Three Podcast Episodes on Campaign Finance & Democracy in Virginia
Some weekend listening for folks interested in money, power, and politics in Virginia.
In response to some intense discourse on social media a few weeks ago, journalist Lauren Burke of Black Virginia News interviewed me and Loudoun attorney Phil Thompson separately to discuss money and politics in Virginia.
You can listen to these two episodes here:
For some historical background, here’s a podcast episode I recorded in 2022 for the Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy at the University of Pennsylvania. Matthew Berkman, now Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies at Oberlin College and Conservatory, was the interviewer.
Episode 4.4: The Fight to Bring Democracy to Virginia
“While its place in the mythology of the nation’s founding suggests to many that Virginia must itself be a democracy, political activist JOSH STANFIELD points out that in practice it has fallen far short of that ideal. Governed at first by an oligarchy of white planters, and then during the twentieth century by the corporate-friendly Byrd Machine, it has known only brief interludes of revolt against the entrenched interests controlling the commonwealth. In his discussion with political scientist Matthew Berkman, Stanfield describes the current structural impediments to popular representation that make Virginia an undemocratic outlier: uncompetitive districts, unregulated campaign finance, and poor compensation for legislators to ensure that only the wealthy can serve. Stanfield points out that the chief obstacle, however, is the widespread belief that nothing can ever change. Since 2016 he and other democratic activists have challenged that hopelessness and have notched a number of significant victories in the areas of candidate recruitment, finance reform, and environmental justice.”
I am sharing ep 56 with everyone, its a fantastic overview and helps contextualize some of our most intractible challenges as VA voters: a casino no one asked for but seems destined, data centers across the state that get approved pretty damn quickly, climbing energy bills, terrible, unaccountable pipeline environmental violations, and more. Will listen to the other episodes.
As I ask Democrats out in the wild about this (at events, organizing, farmers market booths etc) no one seems to believe campaign finance reform is even possible, people are resigned to the grip of money in our elections.
Clearly the country and region have pressing concerns about authoritarian moves, but if Va Dems gain power in Nov and don't purposefully move on cfr I'll personally take it as one more sign of the party's dishonesty about the public good, and a confirmation the Dem party is in a true death spiral. 🤷 lol i said what i said😉