improved tuition, raised teacher pay, and raised state employee pay. We found transportation funding to deal with i81. We came to an agreement on solar and ash call. We raised a felony larceny threshold. And we expanded medicaid to foo over 300,000 in vigils today. And just as we are able to do with 49 democratic members, just think what how much we are going to be able to do when we are in the majority. To create the most impressive underpainting undertaking that this caucus has ever been part of. More candidates, more money, more opportunity, and more diversity. I can guarantee you that if you like to 2017, you are going to love 2019. [cheers applause] weights really have a diverse caucus we truly have a diverse caucus. Would al of our members stand up . We look forward to again working with these individuals, in the majority of the Virginia House of delegates next january. Would all of our nominees please stand up and remain standing . We look forward to having you join us next year. Everyone, please take a look. Take a moment to look around. And let me introduce to you, the 2020 Virginia House of delegates democratic majority [cheers applause] we can make it happen with your continued support and hard work. We will win in november, and in january say yes to solving the problems facing virginians. Please join with us, work hard with us. And help us to get to the majority in the house of delegates, for the first time in 20 years. And remember, yes [cheers applause] please welcome the leader and chairwoman. Good evening, virginia democrats im the Senate Democratic caucus chair mimi locke. I am glad to be with you today to share in this years excitement. And to tell you about the task at hand. This is the year that we flip the Virginia Senate blue. [cheers applause] the blue wave started in virginia when we took 15 house seats in 2017. It continued last year, when we reelected senator tim kaine. An elected three new women in the u. S. House. This year, the wave continues. To flip the senate and house blue. We are just two seats away from retaking the majority, so we can finally get back to the common sense agenda virginians are craving. With the democratic majority, we will pass common sense gun reform, increase access to quality, Affordable Health care, and we will invest in Public Education. And we wont stop there. We will pass increases to the minimum wage, protect womens rights to abortion access, and invest in critical transportation infrastructure across the commonwealth. Some of you may be wondering how we plan to do all of this. I have good news. We have Democratic Candidates for senate in a recordbreaking 37 districts across every corner of the commonwealth. We are competing everywhere, to ensure that we flip the senate in november. This is a big goal, and it is one we are going to accomplish with your help. We all know that democrats are ready to lead. In the minority, we have managed to pass Medicaid Expansion, teacher pay raises, and funding for improvements for i81. In the majority, we will build on those successes. We are excited about our prospects this november. But it is important to remember that none of this is a done deal. We need you all to knock on doors, make phone calls, and raise money for our great candidates. Senate democrats are ready to lead. Help us get there in november. I will now turn it over to our senate leader. [cheers applause] good evening. Good evening. I am the Senate Democratic leader. Just call me landslide. You have seen what the republicans have done wherever they are in control. We do not need alabama laws telling women what they can and cannot do with their bodies. What that woman does is nobodys business but hers. Nobodys business but hers. And we need to make sure that these people do not get ever empower again. Ever in power again. I have seen what has happened when they have been in control. The leave you me, you do not want it again. Believe you me, you do not want it again. You take a look at the gun laws. In virginia today, the only thing you need to be able to do to get a gun is to be able to fog up a mirror. In other words, to breathe, to get a gun. We are 4 of the population in the u. S. , and 43 of the guns on this planet that are not held by the military or the police. We need to put a halt to this, and we need to do it with common sense. Many years ago, and this is important. A prominent businessman in Northern Virginia told me that he noticed something, and it is what changed him from helping republicans to helping the democrats. What he told me was that every time the republicans were in power, the white house or in control of the governorship, his checkbook went down. Every time our party was in control of those, his checkbook went up. That is something we should not forget. We have been good for business. We have been good for the people who work and make this country work. Finally, let me tell you this. [applause] there are three things in my lifetime that are essential and axiomatic. And with a nod toward jerome kern and oscar hammerstein. Fish got a swim, birds gotta fly, and democrats need to run america. Are you with us . Are you with us . You bet. Thank you so much. And thank you for putting up with 800 speakers. [cheers applause] put your hands together for your Democratic Party of virginia chairman, Susan Swecker. Ms. Swecker listen up. Im not getting another speech. But i want to invite everyone to quit talking. Listen. Virginia democrats are known for their hospitality, and their respect. And we have two president ial candidates that have taken out from their busy schedule, they could be in any one of four states. But they are here with us tonight. So im asking you, to sit, be quiet, this is your chance to take a good look at two of the really great candidates. Are you listening to me . Are you with me . [cheers applause] thank you very much. And i am so happy that we have mayor pete beta judge and senator Amy Klobuchar willis sen. Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg with us. Please welcome United States senator and president ial candidate Amy Klobuchar. Sen. Klobuchar thank you what an amazing crowd hello virginia democrats, are you ready to be donald trump . Are you ready to get rid of betsy devos . Are you ready to paint your legislature blue . I am so honored to be here tonight with all of these incredible leaders. Susan and chris, thank you so much. Your great governor, former governor, Terry Mcauliffe. Thank you. Your incredible Democratic Congressional delegation, including three women who flipped republican seeds. Republican seats. Your senators, who are two of my closest friends in the United States senate. And i am not just saying that because they are running for president. I will start with tim kaine. There is a lot to love about tim kaine. His honesty. His faith. His willingness to stand up against the president and say clearly, that it ends that it is congress that decides if you go to war, not donald trump. [applause] and mark warner. Mark and i have a lot in common. He made a fortune building an empire with cell phones. I own a cell phone. [laughter] mark set a Senate Record raising 12 million in one year because he knew he could paint that seat blue in the senate. I set the record in one year by raising 17,000 from ex boyfriends. Id is that i did that. And, as my husband john points out, it is not an expanding base. Mark is a soothsayer in the senate. When he is talking about the economy. We are so fortunate to have him as Ranking Member of the intelligence committee, at a time when we need him there. He is someone that took on something that no one was talking about. A year and a half ago. He stood up and said that russian tried to steal our democracy, and they are not going to do it again. Noon, people were slipping in, and after i announced that the president made fun of me for talking about Climate Change in the middle of a snowstorm. And he called me snow woman. The science of Climate Change is on my side and i would like to see how your hair would fare and a blizzard. [applause] i announced by that river for a reason. I wanted to make the point that it is time to cross the river of our divide to get to a higher plane and are politics. We have a president who wakes up every morning and tweets something to fracture our communities. He goes after immigrants. He goes after people of color player in and he goes after people and our party every single day. Including sending out dr. Videos which is our biggest fear in this democracy and he does by care at all. I will tell you this, virginia democrats. We need to take back our country and we need to make this the country that we have built. Starting right here and the commonwealth of virginia. We need to put the heart back into our politics. My background is a little bit different than donald trumps. My grandfather was an iron ore miner. He worked 1500 feet under and ground in the minds mines. He saves money and a coffee can to send my debt to college. My dad went to a twoyear community college. My mom grew up in wisconsin. She moved to minnesota and she taught secondgrade until she was 70 years old. She was a proud union member. [applause] and i stand before you today as the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, as the daughter of the Union Teacher and a union newspaperman. And the first woman elected to the United States senate from the state of minnesota and a candidate for president of the United States. That is what this country is about. No matter where you come from, no matter who you know, no matter how much money you have or what you look like our if you worship and one place or another or who you love, that you can make it and the United States of america because this is a country of shared dreams and shared prosperity. That is what this is. You have a state that understands that community. You understand what happens when the disaster strikes. What happens with hurricane isabel. What happened with the tragedy at Virginia Tech and the horrific recent tragedy at Virginia Beach. That is when ordinary people do extraordinary things. I announced by that river because it was a mile and a half from where that bridge fell down in the middle of a beautiful summer day. What did the world sees just like they solved when they looked at your state . They saw an offduty firefighter who tethered herself to the side of the river and dove in and out, looking for survivors and those mangled cars and trucks. They saw a school bus that plummeted 30 feet and was hanging on a guardrail when a school bus counselor, who couldve just jumped out the back, he got every one of those kids off that bus to safety. That is community. So what is this community and the