Voters in Williamsburg, James City and New Kent counties gave Republican Del. Amanda Batten a third term in the Virginia House of Delegates.
The Associated Press called the House District 71 race for Batten at 1:07 a.m. on Wednesday. With all precincts reporting, Batten secured 51.93% of the vote — 17,968, to Democratic challenger Jessica Anderson’s 48.01% — 16,611, according to unofficial results.
Uncounted are provisional ballots cast on Election Day. A number of William & Mary students stood in line to vote on Tuesday in Williamsburg — many of them registered the same day and voted provisionally.
Election officials said there were about 300 provisional votes cast in James City County and about 700 in Williamsburg. Those votes cannot be reported until Monday, and results will be certified sometime next week.
Batten, 44, has represented House District 96 for two terms, but statewide redistricting put her in the new District 71. The redrawn district includes all of James City County and Williamsburg, and part of New Kent County.
Batten said this campaign was different than her two previous runs for office because the legislative lines had shifted and much of her messaging was informing voters of the change. She indicated that General Assembly elections like this year’s are considered an “off-off year” because they align neither with national elections nor with the Virginia gubernatorial race.
But she was nevertheless pleased with the turnout. “I’m glad that so many people in the 71st District realized the importance of these races,” she said.
Among the themes that Batten concentrated on in her campaign were good governance, maintaining high academic standards, keeping the cost of living affordable and having smart energy policies.
Anderson’s campaign focused on several issues that arouse strong feelings among the electorate, among them abortion and public schools.
In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Anderson said, Virginia is at a crossroads, with the prospect of much more restrictive abortion laws on the line.
Support for public schools also drove many voters to the polls, said Anderson, 41, a public school employee and parent. She said that while some might have been motivated by the culture wars, many families she heard from simply wanted adequate public school funding to make sure that classrooms were fully staffed.
House of Delegates candidate Jessica Anderson speaks with fellow Democrats on election night at The Corner Pocket in New Town. Ben Swenson/freelance
Anderson said that her stances were in line with majority opinions on issues, and that just in the last week, she heard from 10 people who crossed party lines to vote for her. One man she spoke to said that while he normally votes Republican, he cast his ballot for her because he agreed with her opinions on gun storage laws.
Abortion was another issue that caused many voters to buck the party line, according to Anderson. “A lot of Republicans, especially a lot of Republican women, don’t want to see abortion access restricted,” she said.
Batten expressed gratitude for all those not only who supported her campaign, but offered her feedback along the way. “I’m grateful and I’m humbled,” she said.
Anderson, too, was appreciative for all those who took time to help her along the way. “Thank you for believing in me,” she said.
Amanda E. Batten is a Republican candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates District 71. Her name will appear on the ballot on November 7, 2023.
Batten is running against Jessica L. Anderson.
The first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office for this election is Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race with specific questions. The responses below came directly from the candidate and are unedited. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Biography: First elected in 2019, Delegate Amanda Batten currently serves as Majority Caucus Chair in the Virginia House of Delegates. She is a member of the House Commerce and Energy, House Education, and House Public Safety Committees. Amanda also serves on the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees, the Commission on Civic Education, the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission, the Online Virginia Network Authority, and the Governor’s Aerospace Advisory Council. Prior to her election, Amanda worked as a legislative aide for members of the General Assembly. She resides in Toano with her husband, Rick, and has one adult son and three adult stepdaughters. Amanda is a James City County Ruritan member and a board member of the Colonial Virginia Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Why are you running for this office?
I take seriously the privilege of participating in our representative democracy. Over the course of the past fifteen years, my political volunteerism evolved into a vocation, thereby affording me the privilege of working with local residents and stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities facing our region. I know firsthand the issues affecting the district, and I look forward to continuing to serve constituents and champion commonsense solutions. What is the most important issue facing Virginia, and what is your position on it? Pandemic-induced learning loss poses a grave challenge to our Commonwealth. Ensuring that students are reading and achieving math competency is critical to the future success of our nation, and we must pursue every option—and seek innovative solutions—to tackle this challenge. Science-based reading instruction will be critical to this outcome, and I look forward to expanding Virginia’s literacy programs.
What it the top challenge facing your district, and how would you address it?
As I speak with constituents, the high cost of living is constantly mentioned. I will work to carefully assess the costs—both hidden and overt—of each policy to ensure that the price is not simply passed along to consumers. For example, a substantial percentage of the cost of new construction is directly tied to regulatory requirements. Similarly, energy bills include a growing list of fees (known as “riders”) that are the direct result of legislation passed by the General Assembly. Well-intentioned policies can often place an undue burden on those already facing financial struggles.
What is your view on Governor Glen Youngkin’s proposal for a 15-week abortion ban with restrictions?
I believe Virginians can reach consensus on commonsense policies regarding abortion. Most Virginians oppose late-term abortion and are rightfully appalled by the concept of abortion for any reason up until the moment of birth. Governor Youngkin’s proposed 15-week restriction (with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother after 15 weeks) mirrors many longstanding European policies. I expect Virginians can use this proposal to begin a reasonable and science-based policy discussion.
