Oakton Resident Finishes Up State Senate Campaign

joined the race for a state Senate seat at the beginning of the year, long before she knew where redistricting would place her.

In her mind, it didn't matter. Culipher (R) wanted more conservative, women voices in the General Assembly, particularly in the state Senate where the Democrats outnumber Republicans 22-18.

In today's election for the 34th Senate District seat, the 35-year-old Oakton resident faces one-term state Sen. (D), who has a longer history in Virginia politics because of his two terms serving as a Northern Virginia delegate. 

But challenging a strong incumbent did not keep Culipher from running, and she'd advise other citizens with strong opinions to also throw their hats in the ring regardless of an incumbent's length of service.

"Do it. The democracy demands it, otherwise we are just tyranny," said Culipher just before casting her ballot at the on Tuesday.

Regardless of the outcome, Culipher said she will have no regrets. She laid out a platform that addressed transportation, taxes and education from the start of her campaign, and hasn't wavered from it since.

"I stand by my guns because as a first-time candidate, my whole campaign was a complete instinctual reaction to my life experience here," Culipher said. "When you are the people, when you really reflect your district, any personal experience and issues you hear at the coffee shop or at the playground or downtown or on the Metro, all of that is better than any paid poll. I really stand by that."

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