– Republican Morgan Griffith has represented Virginia’s 9th District in the US House of Representatives since 2011.
This year he is being challenged by political new comer Democrat Karen Baker.
We spoke with both candidates on their priorities for the upcoming term.
Griffith says he wants to continue his more than a decade long career and further the work he has already begun in Washington.
“We’ll continue to work on trying to stop the fentanyl crisis. I had a bill in that is currently in front of the Senate. We got it passed out of the House. Hopefully that will be passed by the end of the year but if not we will continue to work on that. So there’s just a lot of things we will continue to work on. And as you know I serve on the health subcommittee. So we will work on healthcare. Making sure rural healthcare is out there. Telemedicine is a big priority for me,” said Griffith
Although new to electoral politics, Griffith’s opponent is no stranger to Washington with 30 years of federal employment.. First serving as a lawyer for the Equal Employment Commission and then a federal administrative law judge. She shares her goals for the ninth district..
“We need broadband and cellphone service throughout the district. There are a lot of large areas that have neither. We need to have better education opportunities in trades and tech education. We need health care and our health care access is so limited. We need centralized healthcare in each county that is brought to us by local practitioners,”
While both candidates share the goal of strengthening Southwest Virginia, we asked them what sets them apart from their opponent.
Griffith says the difference falls on party lines..
“I think its very clearly when you look at the philosophical differences between myself and my opponent and the Republican party and the Democrat party as it exists today makes it very clear that I’m the right choice for the Ninth District of Virginia,” said Griffith
Baker says her voting record would look much different than Griffith’s.
“I believe in labor unions. I want to strengthen black lung laws to help miners get the benefits they deserve. I want to strengthen survivor’s benefits,” said Baker
Baker is endorsed by the United Mine Workers of America and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations among others.
Some of Griffith’s endorsements include the National Rifle Association and the National Right to Life Committee.
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