Meet the candidates: Del. Kaye Kory

Del. Kaye Kory

We sent the same questionnaire to the two people running in the Democratic Primary for the 38th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates: the incumbent, Kaye Kory, and challenger Holly Hazard. 

The 38th District includes most of Annandale inside the Beltway, Lake Barcroft, and parts of Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners.

The Democratic Primary is June 8. Early voting has already begun and will expand to more satellite locations on May 29, including the Mason Government Center and Thomas Jefferson Library.

The following answers were submitted by Del. Kory. Hazard’s responses were published yesterday. 

Annandale Blog: What are your specific qualifications for representing the 38th District in the House of Delegates? 

Kaye Kory: I am particularly well qualified to represent the 38th District in the Virginia House of Delegates after 10 years of successful legislative and constituent advocacy experience as the 38th District delegate.   

I have conceived, drafted, collaborated, and successfully advocated for significant legislation while serving with a Republican majority and with a Democratic majority. I now serve as the chair of the House of Delegates’ Cities Counties and Towns Committee, Chair of the Disability Commission, Chair of the Animal Welfare Caucus, Chair of the Women’s Health Care Caucus and in the leadership of the House Democratic Caucus. Collectively, these positions create a powerful platform for representing the interests, values, and concerns of all my constituents, regardless of party, in the 38th. 

I am honored to have been recognized by a diverse group of advocacy organizations for my effective support of initiatives on their policy agendas. For example, I have consistently been recognized by the Sierra Club (for the past 10 years), the League of Conservation Voters (10 years), and Clean Virginia (three years, since its founding in 2018). In 2021, the Sierra Club named me a “Legislative Leader” for bills I was able to pass during the session.   

My environmental activism has also been recognized by Faith Action for Climate Solutions, which named me the Sustainability Champion for bringing “moral and equitable solutions to climate change to Northern Virginia.” I have been named a Green New Deal Champion, as well.

Virginia Interfaith Power and Light has named me a “Champion of Justice” for my criminal justice reform legislation, which has made Virginia a national leader in healthcare for incarcerated women. Emily’s List and Virginia’s List have endorsed my re-election based upon my years of work for women’s rights, particularly my ERA leadership. 

My animal welfare activism has led to years of awards from organizations like PETA and Humane Domain. I was recently recognized by Cruelty Free International for my ground-breaking Humane Cosmetics Act.

These awards and this recognition are important for voters to keep in mind because they are based on actual accomplishments, rather than lofty campaign promises, however passionately expressed. 

My primary campaign is supported by environmental advocates, animal welfare advocates, teachers, labor organizations, women’s rights groups, and gun violence prevention advocates.

My constituents know that I will fight for them, whether it is preventing a DMV from locating in Barcroft Plaza, assistance with state agencies, recognizing their children’s academic honors, years of organizing food drives, hosting Art-Ability art shows, providing regular information about state government actions, and help in handling state-related personal issues.

During my 10 years as an elected school board member, before I was elected to the House of Delegates, I demanded and was able to deliver significantly increased investment in school facilities and programs to Mason District, which had been consistently overlooked and underfunded.  

Education has always been my driving passion and I have been an outspoken and effective advocate for increased funding and programs that have a significant impact on structural inequities, as well as specific reforms targeted to underserved communities. For example, I was chief co-patron of the bill that allowed in-state tuition for DACA students. 

AB: What are the three most critical issues facing the 38th District? How would you address them? What are the three most critical issues facing the state? How would you address them?

KK: Looking forward, the three most critical issues facing the 38th are not unlike the three most critical issues facing the Commonwealth: education, environment, and criminal justice reform. I will address these urgent issues with strong advocacy, legislative initiatives, and fighting for increased funding at the local, state, and federal levels.

AB: What would be the first bill you would introduce in the next session?

KK: I believe that transparency and consumer involvement in state-level energy decisions are desperately needed in our commonwealth. This is a top legislative priority for me, both in the upcoming special session and in 2022.  

AB: How would you involve constituents in local government matters?

KK: Citizen involvement has always been a key element of my philosophy as a legislator and community activist. I have been a member of the Civic Education Commission, worked with our civic associations, homeowners’ associations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, PTAs, and local schools to encourage civic involvement and to explain how our local and state governments work. 

I have held workshops and in-person and virtual town halls and brought constituents to Richmond as citizen lobbyists, interns, and members of my caucuses. The only way we will create an equitable and just Virginia is by lifting up, respecting, and listening to all voices.

It is an honor to serve the 38th District.