How do you feel about the politicization of public education?
Virginians expect high academic standards and student proficiency in basic subjects. Every instructional minute is valuable, and parents rightfully believe the classroom needs to be an orderly space in which demonstrable academic skills are acquired and measured. Time spent pursuing partisan or subjective issues detracts from instructional time. The focus and goal must remain on teaching students how to think—not what to think.
What legislation would you plan to sponsor in your first year?
During my fifth year in office, I plan to reintroduce bipartisan legislation codifying consumer protections for users of earned wage access (EWA) services. These widely used services allow workers to access the pay they have earned at work but have not yet received due to the payroll cycle. No current protections exist in state law, leaving consumers vulnerable to potentially predatory practices.
What is your view on unlimited campaign contributions? Should that change?
As demonstrated on the federal level, fixed campaign contribution levels shift much of the spending to outside organizations that have no requirement to disclose donors. I prefer a fully transparent system wherein all donors (and expenditures) are clearly identified and voters have the ability to use this information when determine make judgements.
How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree?
Disagreement on policy is a feature of our democratic republic; however, every perspective is unique and valuable. As an elected legislator, I serve and represent all constituents—regardless of their political affiliation—and consistently act with respect and civility.
Do you think James City County and Williamsburg should continue sharing a school system or would you help to create two new separate systems?
The decision to either maintain or separate the joint Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools is currently being studied on the local level. I trust our city and county representatives to carefully analyze the data and determine the best outcome for students, and I look forward to working with them throughout the process.
Moderator Mindy Carlin of Access Point poses a question to the candidates. (Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce)
WILLIAMSBURG — With early voting slated to begin Friday, The Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce held its 2023 Candidate Forum Monday at Colonial Heritage.
All 140 General Assembly seats are on the ballot in November after redistricting. Of the area’s current delegation, Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-Williamsburg, chose not to seek reelection to spend time with his family and return to teaching. Redistricting also saw him in the same district as Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover. Del. Mike Mullin, D-Newport News, first elected to the House in 2015, also chose not to seek reelection to spend more time with family. Redistricting had left him in a Republican-friendly district.
Republicans held a 52-48 majority earlier this year in the House of Delegates, and Democrats a 22-18 majority in the Senate. With all seats up for grabs, Republicans have the opportunity to take full legislative control. Conversely, Democrats could keep the Senate and flip the House. Or the government could remain divided. Regardless, the outcome will have a marked effect on what Republican Gov. Glenn Younkin will be able to achieve in the months ahead.
Locally, in the Senate, the City of Williamsburg, James City and York Counties will be represented by two members, while three members of the House of Delegates will represent the area after the Nov. 7 election.
The candidates for Senate District 24 are incumbent Democrat Monty Mason, who formerly represented Senate District 1, and Republican Danny Diggs, who served as Sheriff of York County and the City of Poquoson for 23 years. In Senate District 26, McDougle, who formerly represented Senate District 4, is facing off against Democrat Pamela Gardner of Gloucester.
In House District 69, Republican Chad Green, a member of the York County Board of Supervisors, is running unopposed. House District 71 sees incumbent Republican Amanda Batten, who formerly represented the 96th District, challenged by Democrat and political newcomer Jessica Anderson. In House District 86, former 91st District representative A.C. Cordoza, a Republican, faces Democrat Jarris Taylor, the current director of Hampton University Online.
Left to right, Angela Bezik – Legislative Affairs Committee Chair and program sponsor: Principle Advantage Government Relations, Republican Candidate Chad Green, Democrat Challenger Pamela Garner, Democrat Senator Monty Mason, Democrat Challenger Jessica Anderson, Democratic challenger, Dr. Jarris Taylor, Mindy Carlin, Access point, Terry Banez – Chamber CEO, Republican Delegate A.C. Cordoza, Republican candidate Danny Diggs, Republican Delegate Amanda Batten, Republican Senator Ryan McDougle, Emily Reynolds – Access Point, Cassidy Taylor – Access point. (Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce)
The full slate of local House and Senate candidates took the stage for the forum, offering local business leaders an opportunity to hear from each on a wide variety of topics including business regulation, right-to-work, affordable housing, offshore wind, and transportation.
The forum was a largely civil affair and candidates respected the time limitations. The newcomers — Garner, Anderson and Taylor — used the forum to introduce themselves to the local business leaders, as did McDougle, who despite his long career in Richmond, found himself in front of a new crowd thanks to redistricting.
Many of the incumbents touted their ability to work across the aisle and their accomplishments — in particular, the recent compromise that ended a six-month stalemate over amendments to the two-year state budget. That compromise combined short-term tax reductions with investments in education, behavioral health and pollution reduction.
