Q&A: Andrew Schear, HD57 Dem Primary Candidate
HD57 Dem primary candidate Andrew Schear answers questions on his background, philosophy, and policy positions.
In the second installment of my series of Q&As with Democratic candidates in the nine districts with Democratic Party primaries in June for the House of Delegates, today I’m presenting, verbatim, Andrew Schear’s responses to a set of questions about his background, philosophy, and positions on Virginia-specific policy matters.
Schear is running in a two-way primary for the Democratic nomination in House of Delegates District 57, hoping to eventually unseat the Republican incumbent, Del. David Owen. The district is made up mostly of Henrico County - with a bit of Goochland County as well. Schear’s opponent in the primary is May Nivar - whose campaign hasn’t yet responded to my emails.
Please provide a quick personal background for an audience who may not know you.
My name is Andrew Schear. I’m a small business owner and a stay-at-home dad. I’ve been married to my wife Michelle for 8 years. We have two boys ages 3 and 1 as well as a 3 year old adopted Labrador-Retriver mix. I started my small business in video production shortly after graduating from college as a means of creating good jobs for recent college graduates who were facing a tough labor market, and giving back to the community by providing pro bono video production services to local non-profit organizations. More than a decade later, I’m proud to still have several of those non-profit organizations as clients, for whom I now mainly provide creative development and video editing services.
Please talk about what makes your district unique and special in this Commonwealth.
I believe every District is unique and special in some way, and the 57th is no exception. I love how the 57th is incredibly diverse - from a cultural point of view, from a population density point of view, and from a socioeconomic point of view. There are so many different backgrounds represented and it has been truly a joy thus far to speak to voters, all of whom have unique perspectives and concerns. I feel that it is truly a microcosm of Virginia, and of the United States, and I’m grateful that I’m a part of it.
What's the most important purpose of a member of the House of Delegates?
The most important purpose of a Delegate is to be a voice for the people of the 57th. If elected, my approach would be to imagine I have about 85,000 bosses. My job will be to listen to their concerns and work to address those concerns as their representative in Richmond.
How would you characterize the current campaign finance laws and regulations in Virginia? What reforms, if any, do you believe are necessary to this system?
I would characterize Virginia’s campaign finance system as flawed, and I believe it’s something very important to educate voters about. I believe that there should be limits on the amount of money that an individual or corporation or political action committee can give to a candidate. And I’d be willing to bet that most voters would agree, because they understand that big corporations and special interest groups pouring money into political campaigns results in a great deal of influence that often goes against the best interests of the people.
Is your campaign accepting contributions from corporations or corporate PACs?
At this juncture, we have not, and we are not pursuing any.
How would you characterize the ethics laws and regulations in Virginia? What reforms, if any, do you believe are necessary to the system?
I believe that strong ethics should be at the heart of the relationship between business and politics. We need guardrails for businesses that wish to influence policy through political contributions. Those guardrails are foundational to building a Commonwealth that works not only for large businesses and associations with large lobbying budgets, but also for small businesses and everyday Virginians. Elected leaders in Virginia have the ability to accept campaign contributions from corporations, lobbyists, and corporate PACs, and then turn around and vote on legislation that directly affects those donors. An example - a group called Data Center Coalition donated $134,500 to Democratic legislators right at the end of 2024. The Democratic controlled legislature then fails to advance 26 out of 27 pieces of legislation related to regulating data centers in the 2025 legislative session. Only one or two of those bills even got a vote - the rest were abandoned in committee. It sure seems to me like there’s a pretty clear conflict of interest. Maybe we should do something about it, like put some guardrails on how much money corporations and special interests can give to candidates. That would be a start.
Are there any areas of policy in which you believe you'd have to abstain from voting due to real or perceived conflicts of interest?
No, and I believe that this is in stark contrast to my opponent in the Democratic primary election, who almost certainly would have a conflict of interest on any legislation involving the tobacco, e-cigarette, and vaping industries.
How is climate change affecting your district?
