Latest news with #BlaizenBuckshotBloom
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Candidate Profile: Blaizen Buckshot Bloom (Virginia House District 89)
Blaizen Buckshot Bloom is a candidate for Virginia House District 89 and is running as a Democrat.. His name will appear on the June 17, 2025 ballot. Bloom is running against challenger Karen Robins 'Kacey' Carnegie in the Democratic June primary. The winner will appear on the ballot for the General Election on Nov. 4. There is also a Republican primary in the race for House District 89. If you are voting in this election, from May 2 through June 14 you can vote early at your On Election Day, polls in Virginia are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Don't forget to bring your ID. to see who is on your ballot. 10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one. Candidate Profiles Candidate Name: Blaizen Buckshot BloomAge: 21Candidate Website: Blaizen Buckshot Bloom is an activist, climate policy scientist, and union member running torepresent House District 89 in the Virginia House of Delegates. If elected, they would be theyoungest ever Democrat elected to that body. They have a history of successfully fighting forenvironmental justice, union rights, student rights, and queer and trans rights. Growing up in adisadvantaged household struggling to get by, they know that personal freedom is inseparablefrom economic stability and are running to help Virginians lead big, healthy lives that include theright to love who you love and to afford a life of dignity. I am running to represent HD89 because I've experienced the worst and the best ofChesapeake and Suffolk. I've successfully advocated since I was 14 for meaningfulimprovements in our lives, and I've come to what I believe is a deep understanding of how wecan protect what is working and improve what is not.I was a recent student in our underfunded public schools and understand not just the need torestore diminished funding but also what, specifically, we need those dollars for. We need moreteachers, teachers assistants, social workers, and school psychologists to deal with our realmental health crisis. We don't need to use the term 'mental health' as a smokescreen to banbooks and bully queer/trans youth. We need to fix crumbling buildings and add classrooms,because no one can effectively learn in a school running at 160% many in the working class, all of our R&R time growing up involved nature, because it's thebest R&R you can have for free. This put me on a path towards advocating for environmentaljustice in our dense neighborhoods as well as forming the bi-partisan Rural ChesapeakePreservation Committee. These advocacy projects, as well as my college education inenvironmental policy science, taught me the varied needs of our rural, urban, and suburbancommunities. I understand how to pursue a balanced growth that works for everyone. We canhelp aspiring farmers with apprenticeships and loan assistance, diversifying our farmingcommunity while allowing retiring farmers to sell their land for a competitive price whilepreserving the character of our independent farm region. We can do this while redevelopingareas like the Chesapeake Mall Region so that everyone benefits, developing mixed use andmixed income areas while guaranteeing current businesses and residents a right to return. Iunderstand that Hampton Roads has a port that is uniquely central and deep, making us ideallypositioned to become a global leader for wind turbine manufacturing with the right I am running because I'm tired of watching elected leaders in both parties drop the ballon how we communicate with voters and how we serve them. People are hurting, and peopleare stressed. I'm hurting and stressed. We need politicians who understand that economicstability is paramount to everything. We need to center this in how we talk, how we listen, andwhat we do. That's been my approach as an activist, and I believe it's what's needed inRichmond. My working-class roots taught me the importance of economic justice and how to fight. Myfather is a disabled navy veteran who experienced the worst of our underfunded VA but nevergave up pushing for the care he deserved and needed. After a decade of battling thatbureaucracy, a decade we'll never get back, he finally got that care. I watched my mothersurvive a string of abusive relationships while trying to raise us on a single paycheck that wasnever enough. I didn't discover I had Crohn's Disease or Asthma until my late teens because Ihid symptoms out of fear of creating medical bills. That's not how kids should grow up. But, youknow, my mom got through it, and I think they managed to do a great job raising me and mybrother despite the world trying to make that as hard as possible. I took that energy into my advocacy, and it empowered me to help kill the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a classic case of environmental injustice that could have incinerated Thurgood Marshall Elementary School with a single spark. That energy helped me win some REAL mental healthcare improvements for students when I took on a toxic school board culture that wanted to use 'mental healthcare' as a smokescreen to ban books and bully queer/trans youth. That energy is what we need in our legislators right now if we want them to effectively fight for the big improvements we need in the face of the monumental forces aligned against us. We need people who understand that when forces try to intimidate and quiet you, the response is to get louder and more active, not patiently wait for a more opportune circumstance that may never come. I have a lot of day one priorities, some of which are widely shared (e.g. repealing the'Right-to-Work' law), and some of which will require more educating and advocating towardother legislators. In the latter camp, I very much believe we should restrict private equity'slong-term speculation of the housing market and will immediately introduce legislation to thateffect. This private equity practice reduces housing stock and artificially inflates housing pricesto generate a profit at our expense. This prohibition will not in any way disincentivize new construction or prevent individuals from holding investment properties. What this would stop is private equity firms manipulating the housing market by buying up large chunks of homes, most of which were bought up during and following the 2007-2008 housing crisis, thereby reducing supply and spiking prices. We need policies that actively increase the supply of housing for everyday people, and this is one I would champion. You shouldn't accept support from people who work counter to your values. Full need drastic campaign finance reform in this commonwealth. The goal is fully funded publicelections, but there are meaningful steps we can take which are more achievable in theshort-term. If elected, I will introduce and cosponsor legislation to cap contributions fromindividuals, businesses, and PACs. I will also introduce legislation to publicly match 1:1 smalldollar donations for campaigns that pledge not to take donations above a certain threshold. Thiswould amplify the voices of