Democratic House Whip Katherine Clark and 30+ State and LocalElected Officials Endorse in Virginia’s Second Congressional Seat

Whip Katherine Clark joins 30+ Virginia State and Local Elected Officials as Missy Cotter Samsal’s Campaign for Congress gains momentum in the key battleground district.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — Today, Missy Cotter Smasal – a Navy veteran, former small business owner, and mom – announced Democratic House Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA-05) has joined 30+ state and local elected officials in endorsing her campaign for Virginia’s Second Congressional District.

The endorsers include U.S. Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and former Virginia Governor and First Lady Northam.
“Our campaign continues to build a broad coalition of local, state, and national leaders committed to defending our Democracy and protecting our rights,” said Missy Cotter Smasal, candidate for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. “I’m running for Congress because Coastal Virginians want serious leaders who are focused on solving problems instead of political chaos. Our district deserves a new representative who will help Coastal Virginians afford basic necessities like groceries and housing, protect our personal freedoms and bodily autonomy, and keep the government open and functioning. I’m thankful for the leaders who have joined our team and have shown their confidence in my ability to best represent Coastal Virginia.”
Missy Cotter Smasal’s full list of endorsements include:
● House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05)
● Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04)
● Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA-07)
● Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10)
● Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11)
● Former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam
● Former First Lady of Virginia Pam Northam
● State Senator Creigh Deeds (VA SD-11)
● State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (VA SD-15)
● State Senator Louise Lucas (VA SD-18)
● State Senator Scott Surovell (VA SD-34)
● State Senator Dave Marsden (VA SD-35)
● State Senator Barbara Favola (VA SD-40)
● Former State Senator Lynwood Lewis (VA SD-6)
● Delegate David Bulova (VA HD-11)
● Delegate Nadarius Clark (VA HD-84)
● Delegate Cliff Hayes (VA HD-91)
● Delegate Phil Hernandez (VA HD-94)
● Delegate Alex Askew (VA HD-95)
● Delegate Michael Feggans (VA HD-97)
● Former Delegate Clinton Jenkins (VA HD-76)
● Former Delegate Nancy Guy (VA HD-83)
● Former Delegate Jay Jones (VA HD-89)
● Chesapeake Councilwoman Dr. Ella Ward (District 4)
● Virginia Beach Commissioner of Revenue Phil Kellam
● Virginia Beach Councilman Worth Remick (District 6)
● Virginia Beach Councilwoman Dr. Amelia Ross Hammond (District 4)
● Virginia Beach School Board Member Beverly Anderson (At Large)
● Virginia Beach School Board Member Kim Melnyk (District 2)
● Virginia Beach School Board Member Staci Martin (District 4)
● Former Virginia Beach School Board Member Carolyn Rye (District 5)
● Former Virginia Beach School Board Member Sharon Felton (District 6)
● Community Leader Karen Jenkins

BACKGROUND
Missy Cotter Smasal served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy and deployed aboard the U.S.S. Trenton during Operation Enduring Freedom. After her active duty service, Missy owned and operated a small business in Virginia Beach for over a decade.
Missy currently serves as the Virginia Citizen Representative on the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a bipartisan commission that has achieved consistently strong and effective results in pursuit of Bay restoration goals. She is the Executive Director forValor Run, a local non-profit that honors the U.S. military women who have served our nation since 9/11. S he is also an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University.

Missy Cotter Smasal, Democratic candidate for VA-02, has already been endorsed by U.S. Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and more than 30 state and local elected officials in Virginia.