My name is Robert Cortez Scott or just Bobby Scott. I am a member of congress who represents Virginia's 3rd congressional district. I have served the state of Virginia for since 1993 on a Democratic ticket (Commonwealth of Virginia n. p.). My vast district include the areas that border on Norfolk, Newport News and Hampton. These are predominantly black majority areas in the Richmond area.
Virginia is the first colonial state and has a long history that is associated with American Independence. It is located in the Northeast of the United States and its capital is Richmond. It is a greater part of the United States’ capitol Washington DC area. This means that Virginia is a very politically active state. Virginia is a racially diverse state with white who are not Hispanic making up about 63% of the population (Virginia n. p.). African Americans make up the largest minority group of Virginia with about 20% being African American. Latinos and Asians make up the remainder of the demographics.
In terms of the economy, Virginia depended mostly on the military, farming and the service sector. Virginia also has the lowest unemployment rate in the United States of 4.8% (Virginia n. p). Military spending helps the state of Virginia a lot considering the fact that it has the highest levels of defense spending in the United States.
Virginia performs relatively well in education at the national level. It is ranked in the top term in terms of states with the best performing education system. Virginia ranks as one of the wealthiest states in the United States with Northern Virginia registering the highest income levels in the Northeast region.
Virginia politics is dominated by the two dominant political parties in the United States - The Republican and the Democratic Party. Virginia is one of the swing states that tend to go either direction in the general election. The balance of political party can be reflected by the fact that in 2007 Democrats took control of the Senate and two years later the Republicans took back the Senate. Even Governor elections are super contested as evidenced by the change from a Republican Governor in 2011 to a Democrat (Commonwealth of Virginia n. p.). In the presidential elections of 2008 and 2012, the democratic candidate Barack Obama won Virginia.
My district is the only district in the state of Virginia with a majority of African Americans. This means that I lean heavily towards progressives. My voting record shows that I have supported most liberal policies in congress. In 2009, I voted for President Obama’s Affordable Care Act popularly known as Obamacare. I come from a district that has a predominantly disenfranchised black population. As an incumbent I would like to continue my fight supporting progressive legislation. Among some of my policy goals is to make sure that minimum wage is increased. I am also fighting hard for the reform of the justice system. Since I represent a community that is affected the worst by the justice system, my constituents expect me to work hard so that we can change the system that keeps on robbing minority kids off their youth. We need a fair and equitable system. I am the first African American to serve for the state of Virginia since the reconstruction days and I intend on improving on the work I have done for the past two decades.
Works Cited
Virginia. Commonwealth of Virginia. Web 18 April 2016.
Virginia. Virginia for for Lovers. Web 18 April 2016.