normal, everyday Virginians. Furthermore, to facilitate greaterparticipation from working-class individuals, state representative positions should be treated asfull-time roles with commensurate compensation, preventing financial hardship for those whochoose to serve. When I helped kill the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, it had millions of dollars behind it and the backingof powerful politicians in both parties. If there's one thing I've always done, it's stand firm on myvalues and commitments to fight for what I believe is best for my community regardless of whatothers may say or do to me afterwards. I've ruffled feathers in the past, and I will in the future. Ifconstituents and my own honest opinion run counter to leadership, I will vote with the formerevery time. It's the reason I have crosspartisan support even amongst the most ardentconservatives, because electing representatives who will stand up for the values of themselvesand the community is paramount for any voter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House District 89 Democratic primary: Blaizen Buckshot Bloom and Kacey Carnegie face showdown
The Virginia House of Delegates District 89 race will be among the most competitive in the commonwealth as it's an open seat up for grabs. Republican incumbent Baxter Ennis, who served one term, isn't running for re-election. Democrats Blaizen Buckshot Bloom and Karen 'Kacey' Carnegie will face off in the primary election on June 17 for a two-year term. Republicans are also holding a primary. The district covers part of Suffolk and a significant chunk of western Chesapeake. ___ Age: 21 Employment: Stagehand, Live Nation Education: Some college or professional certification Party affiliation: Democrat Website: What is your top priority if elected and how would you work across the aisle to accomplish it? My priority is boosting economic security for working people. We'll achieve this by raising the minimum wage to $17, repealing 'right-to-work' laws, cutting small business taxes, mandating reasonable benefits from large businesses, and subsidizing small business benefits so they can compete for talent and give all workers a fair shake. We'll fund this by making large corporations pay their share. I have a history of working across party lines to build coalitions for practical policies — I'll continue this in office. I know Republicans, even in MAGA, who believe 'making America great' means direct support for working families, and we can work together to help regular people find economic security. Working with them requires willingness to share credit for a political win, listening without scolding, and the maturity not to let strong disagreements poison your ability to agree elsewhere. What is the best way for Virginia to respond to federal funding cuts to the state? Our state legislatures are the frontline of defense against what is going on in Washington. When facing federal funding cuts, Virginia must prioritize protecting essential services. My focus in Richmond will be using state resources wisely — like our budget surplus and rainy day funds — to shield Virginians from cuts impacting healthcare like Medicaid, nutrition programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), education, and infrastructure. We must manage our budget responsibly to minimize service disruptions. I'll raise revenues by shifting to a progressive tax system that will alleviate tax burdens on middle and working class families while providing additional revenue to fill in federal funding gaps. Protecting Virginians is the priority. We have the means to weather this storm if we are strategic. Should billionaires like Elon Musk and George Soros be able to contribute unlimited amounts of money to Virginia candidates? If yes, why? If no, what would you do if elected to office to enact campaign finance limits? Absolutely not. Democracy only works when politicians feel beholden to their voters, not their donors. Big-money special interests corrupt this dynamic. Getting big money out of politics empowers regular Americans to have their voices heard. The goal is fully funded public elections, but there are meaningful steps we can take which are more achievable in the short-term. If elected, I will introduce and cosponsor legislation to cap contributions from individuals, businesses, and PACs. I will also introduce legislation to publicly match 1:1 small dollar donations for campaigns that pledge not to take donations above a certain threshold. This would amplify the voices of normal, everyday Virginians. ___ Age: 41 Employment: Attorney, Carnegie Law Group Education: Doctoral degree, T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond Party affiliation: Democrat Website: What is your top priority if elected and how would you work across the aisle to accomplish it? My top priority is building a family-first economy that puts working people at the center of every decision — by lowering the cost of living, increasing the minimum wage, making childcare more affordable, and creating an environment where families can truly thrive. To accomplish this, I will work across the aisle by focusing on practical, bipartisan solutions that reflect shared values — like supporting small businesses, expanding access to quality childcare, and investing in workforce development. I believe that when we focus on what unites us — strong families and economic opportunity — we can create necessary change together. What is the best way for Virginia to respond to federal funding cuts to the state? The Virginia House of Delegates has established the Emergency Committee on Federal Workforce and Contract Reductions in Virginia to address potential federal workforce and contract spending cuts in Virginia. Removing Medicaid trigger laws. Virginia is among states with a 'trigger law' that could automatically terminate Medicaid expansion if federal contributions drop below 90%. Democrats are advocating for budget amendments to eliminate this provision, safeguarding healthcare coverage for over 600,000 Virginians. Virginia's House Democrats unanimously opposed a Trump-backed budget resolution that proposed cuts to essential programs like Medicaid, food assistance, and veterans' benefits. Such cuts would harm vulnerable populations and together, we must advocate against these reductions. Should billionaires like Elon Musk and George Soros be able to contribute unlimited amounts of money to Virginia candidates? If yes, why? If no, what would you do if elected to office to enact campaign finance limits? Virginians deserve to know who is funding our elections and to have confidence that their voices are being heard. Transparency is essential to maintaining public trust in our democracy. What matters most is that candidates are accountable to the people they serve and that voters have the information they need to make informed decisions. If elected, I would support and sponsor legislation to establish reasonable campaign finance limits in Virginia — bringing us in line with most other states. The integrity of our democracy depends on ensuring that public service remains about people, not the highest bidder.
