A group of female Democrat Senators has endorsed a primary challenger to one of their colleagues.
The six women in the Virginia Senate Democratic Women’s Caucus – made up of – Senator Mamie Locke of Hampton, Senator Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, Senator Jennifer Boysko of Fairfax, Senator Janet Howell of Fairfax, Senator Ghazala Hashmi of Richmond, and Senator Barbara Favola of Arlington have endorsed former Delegate Lashrecse Aird over incumbent Senator Joe Morrissey in the Democrat Primary for Virginia’s Richmond based 13th Senate District.
In their statement, the members of the Caucus stated that Morrissey has been long been on the wrong side of issues that matter to Democrats, and has also “drawn attention to himself rather than the needs of his constituents” throughout his time in office.
The women of the Senate have spoken LOUDLY and PROUDLY and we support @lashrecseaird! pic.twitter.com/nEaiSczJkz
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) March 29, 2023
Blue Virginia shared the following response from Morrissey on Twitter this afternoon:
Joe Morrissey responds to @SenLouiseLucas @SenatorHashmi etc. endorsing @lashrecseaird: “Unfortunately, the women in the Senate Democratic Women’s Caucus appear (to) have made the Abortion issue the central focus in the 13th Senate District Primary" https://t.co/K0gccqfN7k pic.twitter.com/sMJwS33agj
— Blue Virginia (@bluevirginia) March 29, 2023
Morrissey’s scandals during his time in office have included “a stint in jail several years ago for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The legislator was accused of having sex with his teenage secretary, whom he later married and fathered children with. The couple, now separated, are in midst of a nasty custody battle” per the Virginia Pilot.