Kirk Cox

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Real Leadership During the Pandemic

Governor Ralph Northam and Virginia Democrats have failed to lead during the pandemic, time and time again. Businesses and families across the Commonwealth are hurting. Our schools have been shuttered for too long.

At every turn, one-party control has failed us. At the start of the pandemic, Virginia consistently ranked as one of the worst states for testing. Then, Virginia was ranked poorly for contact tracing. After that, Virginia’s 35-year-old software put us dead last in the country for processing unemployment claims – at a time when people needed it most. Now, we’re consistently ranked last – or close to last – for vaccine distribution.

Virginia used to be ranked as one of the best managed states in the country.But since the Commonwealth has been turned over to Democrats, our state government has fallen apart. Simply put, Democrats have failed all Virginians with their performance during the pandemic.

Kirk's Leadership

On the other hand, Kirk has consistently demonstrated what real leadership looks like.

• Last July, Kirk was one of the first leaders in Virginia to urge the Governor to re-open our schools.
• In early January, Kirk released a detailed plan of actions that needed to be taken to speed up vaccine distribution.
• Since last year, Kirk has been working with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to get to the bottom of the problems at the Virginia Employment Commission.

Ending One Party Control

Democrats now control the White House, U.S. Senate, and House of Representatives which means they have unchecked control of Washington.

They also have unchecked one-party control in Richmond – where they’ve pushed an extreme far-left partisan agenda focused on liberal special interests instead of our families.

Kirk is running for Governor to be a firm roadblock against the far-left policies we’re seeing today — and so Virginians can once again feel like their government represents them and not the liberal special interests.

To accomplish this, Kirk will:

• Fight back against one-party control and hold Democrats accountable.
• Offer a real plan to lead Virginia forward.
• Help take back the House of Delegates by recruiting strong candidates and raising money.

Stand up to the radical far-left agenda coming out of Washington, D.C.

Fighting Big Tech, Censorship & Cancel Culture

As a 30-year government teacher, Kirk knows how important the First Amendment is to our representative democracy. The censorship and shaming we are seeing from the far left and Big Tech is downright scary — and we must fight back.

The radical left wants to silence conservative voices, but Kirk is standing in the breach. Kirk has a plan to increase transparency, prevent uncalled-for censorship, and create accountability.

As Governor he will ensure that censorship and cancel culture are not tolerated in Virginia. Read the rest of his plan to hold Big Tech accountable here.

Keeping Virginia Safe

As Democrats around the country vow to “Defund the Police,” Kirk is committed to keeping Virginia safe and supporting our law enforcement. Democrats in Virginia are pushing a dangerous agenda, letting violent criminals out of prison early, repealing common sense laws to keep dangerous people behind bars, and making it harder for law enforcement to do their job.

Kirk is committed to strongly supporting law enforcement and strengthening policies that will keep our communities safe. This starts with fully funding our police, reforming the Parole Board, and prosecuting violent criminals to the fullest extent of the law.

As Governor, Kirk will:

• Invest $50 million in year one to raise law enforcement salaries, as part of the Partnership for a Safe Virginia plan.
• Veto Democrat proposals to repeal mandatory minimum sentences and weaken penalties for drug dealers.
• Reform the Parole Board, which was caught last year breaking the law and releasing violent criminals early.

The Proven Candidate

Kirk is the only candidate in this race with a proven record of supporting policies that keep Virginia safe.

• Kirk worked with former Governor Allen to abolish parole and enact “Truth in Sentencing” to ensure violent criminals actually serve their full sentences. As a result, Virginia’s crime rate dropped, and our recidivism rate was among the lowest in the country.
• Kirk consistently voted to increase criminal penalties for human trafficking, sex slavery, child predators, and domestic violence.
• Kirk led efforts to increase support and funding for victims of human and sex trafficking and domestic violence.
• Kirk worked with local law enforcement to create innovative programs to combat the opioid epidemic.

Empowering Parents and Students

Kirk was a 30-year public school teacher. Kirk’s mom was a school teacher. Kirk’s brother was a superintendent. Safe to say, Kirk knows a thing or two about educating students. Kirk’s record on education – from kindergarten to high school to college – is stronger than any other candidate in the field.

Kirk recognizes the value of investing in students, providing school choice, giving teachers the resources and support they need, and standing up to the top-down administrative bureaucracies that have failed our students. As a Delegate and as Speaker of the House, Kirk prioritized increasing education funding and supported policies to improve outcomes. When it comes to education, Kirk’s record speaks for itself.

