Rachel Levy
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Rachel Levy
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 7, 2023
Education
Bachelor's
Wesleyan University, 1995
Ph.D
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018
Graduate
The George Washington University, 1999
Personal
Birthplace
Washington, VA
Religion
Jewish
Profession
Educator
Contact
Rachel Levy (Democratic Party) ran for election to theVirginia House of Delegates to representDistrict 59. She lost in the general election onNovember 7, 2023.
Levy completed Ballotpedia'sCandidate Connection survey in 2023.Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Rachel Levy was born inWashington, Virginia She earned a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in 1995. She earned a graduate degree from George Washington University in 1999. She earned a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2018. Levy's career experience includes working as an educator. She has been affiliated with the Hanover Democratic Committee, the Hanover NAACP, Together Hanover, the Virginia Education Association, and with local and state parent teacher associations.[1][2]
Elections
2023
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2023
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 59
IncumbentBuddy Fowler defeatedRachel Levy in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 59 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Buddy Fowler (R) | 58.2 | 18,529 |
 | Rachel Levy (D)  | 41.7 | 13,275 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 59 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 31,863 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled.Rachel Levy advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 59.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 59
IncumbentBuddy Fowler defeatedGraven Craig andPhilip Strother in the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 59 on June 20, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Buddy Fowler | 57.2 | 4,100 |
 | Graven Craig | 33.0 | 2,365 | |
| Philip Strother | 9.8 | 703 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 7,168 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Levy received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Levy's endorsements as published by their campaign,click here.
2021
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 55
IncumbentBuddy Fowler defeatedRachel Levy in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 55 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Buddy Fowler (R) | 63.8 | 27,246 |
| Rachel Levy (D) | 36.1 | 15,400 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 51 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 42,697 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled.Rachel Levy advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 55.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Morgan Goodman (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. IncumbentBuddy Fowler advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 55.
Campaign finance
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rachel Levy completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Levy's responses.
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As a longtime 59th District resident, parent, educator, and leader, I am committed to public service. I am very involved in my children's education and very engaged with local and state government matters. I am the Jury Commissioner and a Parks & Rec Commissioner representing the Ashland District. I am a member of several local civic groups. I serve on many local government commissions and committees. I am a PTA and booster club leader who served on several local school districts committees and was a part of Governor-elect Northam’s PK-12 policy council. I was my local Education Association president. I taught religious school, served on the Education Committee, and serve on the Board of Directors of my synagogue. I have a PhD in education, and on education matters, I am known for my evidence-based and solution-oriented advocacy. I live in the Town of Ashland in beautiful Hanover County with my husband and three children.
I believe that all citizens should be treated with dignity and respect and that all deserve competent, independent-minded, and service-oriented representation, no matter who they are, what their background is, the color of their skin, who they love, their income, or how they vote.
- They need someone in Richmond who will listen, earn their respect, and show up for work with their concerns always front and center. I will represent the people of Louisa, Hanover, and Henrico with the same integrity, passion, and tireless work I am known for as a parent advocate, community leader, and teacher.
- I will protect ALL of our rights and freedoms and serve as a bulwark against growing extremism.
I believe our public schools are our greatest public democratic institution, and I will strengthen and improve our public schools and protect them from extremists and de-funding. I will work to ensure access to healthcare, including reproductive healthcare and mental healthcare. I will protect our environment, conserve our natural resources especially in rural areas, and mitigate against the impacts of climate change. I will address the housing crisis, differentiating between rural and suburban areas. I will work towards reforming our criminal justice system to ensure citizens interacting with it are treated fairly and with dignity. Finally, I will protect our hard-won individual rights and freedoms.
I am transparent, creative, resourceful, intelligent, disciplined, fair, policy-minded, public-service oriented, a big-picture and critical thinker, a strong advocate, a skilled negotiator, and someone who listens to people and am able to integrate their feedback.
A good delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates is responsive to ALL of their constituents when called upon, and provides services to help their constituents to the greatest extent possible. A good delegate writes, sponsors, supports, and passes legislation that will help their district, improve their constituents' and Virginians lives. A good delegate works to prevent harmful and unnecessary legislation. A good delegate is a good steward of the resources and institutions of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is thoughtful and judicious when appropriating public money, provides oversight of public democratic institutions and their agents, and facilitates government transparency. A good delegate represents their district and constituents at public ceremonies and events respectfully, decorously and with integrity.
My very first job was babysitting and then working as a summer day camp counselor. I've always enjoyed working with younger people, which makes sense since I became a teacher!
Kelly Clarkson - Catch My Breath
Slowing the advance of climate change and mitigating against its impacts, especially in coastal Virginia; preserving our public schools and making sure they are fully funded and staffed; ensuring access to affordable healthcare, especially mental healthcare and controlling healthcare costs; conserving rural land and natural resources while also addressing the housing crisis; establishing and regulating the legal marijuana market; enacting criminal justice reforms; ensuring a a tax code and economy that is fair to the working and middle classes in Virginia; and, protecting our democracy, rights, and freedoms.
