Henrico, VA – Today, EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced its endorsement of Henrico’s top prosecutor Shannon Taylor in her campaign for Congress in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District. Taylor is running against vulnerable Republican Congressman Rob Wittman.
“Shannon Taylor has spent her career protecting Virginians — putting violent criminals behind bars, holding fraudsters accountable, and standing up for working families,” said EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler. “Meanwhile, Republican incumbent Rob Wittman has spent nearly 20 years in Congress enriching himself while voting to gut health care, drive up costs, and put local hospitals at risk. Voters in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District deserve a leader who will fight for them, not against them, and EMILYs List is proud to endorse Shannon as she takes this fight to Congress and helps us flip the House.”
Taylor, a three-term Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney, has earned a reputation as a tough prosecutor and proven leader who delivers results for her community. She was the first woman ever elected to the position, flipping the office from Republican to Democrat in 2011, and has since been re-elected three times. As Commonwealth’s Attorney, Taylor created programs to support survivors of human trafficking, led efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, and brought together law enforcement and community leaders to keep families safe. She has also been a leading voice in protecting reproductive rights, pledging never to criminalize women or doctors for abortion care.
“I’m honored to have the endorsement of EMILYs List, an organization that has spent decades helping elect women who will stand up for our rights and fight for working families,” said Taylor. “In Congress, I’ll fight to lower costs for Virginia families, keep our communities safe, and defend reproductive freedom. I’m grateful to have EMILYs List by my side in this race as we work to bring real leadership to Virginia’s First District.”
ABOUT SHANNON:
Shannon Taylor is a battle-tested prosecutor with 25 years of experience taking on the toughest threats to Virginia families and delivering justice. A native of Charlottesville and graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond Law School, she began her career as a prosecutor in Richmond before serving as a Special Assistant in the U.S. Attorney’s office. In 2011, she flipped the Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office from Republican to Democrat, becoming the first woman elected to the role. She has since been re-elected three times, proving she knows how to win tough races.
As Commonwealth’s Attorney, Taylor has pioneered programs to support victims of human trafficking, created a task force to tackle the opioid epidemic, and led prosecutors statewide in pledging not to criminalize women or doctors for abortion care. She has worked alongside law enforcement to keep families safe, fought fraud that harms working people, and partnered with gun safety advocates to take illegal guns off the streets.
Shannon Taylor has built her career on protecting Virginians and delivering justice for families regardless of their politics.
For more on Shannon Taylor’s campaign, visit ShannonTaylorVAcom.