Lt. gov. candidate Aaron Rouse vows to stand up for democracy
Virginia Sen. Aaron Rouse says he is running for lieutenant governor because democracy is under threat from the Trump administration.
“If we don’t step up and fight back to protect it, then our democracy will be over,” Rouse told a gathering in Arlington on June 5.
“They tried to come for women’s rights. They’re still trying. We’re not going to let that happen,” he said. They’re coming for our immigrant community. We’re not going to let that happen. Next, they’ll be coming for Americans. We’re not going to let that happen.”
Rouse is one of six candidates running in the Democratic Primary on June 17. Voting is underway and will start today, at 1 p.m., at satellite locations, including the Mason District Government Center and the Thomas Jefferson Library.
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Rouse was raised by a single mother in Hampton Roads. He was the first in his family to go to college. He played football for Virginia Tech, then was drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
“I am the only candidate that has local and state experience and an effective record of getting things done,” he said.
As a member of the Virginia Beach City Council, Rouse fought for voting rights, higher pay for city workers, tax relief for seniors, funds for summer youth employment programs, and legislation to protect the infrastructure from rising sea levels due to climate change.
Rouse won a seat on the Virginia Senate in a special election in 2023, flipping a district formerly represented by a Republican and which Gov. Glen Youngkin won by five points.
In the Virginia Senate, he worked with his colleagues “to make sure we passed meaningful legislation,” he said, including the income tax credit, protection for women’s rights, and tax relief for seniors and people with disabilities.
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“I fought for and passed a bill to protect our federal workers and independent contractors. I stood up and said we’re going to pass this bill because I don’t like what we’re seeing coming out of Washington,” he said.
In football, you can’t sit and wait for something to happen, he said. “If you don’t stop a running back who’s running to score a touchdown, you’re going to lose.”
With Abigail Spanberger at the top of the ticket, I can tell you I’m going to be the best teammate ever. I’m going to be blocking; I’m going to be tackling, I’m going to be scoring,” he said.
“All eyes are on Virginia,” Rouse said. “If we show up this year, if we show up loud, if we show up strong, that gives us the momentum we will need to go into the midterms so we can get back the purse strings of Congress. It starts right here. We have to have all hands on deck, because too much is at stake.”
