Samasal has picked up some key endorsements before the June 18 primary, including: Spanberger, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D), U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) and former Gov. Ralph Northam (D).
Issues that are likely to be flashpoints in the 2024 election are:
- Reproductive Rights: The governance stakes have focused on reproductive rights, particularly Republican support for limits. The 2023 election showed broad support for abortion access.
- Social Security and Medicare: These programs are a major point of contention between Democrats and Republicans.
- Education: Republicans’s focus on targeting educational curriculum and parents’ rights to decisions made by schools. However, book-banning candidates fared poorly in 2023, so the tactic may backfire.
- Culture Wars: Particularly those targeting the LGBTQ community, are also expected to be a major issue in the 2024 election for both parties.