“I was very happy to go back and vote on a compromised budget. Last year, as you know, we provided about $3.8 billion in tax relief in the first year of the budget. This year, we’re focused on putting that money towards education, but in a compromise fashion,” Mason said. “We decided to have a tax rebate as well… but at the same time applying about $700 million towards K through 12, including a lot of flexible money to allow the school systems to focus on some of the learning loss we’ve seen. We also applied a lot of money — $189 million — in mental health, and then some college affordability and higher education money.”
The sharpest differences were between Mason and Diggs, in what pundits see as a very tight race that could help Republicans flip the Senate.
“Let’s not kid ourselves. There’s a stark contrast between me and my opponent, especially on the topics of taxes, public safety, education, and business,” Diggs said. “As your state senator, I will fight to lower our taxes. My opponent hasn’t found a tax he isn’t willing to hike. He has voted to double the gas tax, supported putting tolls on Interstate 64, and is actively fought Gov. Youngkin every step of the way of reducing other taxes.”
Mason pointed out that monies raised from taxes went back into the community, and that they were a big part of how the I-64 projects were getting done.
But, despite party ideological differences, the candidates often found themselves in agreement on priorities, and the need to represent the region with some degree of unity in Richmond.
“Some folks show up in Richmond because they have absolutely the very best idea that is going to revolutionize everything in Virginia, and they are there to make sure that that happens. And, maybe they do have the best idea. And some folks are there because they are very wed to your party ideology and there’s nothing wrong with that either. We all certainly represent our respective parties,” Batten explained. “But having worked as a legislative aide for legislators in this area for a number of years, I think I bring a different perspective to Richmond. I look at everyone in this room, the organizations that you represent and that you serve, and I carry those ideas with me to Richmond. I strive every day to listen very carefully to what the folks in our community really want. I recognize that we are unique in relation to all the other areas of the Commonwealth.”
Per the Virginia Department of Elections, the first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office is Friday, Sept. 22. The deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration is Oct. 16. Voters may register after that date through Election Day, however, their ballot will be provisional. The deadline to apply to have a ballot mailed to you is Oct. 27. The request must be received by your local voter registration office by 5 p.m. Voter registration offices open for early voting on Saturday, Oct. 28. The last day of in-person early voting at your local voter registration office is Saturday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m.
PUBLISHED: August 9, 2023 at 9:50 a.m. | UPDATED: August 9, 2023 at 10:26 a.m.
Del. Amanda Batten said she is eager to serve constituents for a third term in the House of Delegates. Challenger Jessica Anderson believes the formerly-safe Republican seat is much more competitive because of statewide redistricting.
Every 10 years, officials redraw districts for all 140 General Assembly seats based on U.S. Census figures. Until her term expires early next year, Batten represents the 96th House District, which includes parts of James City and York counties. General Assembly elections on Nov. 7 will fill seats in the redrawn districts.
Batten resides in the new 71st House District, which no longer includes York County, but instead comprises portions of James City County, New Kent County and Williamsburg.
Batten said losing York County is unfortunate, but she’s ready to represent new constituents.
“I live geographically almost dead center” of the redrawn district, close to New Kent County, Batten said.
Batten believes Williamsburg is a logical addition to the redrawn district, and while everyone thinks their own community is special, she said the Historic Triangle is truly a unique place.
According to Batten, she initially ran for office in 2019 to serve her neighbors as a legislator, having gained ample experience behind the scenes as a legislative aide.
Four years later, she said, she’s running on the strong record of her first two terms. Her elevation to leadership status among House Republicans — she is now caucus chair — will help her more effectively serve constituents, she said.
Batten said that she’s deeply committed to the priorities that constituents bring to her, and to determining the needs of the community and advocating on their behalf.
Anderson, meanwhile, believes that she brings to voters a resonant story and message that will give her the upper hand in November.
“I can speak to the issues in a very real way that (Batten) can’t,” Anderson said.
According to Anderson, the catalyst for her foray into politics was the end of her first marriage and, prior to her remarriage in 2017, navigating the subsequent fallout as a single mother. She had to access the social safety net, an experience she describes as humbling.
“The system is not set up to want people to be successful, to grow and get off the system,” she said.
Anderson said her work in the public school system has given her a firsthand look at many other families in similar circumstances for whom legislative decisions are harming.
The Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol compelled Anderson to be more conspicuous in her political advocacy, she said. She began speaking out in public forums and racked up substantial followings on politically-themed social media accounts.
Both campaigns are busy fundraising and door-knocking in the 71st House District. The candidates both say they welcome the opportunity for a vigorous political contest.
“I have a legislative record — votes I’ve cast and legislation I’ve carried,” Batten said.
“When someone asks me a question, I answer it,” Anderson said. “I don’t play games or speak political jargon.”
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Del. Amanda Batten, Republican (incumbent)
Age: 44
Residence: River’s Bend at Uncle’s Neck, James City County
Family: Husband, Richard; one son
Occupation: Delegate for the 96th District since 2019
Political experience: Has served two terms in the House of Delegates; formerly a staffer for Sen. Tommy Norment and then Del. Brenda Pogge
Education: Bachelor of Arts in social science (Ashford University); Associate of Arts (Frederick Community College, Frederick, Maryland)
