Democrats hold their primary on June 23rd, and they have plenty of choice in the 5th Congressional District. Sandy Hausman spoke with all four candidates, and you'll find her interviews with them below along with this brief profile of those seeking the nomination.
The candidates have similar positions on most of the issues -- supporting the Affordable Care Act, for example, and controlling prescription drug prices, but on those issues, Cameron Webb says he should be elected. Webb has a law degree, practices medicine at UVA and was on President Obama’s healthcare team.
“For as long as we don’t have doctors or providers who are in the space making the rules, the rules are going to continue to miss the mark im terms of actually serving patients.”
As an African-American, Webb thinks he’s the one who can win in a district that’s gone Republican in 8 of the last 9 congressional elections. Two years ago, Democrat Leslie Cockburn lost by just over 20,000 votes.
“The numbers that stood out to me were 38,000 – which is the number of unregistered black voters here in the 5th congressional district and then 33,000 was the number of registered black voters who didn’t vote in 2018.”
RD Huffstettler sees a different path to victory – wooing independents who may, last time, have voted for Denver Riggleman. Forty percent of the district is neither Democrat nor Republican – and 65% of voters live in rural communities.
“I believe that a rural veteran from North Carolina, whose grandmother worked in a textile mill for 40 years, whose grandfather drove an 18-wheeler, whose dad worked as a UAW worker, is going to be extremely competitive against a right-wing extremist.”
He's more moderate than progressive on some issues -- supporting decriminalization over legalization of pot and calling for reform but not defunding police followng George Floyd's death.
“In the marine corps we are taught a continuum of force, and only on the fifth level – when your life is endangered and you know someone else has a weapon – would you be able to use lethal force, and when you watch this horrific video you were just knocked over the head by two things. First of all, that officer was in no danger. And then second of all, what are these other cops doing?”
John Lesinski is the only primary candidate with government experience – a Democrat elected to the school and county boards in Republican Rappahanock County. A real estate broker for industrial properties, Lesinski would focus on creating jobs after the coronavirus put 40 million people out of work.
“Many of the jobs that they lost may not be there in our new economy – especially those involving bricks and mortar and the service industry.”
He proposes training more people to install rural broadband, build infrastructure and renewable energy. A former Marine, Lesinski supports cutting defense spending and getting the U.S. out of Afghanistan.
“Frankly, we’re in areas where we’re focused on defending fossil fuels, when we really ought to be weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels.”
He rejects the use of military tactics by police, supports the legalization of marijuana and wants to get big money out of politics.
The fourth candidate, Claire Russo, also backs campaign finance reform and has refused any money from PACS. A patriot since the age of six, she says, she served in the marines as an intelligence officer and thinks that’s a good credential for serving in Congress.
“I am a combat-tested leader who has never shied away from a tough fight.”
But she also touts her experience as the wife of an active-duty soldier and a mother.
“My daughter coming to me, worrying about the weapons my husband carries on the battlefield in her classroom is just too personal and unacceptable, and American families choosing between groceries and healthcare is also unacceptable.”
She's a victim of sexual assault and talks openly about the experience, arguing prisons do too little to rehabilitate criminals.
The winner of the primary will take on Republican Bob Good in November. Good won a nominating convention on June 14th.
