Rae Cousins | Democrat for Delegate Richmond, VA

Meet Rae j24

MEET RAE

Rae is a fourth generation Richmonder who has proudly represented the 79th District in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2023, fighting to build a Virginia where working families can thrive.

As a Delegate, Rae has been a powerful voice for her community, championing legislation focused on critical issues like education, housing justice, food insecurity, justice reform, maternal and reproductive health, and much more.

Rae has been a leading voice in the House of Delegates for communities struggling with food insecurity, an issue many residents of the 79th District face. She passed legislation to codify the K-12 Farm to School Task Force and the Hunger-Free Campus grant program to address hunger on university and college campuses.

Rae currently serves on the Courts of Justice, Education, and Public Safety Committees.

During her first term, Rae passed 21 pieces of legislation through the General Assembly. She was named 2024 Virginia Education Association Rookie of the Year, 2024 Virginia Chamber of Commerce Freshman Legislator of the Year, and 2025 Virginia Education Association Legislative Champion.

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EXPLORE RAE'S PLATFORM

A good education is the foundation for economic opportunity. Rae is committed to defending public education, and to renewing our commitment to our students by modernizing technology and maintaining our school buildings. As delegate, Rae will defend public education from Gov. Youngkin’s so-called “school choice” policies, which amount to divestment in our public schools. Rae is also committed to securing funding for career & technical skills training for Richmond’s young people, universal pre-K and early childhood care, and increased teacher pay. Rae will work to ensure that all students, regardless of their gender or sexual identity, feel at home in Virginia.

All Virginians deserve to feel safe in our neighborhoods. As Delegate, Rae will work to enhance sensible gun reform measures to keep our streets safe. She will also work to eradicate the school-to-prison pipeline, invest in after-school enrichment programs, provide funding for programs that support individuals with felony convictions as they reenter society, and work with community stakeholders and law enforcement to implement data driven policies that cut to the root cause of crime in our neighborhoods.

As Delegate, Rae will work to enhance tenants’ rights, to increase the inventory of affordable housing in our communities, and to support people who want to stay in their communities in the face of rising tax revenues and costs of living. That also means keeping utility prices down. In turn, Rae seeks to address environmental hazards, which disproportionately affect low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. She’ll seek to ensure more urban green space, invest in clean energy, and fight for transparency and community input in the decisions behind new development projects.

No Virginian should have to make the decision to forego healthcare because of the hefty price tag of medical services and prescription drugs. As Delegate, Rae will work to expand affordable quality healthcare for all Virginians. She will also implement initiatives that promote preventative healthcare, access to fresh and healthy foods, and enhanced maternal health services. Rae will support or sponsor legislation aimed at ensuring paid family and medical leave. And she will not compromise with Republicans seeking to dismantle public healthcare for low-income Virginians and the elderly.

Richmonders work hard, and they deserve some breathing room. Rae knows that plenty of folks are doing everything they can to provide for their families, and still can’t get ahead. As Delegate, Rae will call for tax breaks for working families, to weather the impact of inflation, and ensure that Virginians have the tools they need to get ahead. Rae is also committed to the freedom of association, and–as the child of a union household–understands the benefits that collective bargaining can have on quality of life for the working class.

CONSTITUENT SERVICES

I am proud to serve as your Delegate in the Virginia General Assembly and advocate for you at the state level. Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can be of service.

My office is available to:

Assist with state agencies, such as the VEC, DMV, or DSS
Guide you through the state legislative process
Introduce bills of interest to you
Schedule local meetings

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