www.tomperriello.com

It's nice to have some character choices here in the South:

Tom Perriello has spent 25 years winning tough fights -- taking on corporate lobbyists, electric utility monopolies, and the Trump administration -- and pushing for our country to go bigger and be bolder to deliver results that bring down costs, raise paychecks, and protect our democracy.

Born in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains and educated in Albemarle County public schools, Tom flipped one of Virginia's most conservative congressional districts in 2008 -- a seat the pundits had written off. He cast the key vote to pass the Affordable Care Act, fought for Wall Street accountability, and earned an A+ from Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. After Congress, he led organizations that fought for more affordable healthcare, stronger voting rights and reproductive freedoms, and doubling the minimum wage. President Obama then asked him to represent our country, negotiating deals to expand human rights and humanitarian access.

In Congress, Tom stood up to intense pressure from corporate lobbyists to cast a courageous vote for the Affordable Care Act -- guaranteeing coverage for more than 32,000 people in his district and making it illegal to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Tom even pushed Democratic leaders to go bolder, with a public option or buy-in to Medicare. After Congress, he kept fighting to reduce prescription drug prices, expand Medicaid coverage for more than 600,000 Virginians, and prevent our rural health clinics from closing.

Good guy. My son was in rural VA. He won Perriello's award at the end of the summer for Most Likely to Be Chased by a Dog.