shared prosperity about . It is about ensuring that all of our families have a fair shot. You should be able to afford college if you work part time. You should be able to of i for prescription drugs and health care. As we know, that is not the case for so many americans. But it can be. I remember one struggling worker who told me a few years ago that she had always thought that the words restore the middle class were nothing but a political bumper sticker. Then her husband lost her job and she had to start working multiple jobs. That is when she saw the words restore the middle class as nothing but a prayer. We need to make restore the middle class more than a bumper sticker, more than a prayer. We need to make it a reality for every american, regardless of where they live or what they look like. [applause] shared prosperity means tearing down barriers to success. Racism and sexism persist in this country. We see it in the schoolyards and in the boardrooms. We see it shouted at white nationalists riots like the tragedy in charlottesville. We hear it from president ial podiums. We see it when the Vice President of a fortune 500 company and my states go shopping at a department store. She is africanamerican. She gets followed by store security. We see it when it pregnant women in new orleans tells her doctor of out swelling in her hands and he does not listen. She loses her baby. We see it every day when a black woman takes home . 61 for every dollar a white man makes. These are barriers that this president does not care about. But these are barriers that the Democratic Party will break down. [applause] democrats, we must take on Child Poverty. As tim kaine has said, fighting poverty is a growth strategy. It is a competitive strategy. But it is also a moral responsibility. Today, 15 million children in america are living in poverty. There are children who fall asleep at their desk because they cannot get a good nights sleep when they dont have a bed or a home. There are children who think that college or a job are for other people. Luckier people. Virginia democrats, we can do this. We can cut Child Poverty in half in 10 years and end Child Poverty in a generation. We can do it by expanding the earned income tax credit, the child care tax credit, and snap and if its an by overhauling our countries housing policy. We can do this. Lets be clear, you cannot have a fair shot in america if you do not have health care. We must move to universal health care and we must take on the pharmaceutical companies. They have two lobbyists for every member of congress. And you wonder why the price of insulin has gone from 18 a vile to 1200 a month. And you wonder why at the pens shot up in price. It is because of the monopoly power of pharmaceutical companies. They think they own washington. But they dont own me. [applause] when it comes to Womens Health, your state, you understand this. You understand that you do not want to be another georgia, with what they did. 73 of americans stand with you. They do not want to overturn roe v. Wade. They do not want to do that. I have put forward a plan for addiction and mental health. For me, it comes from the heart. My dad struggled with alcoholism my whole life. He had three dwis. When he got his third, he had a choice. He was either going to go to jail or he was going to go to treatment. He picked treatment. In his words, with his family and his fate and the help that he was given, he was pursued by grace. I believe that one out of five americans to struggle with a mental illness, one out of two americans who have addiction amongst their family and friends, those people also deserve a chance to be pursued by grace. You and virginia have taken this seriously, inspired by the work of you. We need to take this on as the Public Health crisis that it is. There is one thing that people have not talked that much about that we need to talk about. And that is Climate Change. We have a councilmember here from norfolk and i have seen what is happening there. This is no longer happening and 100 years. It is happening now. As your president , on day one i will sign us back into the international Climate Change agreement. And i will then bring back the obama clean power rules that are on the cutting room floor. And those gas mileage standards. And sweeping legislation to take this on. This is no longer just an issue on the coasts. A candidate from the heartland who has seen the floods, the tornadoes, the wildfires, is the one to take this on. None of this, whether it is Immigration Reform, Climate Change, health care, childrens poverty, none of this will get done unless we protect our democracy. Everything depends on that. You want to take on the nra . We have to get the dark money out of our politics. You did that in virginia. We cannot do it in washington because they are paralyzed by the power of the nra. We are literally losing a classroom of young people every week. That is wrong. We must not just take state action when it comes to guns, we must take federal action. How do we take back our democracy . I have an idea. We can pass a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and get the dark money out of our politics. [applause] we can and partisan gerrymandering. Stop discrimination of the ballot box by restoring the Voting Rights act and it is finally time to pass my bill to register every