Yes, previous Virginia House of Delegates (HD-71) representative and State Senator (SD-09), and now U.S. Congresswoman for Virginia's 4th District, Jennifer McClellan, and U.S. Congresswoman for Virginia's 7th District, Abigail Spanberger.
They are both smart and extremely hard-working with a strong sense of public service. They are also both skilled legislators who make their ultimate goal to help Virginians, and to improve the quality of life of ALL of their constituents, no matter who they are. They do not take their voters or constituents for granted.
They are both smart and extremely hard-working with a strong sense of public service. They are also both skilled legislators who make their ultimate goal to help Virginians, and to improve the quality of life of ALL of their constituents, no matter who they are. They do not take their voters or constituents for granted.
So far, Herb Jones and Josh Throneburg. More are coming.
In alphabetical order: Agriculture and Natural Resources; Counties, Cities, and Towns; Courts of Justice; Education; and, Privileges and Elections.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2021
Rachel Levy completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Levy's responses.
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I am a long-time resident and champion of the 55th Virginia House of Delegates District and a nationally recognized public education advocate. The daughter of two civil rights attorneys and 55th District parent, teacher, and leader, I am committed to serving the public. I'm a member of the Hanover Democratic Committee, Together Hanover, and the Hanover NAACP. In 2019, I was selected to serve as Jury Commissioner for the Ashland District of Hanover. I also hold a PhD in education, and on education matters, I am known for my solution-oriented and evidence-based advocacy for increased funding and making our schools more welcoming and equitable. I was recognized as one of six Vox Populi (“people not afraid to speak up, and act out, for local causes they believe in”) by Richmond Magazine in 2015. I was a leader in the most recent movement to finally change the Confederate-named schools and mascots in Hanover. I have also served as a leader of the group Friends of Hanover Schools, as a local PTA unit leader, on several committees of the local school districts in the 55th, on Governor-elect Ralph Northam’s PK-12 policy council, and as a local Education Association president. I am active in my synagogue where I have taught Religious School, served on the Education Committee, and currently serve on the Board of Directors.
- A long-time 55th resident, parent, teacher, and leader, I am committed to serving the public. Virginia's 55th District deserves independent-minded, principled, service-oriented, and competent representation.
- I believe that all constituents of the 55th deserve to be treated with respect, empathy, and dignity, no matter , no matter who they are, what their background is, where they live, what the color of their skin is, who they love, what their gender identity is, how they worship (or don’t), what their abilities are, how much money they have, or how they vote.
- My work is to help people, to make their lives better, and to make our community a better place to live for ALL of us. I run for us.
I believe that our public schools are our most precious public democratic institution. I will work to strengthen our public schools and fulfill state funding obligations, to compensate our teachers and education staffers fairly and competitively, to replace and renovate our aging school facility infrastructure, and to reverse disinvestment in our institutions of higher education. As a a mother of a child with type 1 diabetes, I believe that healthcare is a human right and that we must expand access to it, especially mental and behavioral healthcare. No one should have to into debt to preserve their health or lives or that of their loved ones. I will continue the work to protect our environment and conserve our natural resources and rural lands. I will do whatever I can to expand access to high-speed internet in the 55th--high-speed internet must be treated as a public utility. I will work for criminal justice and public safety systems that work fairly, preventatively, and humanely and that generate more positive outcomes.
My parents and the woman in my family. I was raised by two civil rights lawyers, one of whom was a civil servant and the other who was a community activist and organizer. They raised me to be civically engaged and to be a contributor. They raised me to vote in every election and to pitch in, help out, and use the advantages I have to help everyone around me. I also come from a long line of strong women. My grandmother raised my mother to be independent and have a career. My mother has been an activist and organizer since college—she got onto the Women’s Student Government at the University of Wisconsin so that she could end the oppressive curfew that women students had to endure. And that was just the start. And growing up, I just thought that’s what women and mothers did—they have PhDs and law degrees, and they testify before Congress and give school districts the business for not doing as they are legally obligated to. And my father’s mother, if she felt limited by her 9th grade education, it was hard to tell. In fact, she was the real politician in the family. She was extremely hard to say no to. Anyone who met her knew she was in charge. No one could keep up with her. She ran her condo in Florida, even in her 90s. She lived to age 100. That’s who I get my energy from.
An elected official needs to be a strong leader. An elected official needs to be a good listener and someone who people who can talk to about problems they face and successes they've had --elected officials should have their finger on the pulse of their district and constituents, centering their needs. An elected official needs to be competent, a hard worker, and focused with good time management skills, to get done what needs to get done. An elected official should be an independent thinker who will prioritize helping their constituents and solving problems. An elected official needs to be practical and solutions-oriented. To do what's best and in the interests of their entire constituency, of the public good, an elected official has to be prepared to make some decisions that won;t please everyone.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. The book's central argument is that even in the darkest times and worst circumstances, people can still find joy and meaning and joy and our motivation to get up each day and live comes from finding what gives us that meaning. This philosophy has guided me in some dark times of my own and it has helped me to understand why I do the work--public service--that I do and why I should seek work that is meaningful to me.
