Today, Idris O’Connor (D) officially announced his candidacy for the 31st District in the Virginia House of Delegates, releasing the following statement:

“I am running for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 31st District to bring equity into our education system, expand healthcare access, and advocate for affordable housing. Our middle and working-class residents shouldn’t have to struggle to pay for housing and worry about healthcare costs. People should be able to live and work in the same community, and for a lot of people, that’s just not possible in Virginia today.”

Idris currently represents the Neabsco District on the Prince William County Social Service Advisory Board and is the Chairperson of the Cooperative Council of Ministries (CCoM), a coalition of churches in the Prince William Area that serves people experiencing poverty and homelessness.

“During my tenure, I’ve gotten to know a few individuals who were experiencing homelessness. As the winter months came the people I knew passed away due to Hypothermia. This is unacceptable to have members of our community die because of the lack of affordable housing and wrap-around services.

“I grew up in Dale City and I have lived in the 31st District for 15 years. I’ve worked in Prince William County to fight for my community as an advocate to end homelessness. I’ve advocated to protect our environment and combat climate change through volunteering with the Greater Prince William Climate Action Network.

“For the past four years, I’ve worked to elect Democrats on every level in our Commonwealth, and I’m proud to have been a part of helping Democrats take the majority in the General Assembly. Now, I’m ready to join that majority in Richmond, fighting for the residents of the 31st District.”

Anika Rahman, a Prince William County resident and a leader in the Democratic party, vouches for O’Connor’s dedication to the community and political activism: “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Idris through our mutual passion for advocacy to improve local conditions and civic engagement,” said Rahman. “Idris has always stayed active on local issues to help the community. I’ve spent many years with him canvassing for candidates. He’s bright, attentive and understands the needs and concerns of the community.”

Constance Willis, a resident of the 31st District said, “I have known Idris since he was 7 years of age and his family became my neighbor. I had the pleasure of watching him grow from elementary to middle school and onto high school. From a young child, he has always been very attentive to details and has always been interested in anything going on in the community. He would remind everyone of the activities going on in the county. Idris was always interested in history and always willing to help others, especially people beyond his senior. I watched him care for his grandmother instead of playing outside. He would always offer a helping hand at any given time. Even as he got older his loving and caring attitude towards others never changed. Idris was always willing to put others first. Even when his family moved, he has always kept in touch. Most young people forget about their neighbors once they move but not Idris. As a young man, nothing has changed and when I found out he was running for Delegate of the 31st District, I knew he finally found his calling. I without a doubt know that he is the right person for the job. He will be a blessing for the position and the community. I know he will fight for the community and make sure the county gets everything that’s due to them. You won’t be disappointed with Idris as your delegate. So let’s make this happen and watch the change in the community.”

Idris plans to focus his campaign around the following issues:

Education: As a graduate of the Prince William County Public Schools System, and having been a student and employee of Northern Virginia Community College. I know the importance of a high-quality, world-class education. We must return the focus on education back to the students and bring them to the table. If elected, I will work to increase funding for our public schools, increase state funding for teacher pay, expand universal Pre-K, and work to make higher education more affordable.

Affordable Housing: As a long-time advocate to end homelessness and supporter of affordable housing, I know our Commonwealth must embrace the Housing First model to end homelessness in Virginia. We must expand the amount of affordable housing units to support our teachers, police officers, and our military service members who live in the 31st District. If elected, I will fight for legislation to create more affordable housing opportunities.

Healthcare: As the son of a healthcare professional, a front-line worker, I’m very aware of the need to have high-quality healthcare. The COVID-19 Pandemic has put a strain on our healthcare system. We must invest in our hospital systems by allocating the needed resources. As a Commonwealth, we must remove any barriers that are preventing Virginians from access to high-quality healthcare. I believe that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. If elected, I will fight to protect and improve our healthcare system.

Tomorrow O’Connor will be hosting a virtual holiday event, for more details visit the link.