young person to vote when they turn 18 years old. This is the time to do it. [applause] we have some debates coming up. Mayor pete and i are looking for to them. It will be a lot of fun. You are going to see in that moment that what unifies our party is more important than what divides us. The most of one thing we can do in this election in 2020 is what . Win. We must win this election. I have never lost one race i have ever run. I have one in every Congressional District in my state. Including districts that donald trump one by more than 20 points. Because i did not see that ruralor been urban divide. We dont write off states and we dont write off areas of our country. That is how we went win. I want to end with this we are on a march. That march started the day after donald trump was sworn into office. You remember that day. Millions of americans peacefully marched all over this country, including right here in richmond. What happened nine days later . The antimuslim refugee ban order came out. People spontaneously showed up at airports across the United States. Fastforward today 100, my favorite march, the march for science, with my favorite sign, what do we want . Science. When do we want it . After. View 00 after peer review. We stopped the repeal of the Affordable Care act, president obamas signature legislation. In this moment when no one thought it was possible, it was two states, new jersey, where a legislator said, i hope they will be home in time to make dinner, that guy lost. He was beaten by an africanamerican woman. [applause] and what happened here in the state of virginia . It was an unbelievable victory. You might have barely started that job you are going to finish this fall, but you elect most Diverse Group of people you have ever seen and the virginia legislature. You did that. People stood up and won. In this incredible victory for decency and dignity, doug jones one in the state of alabama. That is the march that we are on. Those parkland students marched. They did not just march, they voted. That takes us to the last election, where you sent us those three incredible women. Where we finally turned to the house of representatives back into the peoples house. That is the march we are on. And it will and in 2020. At any moment that you think you cannot stand another one of these tweets or stories or a president to goes over on foreign soil and calls the mayor of london a stone cold loser and the duchess nasty and goes after an American Company calls for a boycott, that all happened in 24 hours. If you see those things and say i cannot deal with this anymore and you go home, we cant win. We win when we finish the march. Lets get it done. Lets win in 2020. Thank you, virginia democrats. Thank you. [applause] please welcome from south bend, indiana, mayor and president ial candidate Pete Buttigieg. Mayor buttigieg thank you. Thank you, virginia democrats. Lets hear it one more time for my fellow midwesterner, my competitor, and my friend, senator Amy Klobuchar. [applause] thank you for your leadership in the United States senate and thank you to everyone here for demonstrating what a forwardlooking, unified, fearless Democratic Party looks like. We are proud of you. You have a beautiful city here and we are proud to be in richmond. Thank you for showing that even someone a little bit younger than me can be a fantastic leader. Thank you so much for showing of the way to the rest of the country. Since announcing for president , i have spent a lot of time in this commonwealth. Tonight i feel like i have made a whole bunch of new friends. I know virginia is for lovers has a nice ring to it. But it is starting to feel to me like virginia is for buttigieg. [applause] and you make me feel right at home. Last time i was here campaigning, it was last year to help some extraordinary women we saw a running for congress. It is fun to go up to them today and say, hallow congresswomen. Theyre making us proud. As a democrat from a red state, i believe we have to stand together and demonstrate that there is no place in this country were democrats cannot win. Not one state and that one commonwealth. [applause] just ask some of the leaders we met. I know the primary is not that far in the rearview mirror. But virginia democrats are demonstrating the party unity that our entire Democratic Party have to show in 2020 in order to win the white house and i thank you for that. Theres a lot of talk about 2020, as you might expect. But im very glad that we are here to talk about how important 2019 is. Our conservative friends spent decades building up majorities in states and local offices. Now its time for democrats to demonstrate that we know we will never again treat the presidency like it is the only office that matters. [applause] we are here not just to join the conversation but to change the conversation. Changing the conversation means making it not only about our policies, which are the best policies, but about our values. And dont let anybody tell you that values is only something to think about on the conservative side of the aisle. Dont let anybody tell you that freedom is a conservative value. It is an American Value, and we know it. [applause] we know there is more to freedom than getting government out of the way. Sometimes freedom means building of the possibilities for a better life. You are not free if