HOD-87 is one of those swing districts that is a tough nut to crack. Held formerly by Delegate David I. Ramadan for years, the seat slipped into Democratic hands after Ramadan quietly hung up the gloves two years ago.
Enter Subba Kolla, a small business owner who would become Virginia’s first Indian-American delegate if elected this year.
That seems to be a fact that Democratic incumbent John Bell would like to remind folks of… very Indian, and indeed — a shade lighter than his campaign would prefer him to be.
Here’s a picture of Subba Kolla:
…and here’s a photo of swarthier, darker, more — well, shaded Subba Kolla on John Bell’s website. 
One truly has to wonder why the Bell campaign decided this was a good idea, especially after Democratic missteps regarding Republican HOD candidate Lolita Mancheno-Smoak being compared to an animal and serial killer by her opposition, as well as Northam-led efforts to delete Justin Fairfax from DPVA campaign flyers.
Meanwhile, John Bell has come under considerable fire for a do-nothing record. By “do nothing” ones means having failed to pass a single bill on jobs, transportation, or education — the very issues he claims to champion.
Alternatively, Kolla has promised to work with the Republican-led General Assembly to do precisely that — with a relentless focus on small business growth and increased opportunities.
…that is, if he could get past certain candidates whose only lament appears to be the color of his skin.
To find out more about Subba Kolla’s campaign, click here.