I have very high standards and can be a perfectionist.
Mitigating the impacts of climate change; ensuring access to healthcare for ALL, including mental, behavioral, and dental healthcare; strengthening our public schools and replacing or renovating school buildings in need of it; repairing wealth inequality; fighting misinformation campaigns that threaten our democracy, public democratic institutions, and public health; achieving consensus on re-envisioning our public safety and criminal justice systems; and, protecting our right to vote and preserving free and fair elections.
A the state level in Virginia, it can be beneficial, especially if legislators have served in office at the local level first. Overall, what's most beneficial is that state legislators have had at least some of the the same work or professional and personal experiences that their constituents have had and that they have relationships with and listen to those whose who do have those experiences, so that they understand the impact, in real time, on the ground, of the policies they enact.
Absolutely. I don't compromise on my core values--honesty, integrity, and fairness--or on acknowledging another person's humanity. But I will compromise on policies and laws in order to get things done, help people, and make incremental progress.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2023 Elections
External links
Footnotes
Current members of theVirginia House of Delegates
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Don Scott
Majority Leader:Charniele Herring
Minority Leader:Terry Kilgore
Representatives
District 1
Patrick Hope (D)
District 2
Adele McClure (D)
District 3
Alfonso Lopez (D)
District 4
District 5
District 6
R.C. Sullivan (D)
District 7
District 8
Irene Shin (D)
District 9
Karrie Delaney (D)
District 10
Dan Helmer (D)
District 11
Gretchen Bulova (D)
District 12
Holly Seibold (D)
District 13
Marcus Simon (D)
District 14
Vivian Watts (D)
District 15
Laura Jane Cohen (D)
District 16
Paul Krizek (D)
District 17
Garrett McGuire (D)
District 18
Kathy Tran (D)
District 19
Rozia Henson (D)
District 20
District 21
Joshua Thomas (D)
District 22
Elizabeth Guzman (D)
District 23
District 24
Luke Torian (D)
District 25
Briana Sewell (D)
District 26
Jas Singh (D)
District 27
Atoosa Reaser (D)
District 28
David Reid (D)
District 29
Marty Martinez (D)
District 30
District 31
Delores Oates (R)
District 32
Bill Wiley (R)
District 33
Justin Pence (R)
District 34
Tony Wilt (R)
District 35
Chris Runion (R)
District 36
Ellen Campbell (R)
District 37
Terry Austin (R)
District 38
Sam Rasoul (D)
District 39
Will Davis (R)
District 40
Joseph McNamara (R)
District 41
Lily Franklin (D)
District 42
Jason Ballard (R)
District 43
Will Morefield (R)
District 44
Israel O'Quinn (R)
District 45
Terry Kilgore (R)
District 46
Mitchell Cornett (R)
District 47
Wren Williams (R)
District 48
Eric Phillips (R)
District 49
District 50
Tommy Wright (R)
District 51
Eric Zehr (R)
District 52
Wendell Walker (R)
District 53
Tim Griffin (R)
District 54
Katrina Callsen (D)
District 55
Amy Laufer (D)
District 56
Thomas Garrett (R)
District 57
May Nivar (D)
District 58
Rodney Willett (D)
District 59
Buddy Fowler (R)
District 60
Scott Wyatt (R)
District 61
Michael Webert (R)
District 62
Karen Hamilton (R)
District 63
Phillip Scott (R)
District 64
Stacey Carroll (D)
District 65
Joshua Cole (D)
District 66
Nicole Cole (D)
District 67
Hillary Kent (R)
District 68
Keith Hodges (R)
District 69
Mark Downey (D)
District 70
Shelly Simonds (D)
District 71
Jessica Anderson (D)
District 72
Lee Ware (R)
District 73
Leslie Mehta (D)
District 74
Mike Cherry (R)
District 75
District 76
Debra Gardner (D)
District 77
Charlie Schmidt (D)
District 78
Betsy Carr (D)
District 79
Rae Cousins (D)
District 80
District 81
Delores McQuinn (D)
District 82
Kimberly Adams (D)
District 83
H. Wachsmann (R)
District 84
Nadarius Clark (D)
District 85
Marcia Price (D)
District 86
Virgil Thornton (D)
District 87
Jeion Ward (D)
District 88
Don Scott (D)
District 89
District 90
Jay Leftwich (R)
District 91
Cliff Hayes (D)
District 92
Bonita Anthony (D)
District 93
Jackie Glass (D)
District 94
Phil Hernandez (D)
District 95
Alex Askew (D)
District 96
District 97
Michael Feggans (D)
District 98
Barry Knight (R)
District 99
District 100
Robert Bloxom (R)
Democratic Party (64)
Republican Party (36)
Categories:
- 2021 challenger
- 2021 general election (defeated)
- 2021 primary (winner)
- 2023 challenger
- 2023 general election (defeated)
- 2023 primary (winner)
- Democratic Party
- State House candidate, 2021
- State House candidate, 2023
- State house candidates
- Virginia
- Virginia House of Delegates candidate, 2021
- Virginia House of Delegates candidate, 2023