you dont have health care and you cant start a Small Business because you are afraid leaving your job means losing your coverage. Health care is part of your freedom. Freedom comes by way of organizing, which is why we stand with organized labor. Freedom comes by way of education, which is why it is time for a secretary of education who believes in Public Education. [applause] and it is twice as important at a moment like this with the assault on freedom that male politicians stand up with females and say that womens reproductive rights are an american freedom. [applause] freedom is not a conservative value. Neither is patriotism. We are in a commonwealth i almost said state, but i said it was not a good idea we are in a commonwealth i have to get off my chest, because i will slip up and do it at one point tonight. I hope you will forgive me. [laughter] in this commonwealth, we have seen more of our share of people who serve in civilian and military capacities, people who serve one another. When i went into the aircraft that was going to take me to bagram airfield, the flak on my shoulder was not a republican flag. It was an american flag. [no audio] [applause] that flag, among other things, represented the idea of free speech and political dissent. You could criticize the president. The press could cover the president critically. And no one would ever question their loyalty to the republic for which it stands. [applause] lets not give an and shun the issue of security. We are the wants another is a lot more secure to them putting up a wall from sea to shining sea. Security means protecting from 21stcentury threats, cybersecurity, Election Security , and as virginia sadly knows all too well, youre not keeping this country safe if you are not prepared to stand up and defend us from violent White Nationalism claiming lives here and around the world. [applause] from Virginia Tech to Virginia Beach, we know you are not serious about security if you dont have a plan for common sense gun reform. And yes, and an era of climate disruption, it is time to treat Climate Change like the security issue we all know it is. Freedom does not belong to a political party, and neither does the flag. While we are at it, god does not belong to the republican party. [applause] we know that it is the sacred obligation of anyone in office or seeking to stand equally for people of any religion and people of no religion. [applause] but for those of us to our motivated in part by religious teachings, it is worth reflecting that pretty much every faith tradition we know of counsels us to support the marginalized, to heal the sick, to lift of the poor, to welcome the emigrant, and to do it with humility and decency. Dont let them tell you that faith is a republican value. If we want to deliver on our values, the good news is, americans are with us. People agree with us on the issues. People agree with us on these values. The problem is, our democracy has been twisted out of shape by being hard to get our agenda through. We are going to have to go out there and fix the marketing. Democracy. That means getting money out of politics. That means fair districts, some politicians cannot pick their voters anymore. It means that every u. S. Citizen, whether you with an virginia or indiana, or the district of columbia or puerto rico, deserve full, fair Political Representation in this nation. Yes, and the worlds greatest democracy, we might even go so far as to begin choosing our nations leader by counting up all the votes and giving it to the person who got the most. To me, that seems like a common sense thing to do. Lets talk strategy for a second. I am worried about how we make sure we win. Even though this president is deservedly unpopular, there is always a serious risk that he could win again. How does he do it . He does it if we look to much like more of the same. Surprising as it is, the riskiest thing we can do is try to play it safe area safe. We have to understand there is no going back to normal, but the chaos of this moment makes us no better off and our vision is a better vision for the future of america. Remember that a president like the one we have does not get within cheating distance of the oval office is if everything is going ok. That is why we have to fix it. We have defects and economy where a rising tide does not lift all boats. With effect we have to fix be government where suppression of votes changes the answer. We must put that to an end. We have to do something different. In that vein, i would argue there is something to be said for nominating a middleclass, midwestern millennial mayor to take the nomination and take back the white house. I know it is not traditional. Why would we not want a mayor at a time were trying to get washington to look like our best runs cities and towns before it goes the other way. Maybe someone from the industrial midwest, someone who has seen the challenges such communities face, but knows there is no such thing as an Honest Politics for our communities that resolves around the world again. Why not do something completely different . That is what we are all about. I believe that with a completely different message, we can finally break the spell that this president has cast on this country. I know it is hard to look away from the show. I dont even know what kind of show to call it. Is it a game