Del. Patrick Hope Faces 2 Challengers In Re-Election Bid In District 1 Of VA House

ARLINGTON, VA — Incumbent Del. Patrick A. Hope (D-1st) is running to retain the District 1 seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in the Nov. 4 general election.

Hope is facing two challengers in the June 17 Democratic Party Primary, Sean Phillip Epstein and Arjoon Srikanth. All three candidates are running to determine who will be on the ballot in November.

As part of its coverage of the 2025 Democratic Party Primary, Patch has asked each of the Democrats in the District 1 race to complete a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill that job.

Early voting for the June 17 primary is already underway. More information about the election is available online.

Your Name

Patrick Hope

Position Sought

Delegate, 1st district

Age (as of Election Day)

53

Campaign Website

Hope for Virginia

Names, ages and any pertinent details you may wish to share.

My wife Kristen and I have 3 kids - Matteo, a college freshman at GMU, and our twins Patty, and Lilly, who are both juniors at Washington-Liberty High school.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're a candidate for.

No

Education

I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. Mary's University in San Antonio ('93), then received my Master of Arts degree in Congressional Studies from The Catholic University in Washington, DC ('96), and then received a Juris Doctorate degree from The Catholic University Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC ('01).

Occupation

I am currently the Executive Director of the Medical Imaging Division at AdvaMed. I’m also an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and an Adjunct Professor in the Politics Department at Marymount University.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

Incumbent Delegate (2010-present). I represented the 47th district until redistricting made it the 1st district in 2023.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running because I want to continue my work as an advocate and fighter for Arlington values at the state level. From increasing school funding to protecting Obamacare expansion to investing in renewable energy, my priority in office will always be to protect our most vulnerable populations. I want to build on the progress that Democrats and I have made over my 16 years in office and that we will continue to deliver with Abigail Spanberger as our next Governor.

Related: Early Voting For Democratic Primary In Arlington Underway

The single most pressing issue facing Arlington voters is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue is supporting federal workers and contractors who have been wrongfully fired. I’ve advocated for a special session in Richmond where my fellow Democrats and I are deeply committed to taking the following actions that Governor Youngkin has refused to do:

• Increasing weekly unemployment benefits for fired federal employees to continue to support their families.
• Provide tax incentives for companies who hire former federal employees
• Put money into job retraining to get people back to work
• Support our localities reeling from lower tax revenue due to unemployment

This is a COVID-type emergency for our region that will have long-term impacts to our entire economy. So we need to look at setting up special funding to support workers for things like rental assistance, job placement, and other types of support for a period of time. We also need to support our region’s non-profits that have lost funding (i,e, through AmeriCorp).

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I’m running on my 16-year track record, my experience, and my proven effectiveness. I’ve passed over 115 laws during my tenure, more than just about any House Democrat in that time, and believe we need someone who will deliver in the face of an existential threat across the Potomac.

Related: Sean Epstein Seeking 1st District House Of Delegates Seat: VA Primary 2025

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

While there are many issues I am inspired to take action on, my campaign platform is particularly focused on:

• Passing the constitutional amendments to protect reproductive freedoms, protect voting rights for all, and to repeal language that defines marriage between one man and one woman.

• On gun safety protections, pass a firearm purchaser licensing bill that has proven to lower the rates of homicides and suicides in other states

• Make Virginia one of the best places to grow old by making investments in nursing homes and assisted living care by hiring additional staff that are well-trained and qualified to take care of our aging parents and loved ones.

• I am also looking forward to cementing the progress we’ve made on the House Courts of Justice Committee that I chair. We will continue to select progressive judges committed to criminal justice reform and expanding racial and social justice across the Commonwealth.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My 16 years as delegate where I’ve passed 115 pieces of progressive legislation and delivered on my original campaign promise of bringing Arlington values to the rest of the Commonwealth. When I chaired the House Public Safety Committee, I led the effort to send more than a dozen bills to Governor Northam to make our communities free from gun violence. We went from one of the worst states in the nation for gun safety to one of the best. I would further cite my current chairmanship on the House Courts of Justice Committee as evidence of my qualifications and accomplishments. On the committee, we are passing reforms to our criminal justice system that are more fair and equitable and electing judges that share our values.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice I’ve received was given through a Hubert Humphrey quote I keep as a North Star in this job: "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped." I always look at legislation and our budget through that lens of protecting our most vulnerable populations.

Related: Arjoon Srikanth Seeking 1st District House Of Delegates Seat: VA Primary 2025

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Good governance means taking the term “delegate” literally. That is, my constituents delegate to me how they want me to vote for them. I’ve always seen my role as being a true representative for the needs and interests of my constituents. I hope that voters will look at my 16-year record, my experience, and my effectiveness, and will determine that I deserve to be reelected.

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