We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 4 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.
Below is the unedited response from Adele McClure, who is running for House of Delegates – 2nd District as a Democrat.
It has been an honor to represent Arlington in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2024, and I’m excited to run for a second term to continue building on the progress we’ve made together.
During my first term, I had the highest bill passage rate in the House of Delegates and worked with advocates, community leaders, and residents to pass meaningful legislation that breaks down barriers, expands human rights, and improves access to critical services across Virginia.
I’ve been responsive to both immediate and long-term needs, from addressing the chaos out of Washington that has harmed Virginia’s federal workforce to advancing solutions for affordable housing. I’ve championed policies to expand multi-family housing, strengthen tenants’ rights, and increase funding for essential services, including eviction prevention programs.
I’ve stood firm in defending reproductive freedom and proudly co-patroned the constitutional amendment to safeguard those rights. I’m committed to protecting civil rights and expanding statewide protections for all Virginians.
Education also remains a top priority. I’m fighting to fully fund our schools, raise teacher pay, and ensure students have access to the wrap-around services they need to succeed. I’ve also advanced legislation to protect consumers from hidden “junk” fees, requiring transparent pricing and ending deceptive practices.
I’ve also made it a priority to address the rising cost of childcare. I will reintroduce my bill to create the Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program, which incentivizes employers to help cover childcare expenses for their workers through matching state funds. This critical initiative will make childcare more affordable in communities like Arlington, where childcare costs are the highest in the nation. In the last session, I successfully secured $25 million for the new program before Governor Youngkin vetoed the funding in our budget. I remain committed to bringing it back next year.
Gun violence prevention is a critical priority for my constituents and me. As a member of the House Firearms Subcommittee, I voted to block dangerous Republican bills and carried legislation to promote gun safety, including requiring firearm locking devices and closing the “dating partner loophole” to prevent those convicted of assault and battery against an intimate partner from accessing firearms.
Finally, with transportation being such a critical concern for so many Arlington residents, I am proud to serve on the Transportation Committee. Last session, I carried and passed legislation curbing predatory towing practices. My bill, driven by feedback and concerns from my constituents, empowers our community to hold bad actors accountable. I’m appointed by the Speaker to serve on the Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee where we are working hard to identify revenue streams for dedicated transit funding.
My work has been driven by the voices of residents, families, business owners, and community advocates—and that will never change. I’m honored to have been recognized nationally with the 2025 EMILYs List Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award, the first Virginian ever to receive it. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, but there’s more to do. I look forward to earning your vote and continuing our work to move Arlington and the Commonwealth of Virginia forward.