Top fundraiser Sen. Surovell starts PAC to elect Democrats

Senator Scott Surovell, who represents part of Prince William County, says he is launching Protect Our Progress PAC to defend significant gains Democrats made during the historic 2020 and 2021 Sessions of the General Assembly of Virginia. 

The PAC will allocate resources around the Commonwealth to ensure Democrats hold their majority in the State Senate in the 2023 General Assembly Elections, Surovell said.

Surovell highlighted his goals for the new PAC. “Over 13 years in the legislature, I’ve developed a good sense of what it’s like to be in the majority, the minority, and almost a superminority,” Surovell said. “Every year, I go to Richmond and fight to make the Commonwealth a better place to live, work, and raise a family. This PAC will be a war chest to win elections and communicate with voters. My strong fundraising totals the last few years indicate to me that Virginians are happy with the progress we made in 2020 and 2021. We won’t let opponents take us backward.”

According to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), Surovell consistently ranks among the top legislators for donations from small-dollar donors and was #1 in total dollars raised from small donors in 2020. Legislators typically raise funds from small donors, industry associations, labor organizations, and lobbyists. His colleagues recognize Surovell’s ability to deliver strong fundraising results year after year and elevated him to Senate Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman in 2020.

During the 2020 and 2021 legislative session, Surovell passed historic legislation to repeal the Death Penalty, prevent firearm violence, reform policing and criminal justice, and promote the transformation of Virginia’s energy production. Democrats also delivered significant gains for workers and families including an increase in the minimum wage, a massive transportation investment package, and healthcare reforms.

After the election of Governor Youngkin and the loss of the Democratic majority in the House of Delegates, the Senate Democratic Caucus one-vote majority prevented numerous bills from passing, including attempts to:

·  Reinstate the Death Penalty;

·  To reinstate unnecessary abortion ultrasounds, a 24-hour waiting period for abortions, biased abortion “counseling,” restrictions on nurse practitioners from providing abortion care, and authorizing hospital-level regulations on outpatient abortion clinics;

·  Repeal Virginia’s ban on guns on Capitol Square and churches or allow local bans in libraries, parks, farmer’s markets, and marches;

·  Repeal Virginia’s universal background check law, “Red Flag” law, One-Gun-A-Month Law, and allow permit-less carrying of concealed weapons;

·  Repeal no excuse absentee voting, same day registration, drop boxes or reduce Virginia’s early voting period from 45 days to 10 days;

·  Repeal Virginia’s minimum wage increase, collective bargaining for local government workers and authority for local governments to require prevailing wages in procurements;

·  Repeal reforms allowing sealing of minor criminal convictions, good time credits for prisoners, the admission of mental health evidence in criminal cases;

·  Repeal the Virginia Clean Energy Act, legislation authorizing Virginia’s joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or the California Vehicle Emissions standards to facilitate electric vehicle sales; and

·  Allow discrimination against any group protected under the Virginia Human Rights Act including LGBTQ individuals.

“Between 2020-21, Virginia made major progress and began leading our country on many issues, but that progress is on the verge of being undone if we cannot sustain and grow our one-vote majority in the Senate of Virginia in 2023.  The new map drawn by the Supreme Court of Virginia has created a very competitive battlefield and I intend to defend and grow that majority,” Surovell said. 

Virginia law allows campaign contributions from individuals, businesses, non-profits, and labor associations. Donations over $100 and all expenditures are reported on elections.virginia.gov and updated on a semi-annual basis.

Senator Surovell currently represents the 36th Senate District and lives in the newly-created 34th Senate District which is wholly within Fairfax County and will take effect for the 2023 Election.