As Governor, Kirk will continue to empower students and parents, improve our public school schools, provide more access to career opportunities, and make college more affordable. His priorities will be:

• Empowering students and parents with more access and options in education, allowing us to craft a unique path for every child. It’s time to shake up the traditional model and do things differently.
• Improving our public schools by fully funding school construction, raising teacher pay to at or above the national average, prioritizing spending in the classroom, and reducing bureaucratic programs that take away from our core needs.
• Focusing on the path from a good education to good career opportunities, including additional emphasis on internships, vocational training, and credentials in high-demand fields.
• Making college more affordable by expanding online opportunities, freezing tuition increases, and leveraging business partnerships.

The Proven Candidate

Kirk is the only candidate in the race who has actually been an educator and the only candidate with a proven record in education:

• Kirk passed the bill to reduce the number of SOL tests for students in elementary and middle school.
• Kirk carried the legislation to end teacher tenure and improve the teacher evaluation system to increase accountability.
• Kirk helped create the education scholarship tax credit for private schools, and supported the creation of Education Savings Accounts.
• As Speaker, Kirk froze tuition at colleges and universities for the first time in 20 years.
• Kirk wrote the bill to cap student athletic fees.
• Kirk created the Online Virginia Network, an online pathway to degree completion for working parents, veterans and other adult learners.

Creating Jobs

Kirk knows the pathway to a robust economy and job creation is through free enterprise, common sense regulations, and low taxes.

He has led on these issues as Delegate and Speaker of the House, during which time Virginia recovered from the 2009 recession, transitioned its economic reliance away from federal spending, and resumed its place as CNBC’s #1 state for business.

Kirk believes in the dignity of work and the purpose-driven value that comes with employment. He’s fought back against efforts to make it harder to own a business and require union membership to get a job.

Kirk is the leader Virginia needs to build an economy that will carry us out of the pandemic recession and give people a chance to do more than just earn a paycheck.

The Proven Candidate

As a Delegate and Speaker, Kirk has put the work in and he will do the same as Governor. To help Virginians and create jobs, Kirk

• Cut taxes by nearly $1 billion.
• Created GO Virginia, a bipartisan business-led economic development initiative that puts business leaders in charge of job creation efforts.
• Convinced a Democrat governor to reduce regulations by 25 percent.
• Stood up to Democrat efforts to repeal Virginia’s right-to-work laws.

Helping Our Veterans

A strong supporter of our armed forces, Kirk has introduced over 120 pieces of legislation designed to make life easier for active duty military, veterans, and their families. Kirk worked tirelessly to fund the establishment of a veterans’ care center in Richmond and subsequent buildings and expansions in Salem, Prince William, and Hampton Roads.

In 2009, Kirk’s efforts led to funding for the expansion of the Virginia War Memorial and its Paul & Phyllis Galanti Education Center. Kirk also introduced legislation establishing the Wounded Warrior Program (now the Virginia Veteran & Family Support program) in Virginia to better assist service members with TBI and PTSD, as well as their families.

To ensure veterans receive their earned benefits, he has fought to increase the number of authorized veterans’ claim officers and to invest in the development of the automated claims system that will lessen the time a claim takes.

As Governor, Kirk will continue to be a strong supporter of our active duty military, veterans, and their families.

Standing Up for Life

Kirk Cox is 100% pro-life and under his leadership the House of Delegates was on the frontline of the national effort to protect innocent life and defend the unborn. In 2019 Democrats introduced an extreme measure that would make late-term abortion legal up to the minute of birth for almost any reason. Thankfully, the Republican majority defeated this outrageous legislation. In addition, Kirk has consistently voted to defund Planned Parenthood and prevent taxpayer funding for abortions.

In 2019, after New York passed and Virginia Democrats proposed legislation to make abortion legal up until the moment of birth, Kirk did something no one had ever seen before. As Speaker, he temporarily gave up the gavel, took the floor of the House of Delegates, and gave a speech about protecting innocent life.

Defending Our Second Amendment Rights

Kirk has always stood up for our Second Amendment rights and protected Virginia’s cherished traditions of hunting and fishing. As a Delegate and Speaker of the House, Kirk supported measures to roll-back egregious gun ownership restrictions, while also voting for legislation to hold criminals who abuse these rights more accountable. He stopped Democrats from politicizing tragic school shootings, instead focusing on real solutions on how to keep our students safe in schools. He also stood up to Democrats and their 2019 gun grab. Kirk is honored and humbled to hold an A-rating from the NRA and a 100% rating from the VCDL.^[47]