Voting has begun for the 2021 Democratic Primary on June 8. That includes candidates for Member of the Virginia House of Delegates District 34 that encompasses McLean, Great Falls, and parts of Vienna and Loudoun County covering 22 precincts.

Incumbent Kathleen J. Murphy and Jennifer Adeli are running in the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 34 on June 8, 2021.

In a request for comment by the Connection, Murphy said that she had been the Delegate representing the 34th District for the past seven years. “I’m not doing this to or for myself. I am committed to representing the issues important to the people who live here, and I am proud of my record of achievement,” she said.

According to Murphy, she has been involved in politics almost her whole life. She was married to a member of Congress and fought for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. She worked on local and presidential campaigns as well as working on Capitol Hill for Congressman Charlie Wilson.

She handled legislative affairs at The United States Agency for International Development, an independent agency of the United States federal government primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance.

MURPHY served as a Senior Advisor on international trade issues at Commerce during the Clinton Administration. She is the Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

Discussing the top three issues of importance Murphy hears from District 34 constituents, she said, “Transportation, gun safety and education. I have been a leader in the House on all three issues. For me, this is a full-time job. I make it my business to be out in the community talking to the people who live and do business here.”

According to Murphy, her brother was murdered, so she started the Gun Violence Prevention Caucus. She said, “I will continue to be a leader on gun violence prevention measures.

Murphy added that she would continue to focus on transportation issues, support the business community as they recover, and “make sure we deal with the challenges our schools and children face as we fight to recover from COVID.”

To learn more about Kathleen Murphy, including all bills she sponsored, visit Kathleen J. Murphy (Virginia) - Ballotpedia.

JENNIFER ADELI in a request for comment by the Connection, said she is a small business owner and government consultant. Supervisor John Foust appointed her to Fairfax County-Falls Church Community Services Board, and she is serving in her second term. She chairs the Fiscal Subcommittee overseeing the department’s $200M+ budget.

Adeli started her career on Capitol Hill for the late Congressman Bob Matsui (D-Sacramento). She developed a passion for constituent services, focusing on education and student loan legislation. After obtaining her MBA from Georgetown University, Jennifer returned to government service and worked for Arthur Andersen and Booz Allen Hamilton. She consulted with federal agencies such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, delivering high-quality customer service to Medicare recipients.

Adeli is the immediate past Chair of the Dranesville District Democratic Committee. There she spearheaded the modernization of fundraising and communications.

Discussing the top three issues of importance she hears from District 34 constituents, Adeli said, “Criminal justice reform, increased teacher pay, and protecting the environment.” She added, “Many voters are not aware that there is a Democratic primary, so our objective is to spread the word about how important it is for voters to have a voice as we pick our party nominees.”

Asked what issues she plans to bring to the Virginia legislature that constituents may not be aware of change-need, Adeli said that with her Master’s in Business Administration and background in government consulting, she is focused on what no longer serves us in the post-COVID recovery and what to make permanent.

“I am very focused on supporting workers during the recovery, such as enabling W-2 employees who work from home to deduct their expenses from their state tax returns,” she said.

For more information on Jennifer Adeli, visit Jennifer Adeli - Ballotpedia.