Leaders of the Arlington Young Democrats are hoping to have an impact on what could be a key downstate legislative race.
The group will be throwing its organizational efforts behind Lily Franklin in House District 41 in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg area.
“We’re not going to sugarcoat it: HD-41 is one of the most important races in Virginia, and we can’t afford to sit it out,” Arlington Young Democrats’ president Bryant Atkins said in an email to county Democrats.
Republican Chris Obenshain defeated Franklin in 2023 by a mere 183 votes out of nearly 25,000 cast.
Obenshain and Franklin are once again squaring off in the 2025 campaign.
Democrats saw the seat as a potential pick-up in 2023, plowing resources and cash into Franklin’s campaign. This year, Franklin also holds a significant fundraising advantage, according to figures reported by the Virginia Public Access Project.
“This is a high-stakes race. And we’re stepping up in a big way,” Atkins said. “Let’s make this one count.”
Young Democrats are planning a fundraiser to support Franklin on Wednesday, June 26 at The Arlington Treehouse in Westover.
Though Republicans dominate politics in southwestern Virginia, the 41st District’s location around Blacksburg allows Democrats to use the Virginia Tech community in building a base of support.
The downstate effort marks what could be the first time Arlington Young Democrats have become so intimately involved in a race outside the local area.
The effort mirrors the “Beyond Arlington” initiative of the Arlington County Democratic Committee, which provides volunteer support to Democratic candidates both statewide and in key races across the country.
Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority in the House of Delegates. All 100 seats are on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Photo via Lily for Delegate/X
