Gov. Wes Moore, Rep. Jennifer McClellan Rally with Tom Perriello in Charlottesville

Moore and McClellan urge Fifth District voters to turn out as early voting continues

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — An electric crowd of Perriello supporters rallied today with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) in an overwhelming call to flip Virginia’s Fifth Congressional district. The rally shined a national spotlight on a race that will determine control of Congress and sent a message about the resounding call to fire this Congress, including Rep. John McGuire, and elect leaders who will bring down costs, root out corruption, and put common sense back behind the wheel.

“Tom has always been very clear who he fights for. He fights for families like mine, and he fights for families like yours. He fights to make sure that health care should not be something for a privileged few, but is something that should be a right for all,” said Governor Wes Moore. “He is fighting to make sure that our small businesses are getting the support they need to turn an idea into something that grows. He is fighting to make sure that our neighbors can feel safe in their own neighborhoods, in their own communities, and in their own skin. Tom is a fighter. And because Tom fights for us, it is our job to fight for him.”

“He has defined, at every turn of his life, what it means to be a public servant who fights for the public and not for personal gain. We need someone who is willing to fight not just for what we see in front of us, but for the hope we should have when we close our eyes. [...] And that is Tom Perriello.”

The rally was held at Tonsler Park in the heart of Fifeville, one of Charlottesville’s vibrant historically Black communities. Moore and McClellan highlighted Perriello’s track record of fighting for marginalized and underprivileged communities, emphasized Charlottesville’s rich civil rights history, and urged voters to make a plan to vote and help their friends, neighbors, and family members do the same. With early voting turnout surging across the Fifth District, led by a nearly 50% increase in early votes cast in Charlottesville alone compared to last year, the rally was also a powerful reminder that when oppressed and disadvantaged communities come together to fight and vote, they win.

“We are at a crossroads where we decide: Does Congress work for the American people? Does Congress work to address this cost-of-living crisis? Or is Congress going to work for Donald Trump and enriching him and his friends?” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. “I am back at the heart of the birthplace of American democracy in Charlottesville to say: I need you to send back the once and future congressman from the Fifth District, Tom Perriello.”

With a month to go until election day, momentum for Perriello’s people-powered campaign continues to reach new heights, as voters and groups from across the Fifth District—and across the political aisle—are joining the coalition for common sense that is propelling John McGuire towards defeat for his legacy of out-of-control inflation and corruption.

“We have too many people under the age of 30 who don’t think the American dream will ever apply to them, who don’t think they’ll ever be out of debt or own a home. And that’s just not okay with me. I’ve gotten back into politics because the American Dream is something worth fighting for, particularly an American Dream that leaves no region, no race, and no generation behind,” said Tom Perriello. “Do not write off any of your neighbors just because of who they may have voted for in the past. Because in this race, we are defying the odds. We are going to flip the Fifth, and the path back to national sanity runs right here through Virginia’s Fifth District.”

The stakes for November’s election in the Fifth District couldn’t be clearer, as MAGA Congressman John McGuire has enriched himself off of unethical stock trades and corporate lobbying dollars all while voting for legislation that has raised costs on Fifth District families, supporting Trump’s plan to undercut Fifth District cattlemen with imported beef, and avoiding answering to constituents or the press about his actions, including ignoring multiple debate requests.

A native of Charlottesville, Perriello’s roots in the Fifth District and deep care for the residents who call it home have pushed him to fight for expanded Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands of Virginians, stand up for Virginia’s farmers and cattlemen who form the backbone of the Commonwealth’s economy, and show up to hear from residents at countless town halls and community meetings. Time and time again, Perriello has proved his willingness to put Fifth District residents first, no matter the political cost.

Early voting in Virginia is open now, and residents don’t need a specific reason to vote early. For more information about early voting, last-minute registration, and where to vote, go to vote.virginia.gov.

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