The PW Perspective is proud to announce our endorsement of Delegate Joshua Cole in his reelection bid in the 28th District, which includes parts of Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg.        

Since his election in 2019, Delegate Cole has served as a champion of anti-racist policies that have driven the Commonwealth of Virginia forward. Delegate Cole has targeted important issues like suspension and expulsion disparities, which disproportionately affect Black and brown children across the Commonwealth. Delegate Cole’s bills to address suspension and expulsion disparities and prevent minors from being charged as adults would undoubtedly have an impact on the lives of so many people who have had to face unfair charges.

Furthermore, Delegate Cole has introduced legislation to decriminalize and legalize marijuana in the Commonwealth. The “War on Drugs” has plagued Black and brown communities for decades, and the criminalization of marijuana is one way that the justice system has targeted these communities. Despite the fact that people of color use marijuana at the same rate as white people, they are more likely to face arrest for it. Delegate Cole’s efforts to legalize the substance is a massive step towards criminal justice reform.

Delegate Cole has also made strides for Virginia to reconcile with its history of racism. His efforts to rename “Jefferson Davis Highway” to “Emancipation Highway” were seen by many as a move toward recognizing the pain and injustice that the Commonwealth has inflicted on Black residents and never answered for. 

Delegate Joshua Cole’s time in the Virginia House of Delegates makes it clear that he is a fierce advocate for his constituents and for Black and brown residents across the Commonwealth. He has served as the voice of reason and a torchbearer for anti-racist policies in Virginia. His leadership is more than necessary for the Commonwealth to continue moving in the right direction.