Though the 57th may not be as vulnerable as some areas in Virginia to the most devastating effects of the climate crisis, we will still feel the impacts. Excessive heat during the hottest months of the year will continue to pose health risks for some of our most vulnerable residents. Extreme rainfall events caused by these higher temperatures, combined with our habit of developing every bit of land that we possibly can, will lead to localized flooding, overwhelmed stormwater retention systems, and increased mosquito populations with the potential for spreading disease.
How do you feel about gambling policy in the Commonwealth? Do you support authorizing more casinos? Do you support legalizing so-called "skill games"? Do you support gambling on cruise ships in Virginia waters?
I do not support authorizing more casinos, I do not support legalization of “skill games”, and I do not support gambling on cruise ships on Virginia waters.
How do you feel about ranked choice voting?
I am open to giving it a try, like we are in Arlington and Charlottesville. If it produces the desired effects in those localities, then I’m sure other localities in Virginia will give it a try as well. That being said, I don’t see it as an instant solution to some of the larger problems with respect to our elections, such as our lax campaign finance laws and partisan gerrymandering.
Do you believe we need to reform our Virginia Freedom of Information Act?
I believe there could be some meaningful reform to our FOIA. I think it’s fine for agencies to have fees associated with FOIA requests, but those fees need to be reasonable. So I would support SB1029 from the 2025 session with regards to fees. I also feel it might be worthwhile to explore what an administrative appeals process would look like as opposed to the current option for appeals which is to file a lawsuit. This could give agencies an opportunity to verify that any exemptions claimed are in fact legal, while also bolstering public trust in the system.
Do you support repealing the so-called "right to work" law? Are there other labor reforms you support?
I support the repeal of “right to work”, because what the data tells us is that workers in states without “right to work” laws have higher wages, more benefits, and safer workplaces. We have a pretty serious financial inequality problem in this country right now, and repealing “right to work” in Virginia would begin to address that problem.
How do you feel about data center proliferation in Virginia?
I have mixed feelings about it. I like that data centers bring a lot of construction jobs to Virginia. I appreciate that they bring a smaller number of good paying jobs once construction is complete. I like that they are a source of revenue for localities who are able to bill data centers for real estate taxes and for business property taxes. But - I am concerned about their growing demand for energy and the burden they put on our existing infrastructure. I’m concerned about who will foot the bill for new infrastructure needed to power them as they continue to proliferate. I’m concerned about the fact that this demand for energy will lead to us burning more fossil fuels and missing our climate goals. I’m concerned that certain localities will benefit from data centers while others will not, for geographic reasons, but that we all may wind up paying the price in terms of infrastructure and climate. I think we need to consider slowing down just a little bit, to properly evaluate how we’re going to address these issues equitably and develop a comprehensive plan to move forward, considering all the pros and cons.
Do you support legalization of marijuana? If so, how should the Commonwealth use the substantial tax revenue that would result?
Yes, I support legalization as outlined in SB970 / HB2485, which were passed by the legislature but vetoed by Gov. Youngkin in 2025. Beyond administration of the marijuana system in Virginia, I support the use of revenue as outlined in the Cannabis Equity Reinvestment Fund, as well as for substance use disorder treatment and prevention, and Pre-K programs for at-risk youth.
What’s your definition of “power”?
Power is the ability to impart transformative change, for better or for worse, in the lives of a vast number of people. What one does with the power bestowed upon them reveals their true character.
What's your definition of "democracy"?
Democracy is a system in which the power rests in the hands of the people. The people have the unfettered power to choose and elect their leaders, and those leaders are accountable only to the people who elected them.
Why do you believe you're the best candidate to take on Delegate Owen in the general?
My fundamental belief about elections is that voters will choose the candidate that they know, like, and trust the most. So I believe that it all comes down to relationships - not with the Democratic establishment, not with the big Democratic donors, but with the voters themselves. I am the candidate who is willing and able to earn those votes by taking the time, having the conversations, and building the trust.