Meet The Candidate: Joshua Cole For Delegate

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Joshua Cole is running for reelection in the Virginia House of Delegates. Cole, who is a pastor, was elected to be the 28th district's representative in 2019. He represents Fredericksburg and Stafford County.

As part of our 2021 election coverage, Patch asked each of the candidates in this race to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job they're running for.

In-person early voting began in Virginia on Sept. 17. The last day to request a ballot be mailed to you is Friday, Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. On Nov. 2, election day, the polls across Virginia will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Learn more about Joshua Cole and why he is running for delegate:

Candidate

Joshua Cole

Age (as of Election Day)

31

Position Sought

Delegate

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Single, no children.

Education

Some college.

Occupation

Pastor

Campaign Website

https://jgcole.org/

Why are you seeking office?

I was really tired of politicians making the same promises year after year and never getting anything done. I felt like it was time we had a diversity of perspectives and experiences at the table. I grew up in Stafford County. This has been my home my entire life. I was raised by a hard working single mom. I'm a product of the Stafford County Public School System. I wanted to deliver for my community, for people like me.

The single most pressing issue facing our district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Traffic is a big issue that faces the 28th district. The stretch of I-95 between DC and Fredericksburg is one of the worst stretches of highway in the country. As our area continues to grow we need to ensure our tax money for transportation and infrastructure remains here, that's why I'm committed to the creating of a Regional Transportation Authority. We must also invest in our public transportation and create other local routes for our community to get around traffic.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am an experienced leader who has gotten things done for Virginia families, and I am ready to keep us moving forward, improving our infrastructure, expanding access to healthcare and making our economy work for working families. I want to keep us moving forward towards a Virginia that works for everyone, not just a few.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

1. Access to affordable healthcare is still a great concern: that’s why we’ve passed legislation to address surprise billing, including dental in Medicaid, mandating insurance coverage of hearing aid costs for minors and capping the costs of life saving insulin.

2. Virginia’s economy is one of the best in the country right now - we must keep our state number one for business while improving on our rising ranking for worker’s rights. As a democratic majority we have ensured a surplus in the budget and making sure our businesses and workers do well.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my first term, we accomplished more than two thirds of my 2019 campaign agenda. We made community college tuition free for low income families. We expanded access to affordable, quality health care, and we made the state better for workers by raising the minimum wage.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

When I first got elected, someone said to me "Remember that eighty thousand people are counting on you." I try to remember that every day. I work as hard for the people who didn't vote for me as those that did, because everyone deserves a chance to earn a decent living, to put their kids through school and to seize every opportunity.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

We’ve made a lot of progress, but we still have a long way to go. We have to make sure that we are investing in infrastructure, fixing our roads and addressing issues like traffic along I-95. We need to turn our focus toward equitable recovery following the COVID pandemic, and we have to make sure we are getting students back into school safely. We have had some great wins, but there is still work to do. I want to keep fighting for the issues Virginia families care about most.