show . Is it a reality show . Maybe it is a horror show. Whatever it is, if we are on his show, we are not winning, which is why instead of trying to compete with him on his terms, we have to change the channel. When the president launches his tweets and taunts, what will we do . Change the channel. When he tries to bring us down to his level, to command our attention and use our taxes feel to go stronger, what will we do . Change the channel. When he tries to distract us from the real issues that americans face, what will he do . We will change the channel. Politics is not about the show. This is not in my speech, but i will get personal with you for a second. Tomorrow is fathers day. Happy fathers day to all of the fathers out there. Tomorrow is also my first wedding anniversary. Its impossible for me to think of one without thinking of the other. Knowledge because we hope to become fathers, but because this my first fathers day without my own father. The reason i want to mention this is that in those last days with him in the hospital, one of the best things i had going for me, in addition to things like medicare, the nature of our family would not be financially destroyed by his illness, in addition to an amazing Faith Community that was there for me every step of the way, there is one more thing i had. Someone who loved me. Someone who could be at the side of his father in law and the hospital, because in the eyes of the law and our hearts, he was my husband. I bring this up because that is what politics is really about. In the most dramatic and vulnerable moments of our lives, those everyday moments when you go to get a safe glass of Drinking Water out of the glock out of the fossett out of the faucet. That is why these choices matter. Thats why we have politics and government. We have to bring it back to the politics of the every day. [applause] be the politics of the future. Because god willing, ill be and lookthe back at the 2020s and decide whether we did the right thing to not only win the presidency, but the era and set america on a better course for the balance of this half century. And if we get it right, well be living in a world where when we hear of a storm coming through, we wont have to wonder whether its part of extreme weather, caused by Climate Change, because we know we had risen to the challenge. Itll be a world that what we have an election, we know that the u. S. Is doing everything it can to keep the election safe and the outcome will reflect the will of the people. [applause] and i want it to be a future where i can say to my kids and grandkids, you know that president whos in office right now, he is from a Different Party from mine, but in book form, but i can also tell you she is a good you she is a good person, she is doing the best she can. [applause] the world we could have, the world that this chaotic moment is holding us back from is a world that we can only build together. But im pretty sure that with the energy in this room, we can Start Building it together, not in 2020, but right now in 2019. Never forget that running for office is an act of hope. Giving money to somebody running for office is an act of hope. Coming to a dinner with an awful lot of speakers who are running for office is an act of hope. You are living the hope of our time. Are you not hopeful this evening even in this challenging time we live in . [applause] are you ready to unite and win, not only the election, but the era that is ahead of us . Are you ready to change the channel to something completely different . [applause] then im pretty sure we cannot lose and i cant wait to see you on the trail and celebrate every step of the way. Thank you, and keep at it. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] for our closing remarks, please welcome the 70th governor and United States senator, tim kaine. Sen. Kaine hello, richmond. [applause] sen. Kaine hello, virginia democrats. Please have a seat. What a magnificent evening in my hometown. I want to do a very few thank yous. I am the last speaker. Thats an applause line. [applause] sen. Kaine i want to do a few thank yous, and then give you an encouragement. First, anna and i want to thank you for 2018. I have never gotten more than 52 in any race i had ever run. My races were always being called late in the evening. My race was called in november at 7 01 p. M. Because of your great work. [applause] sen. Kaine but as you all know, there was a lot of drama that night, because we waited up late to see that Jennifer Wexton and Abigail Spanberger flip red seats to blue and help us take the house back. Anna and i are both so very thankful for your support in now 25 years serving richmond and the commonwealth and the country. We love you guys. Thanks so much. [applause] sen. Kaine i want to thank mayor pete and senator amy. Give them a round. [applause] sen. Kaine it is wonderful to have mayor pete here in this city where i was a mayor. My nephew, john, works at south Bend City Hall as an employee of mayor pete and says wonderful things about him. We are thrilled to have him here with us tonight. Thanks, mayor pete. Senator Amy Klobuchar is one of my best friends in the senate. Shes got just about the highest iq of anybody on the democratic side, which means she has about the highest iq of anyone in the senate. She is hardworking and fearless and she is