A few weeks ago, in this newspaper, I endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be our next President of the United States. Last night, during their first Presidential debate, Americans saw exactly what kind of President Kamala Harris will be – a strong leader, especially on defense of our nation, and one who offers a positive future for the country, who will be a President for all Americans, and who will turn the page once and for all on the darkness and division of Donald Trump. 

In just 9 days early voting will commence and we will have the opportunity to vote for not just the President, but Senator and US House Representative. Today, I want to say a few words about the Senate race and give just one compelling reason why we should re-elect Tim Kaine to the US Senate – he supports our military and federal workers!

As your Delegate representing the 16th district here in Northern Virginia, (and the son of a former federal worker and USAF officer), a region home to thousands of federal workers, military families, and private sector jobs associated with the federal government, I wholeheartedly endorse U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine for re-election. Throughout his decades of public service, Senator Kaine has been a steadfast advocate for the hardworking men and women who keep our country safe, stable, and prosperous. In contrast, his opponent, Hung Cao, a political neophyte, has endorsed a dangerous plan that could wreak havoc on our federal workforce, and threaten the livelihoods of many Virginians.

Hung Cao has aligned himself with the radical proposals of Florida Senator Rick Scott, who unveiled a plan that includes cutting the federal workforce by 25 percent. If applied evenly across federal agencies, this could lead to the loss of over 9,000 jobs at the FBI, 15,000 at Customs and Border Protection, and nearly 14,000 at the TSA, among others. For context, Northern Virginia is home to over 80,000 federal government employees. These cuts would not only harm federal workers but also compromise the safety and security of all Virginians. 

Moreover, Scott’s plan, which Cao enthusiastically called “perfect,” would sunset Veterans Administration benefits every five years, threatening the health and well-being of the nearly 700,000 Virginians who have served our country. It would defund federal support for state and local law enforcement, jeopardizing the livelihoods of Virginians serving in law enforcement, and stripping nearly $4 billion that currently helps fund critical programs like technology upgrades and opioid crisis initiatives. Additionally, this plan seeks to raise taxes for veterans and Virginia families while offering tax breaks to the wealthy.

This is not the kind of future we need. Sen. Tim Kaine has consistently advocated for policies that protect and uplift Virginians, from law enforcement officers to veterans to working families. Unlike his opponent, Senator Kaine understands the real-world impact of slashing jobs and resources that help keep our communities safe. He has always fought to ensure that Virginia’s federal workers and military families receive the support they deserve, and he will continue to be a strong voice in Washington for the values we hold dear.

I urge all of my fellow Northern Virginians to stand with Senator Kaine this November and reject the reckless, harmful policies that Hung Cao supports. Together, let’s keep Virginia moving forward.