We are less than two weeks away from Election Day — 35 Senate seats and all 435 House of Representatives seats are up for election, potentially affecting the current House majority. Residents should be cognizant of recent changes to congressional boundaries in the Commonwealth. Rep. Bob Good and challenger Democrat Josh Throneburg are competing for the District 5 seat, which contains localities stretching from Charlottesville to the North Carolina border. After reviewing both candidates' platforms and policies, The Cavalier Daily’s Editorial Board endorses Josh Throneburg for Congress.
Good has had two years to support his constituents, and he has failed. His legislative history speaks for itself — Good has sponsored legislation prohibiting abortions, funding a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and loosening restrictions on gun silencers. He also squabbled with Rep. Abigail Spanberger to defend Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s transgender policy, falsely claiming that Democrats believe in “grooming and encouraging gender confusion of elementary and middle school students.” Good enshrines a stereotype against queer and transgender people, neglecting the fact that a leading cause of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth is the transphobia and homophobia of bigots. Youngkin’s policy — and Good’s defense of it — is a direct attack on Virginia’s transgender community. Good has not just failed to represent Virginia — he actively works against our best interests.
At the bare minimum, Virginians deserve someone who defends democracy. Good is in bad company with over a hundred Republican representatives who deny the 2020 presidential election results. He also voted against legislation recognizing those who protected lawmakers during the Capitol insurrection. He has not spent a single day in office contributing to the general welfare of democracy, much less District 5. Now is the time for Virginians to vocalize their disapproval by voting to unseat him.
Throneburg is the right choice for District 5 because he plans to work for each and every community member. Firstly, Throneburg has vowed to address the climate emergency our nation is facing. If elected, Throneburg will commit himself to transitioning the district to renewable energy sources, implementing a progressive corporate tax on carbon emissions and creating a network of green jobs to support this transition. Additionally, Throneburg wants to ensure District 5’s vast rural and agricultural communities are not overlooked. Throneburg has promised to address the underinvestment in these areas by developing programs to rebuild rural schools, expanding broadband internet and providing grants to rehabilitate homes and infrastructure. Throneburg has also made obtaining access to affordable, quality healthcare one of his top priorities once he enters office. In Charlottesville, rural patients currently are at a disadvantage in receiving adequate healthcare — having higher mortality rates than their urban counterparts — which has been exacerbated by COVID-19. To combat this, Throneburg will cap drug costs and expand funding for the Community Health Center Fund — which will give more support to satellite medical services that are more widely available to rural communities. Throneburg’s commitment to fixing the issues pertinent to District 5 is evident — and it is the reason he deserves our vote.
Where Good has actively denied the human rights of marginalized groups in Virginia, Throneburg has pledged to fight for them. He has promised to protect LGBTQ+ rights by passing the Equality Act codifying gender identity protections and hopes to pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would require states receiving Title IV funds to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment. Throneburg will also fight for a woman’s right to choose abortion. While abortion is currently legal in Virginia, that does not ensure its longevity. In office, Throneburg has vowed to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade into law and expanding funding for community-based organizations helping maternal health. Throneburg is clearly the best choice to ensure human rights are protected in Congress.
Early voting has already begun in Virginia and will continue until Nov. 5. For those who are away from home and are registered to vote elsewhere, absentee ballots can be requested up until Oct. 28, and must be postmarked and returned by Election Day on Nov. 8. For more information on the election including college student information and same day voter registration, visit Virginia's election website. Much is at stake this election cycle, and we have the opportunity to do something about it. Let's not let it go to waste. District 5 must be represented by someone great — not Good.
The Cavalier Daily Editorial Board is composed of the Executive Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, the two Opinion Editors, the two Senior Associates and an Opinion Columnist. The board can be reached at eb@cavalierdaily.com.
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