very, very funny. We got a lot of people in the senate who act funny, and only a few people who really are funny. Amy klobuchar is very funny. Amy, we love you. Thanks to you and john for being here tonight. And finally, i want to thank all of you, not for 2018, but for 2019. This generation of virginia democrats has led the single most powerful turnaround in the state from red to blue in the United States in the last 50 years. Youve done that. Youve done that. When mark warner and i came in together in 2001, everything was republican. Everything. Now, we had all the statewide officeholders, both u. S. Senators, Strong Majority on our house delegation, we won more electoral votes the last few times, and we will win them in 2020. [applause] sen. Kaine the only thing we lack, and it is so close we can taste it, is the majorities in our twostate houses. House of delegates, state senate, thank you for ensuring that come january, we will have the majority in both houses and we will run the table in the last 15 years. You can do that, and i know you will do that. [applause] sen. Kaine last thing. If you can just take a minute, i want to ask you to do something. We have just come through primary week. Democratic primaries are tough. My least favorite race was a threeway democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor in 2001. I like running against republicans a lot better than i like running against democrats. [applause] sen. Kaine and weve got folks in this room tonight who ran and won, and who courageously ran and lost. Lets be honest, there are some raw feelings after the dust settles. And there are people can i be plain with you . After my race, there are people who want to write a story about divisions within the Democratic Party. Are there divisions on issues, are there divisions between our legislative candidates and our statewide officeholders . So what i want to do is to remind you, as you go out and canvas, as you go out and reach out between now and november, i want to remind you that the differences within the democratic family are so small compared to the differences between democrats and republicans in this country, especially during the age of donald j. Trump. So let me just summarize as i close. If you are talking to voters, and they want to ask you about differences, or if you ever talk to voters and they ask you the difference between democrats and republicans, just say this. We believe health care is a right. Republicans dont. We believe women can be trusted to make their own reproductive decisions. Republicans dont. We believe in climate science. Republicans dont. We believe in common sense steps to reduce gun violence. Republicans dont. We believe in the power of organized labor and the need to increase the minimum wage and republicans dont. We believe that Voter Suppression is wrong and republicans dont. We believe in campaign finance, and republicans dont. We believe in the Voting Rights act and republicans dont. We believe in the full equality of every person, including our lgbtq neighbors and republicans dont. We believe in comprehensive Immigration Reform and republicans dont. We believe that tax relief should be for people, not corporations, and republicans dont. We believe in paycheck equity for women. And republicans dont. We believe in diplomacy and treaties. And republicans dont. We believe that veterans like john mccain should be honored, not ridiculed, and republicans dont. We believe that a president should not start a war or a trade war without a vote of congress, and republicans dont. We believe in comprehensive Early Childhood education and republicans dont. Strategies to reduce the cost of college. And republicans dont. We believe that a president should not invite hostile nations to invade our democracy and republicans dont. [applause] sen. Kaine we believe any president should follow the rule of law, and republicans dont. We believe any president should respect the allies and respect the press and respect the courts, and republicans dont. The difference between democrats and republicans is vaster than any of us in this room. Thats all we have to tell our friends and neighbors between now and november. If we do, we will have a wonderful victory. We are a values party. We believe in equality, initiative, community. We know we are more than a party. We are a beautiful and diverse family. It has been a great Family Reunion tonight. We have work to do. Lets band together and do it. Take both houses and celebrate bigtime in november. Thank you all for being here. Thanks to Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg and susan swagger and all of our good virginia democrats. Have a good night. [applause] thank you for attending the 2019 blue commonwealth gala. Please have a great evening in richmond. [applause] [crowd chatter] next, live, your calls and comments on washington journal. Johnhen newsmakers with yarmuth from kentucky. After that, Amy Klobuchar and mayor pete speak at the commonwealth gala. Think off us, when we winston churchill, we think of the older man sending younger men into war that no one knew better and few new as well the realities of war. The terror and the devastation. He said to his mother after his second war, the war comes through, you cannot gild it. He knew the disaster that were was. A theght on q and historian talks about the early er