Every year is Election Year in Virginia, and each year the election matters. This year, all the members of the Virginia House of Delegates are up for reelection, along with statewide races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.

So many things are at stake. The deadline to register to vote in the General Election on Nov. 7, or update an existing registration, is Monday, Oct. 16.

Of the 30 incumbents in the Virginia House of Delegates who are running unopposed, 11 are in Northern Virginia: Mark Keam (D-35); Ken Plum (D-36); David Bulova (D-37); Vivian Watts (D-39); Eileen Filler-Corn (D-41); Mark Sickles (D-43); Paul Krizek (D-44); Mark Levine (D-45); Charniele Herring (D-46); Patrick Hope (D-47); and Rip Sullivan (D-48).

Marcus Simon (D-53) faces no Republican challenger, but will face Mike Casey, an Independent.

In Northern Virginia, there is only one open seat, the 42nd, vacated by Dave Albo (R) who says he can’t afford to continue dedicate so much time to the legislature at the expense of his law practice. Kathy Tran (D) faces Lolita Mancheno-Smoak (R).

Other contested races: Kathleen Murphy (D-34) faces Cheryl Buford (R). Kaye Kory (D-38) faces Paul Haring (R). Tim Hugo (R-40) faces Donte Turner (D). Alfonso Lopez (D-49) faces Adam Roosevelt (R). Jim LeMunyon (R-67) faces Karrie Delaney (D). Jennifer Boysko (D-86) faces Linda Schulz (R). The local Connection newspaper to each of these races has covered or will write about each contested race; you can find the stories on our website.

The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area (LWVFA) will hold both in-person and televised forums for the public to learn about the candidates who are running for election to the Virginia House of Delegates.

• Thursday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at Providence Community Center: 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax. Invited candidates: Mark L. Keam (D), David L. Bulova (D), Eileen Filler-Corn (D), Kathy K.L. Tran (D), Lolita I. Mancheno-Smoak (R), Marcus B. Simon (D), and Mike S. Casey (I).

• Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School, Lecture Hall: 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria. Invited candidates: L. Kaye Kory (D), Paul B. Haring (R), Vivian E. Watts (D), Mark D. Sickles (D), Paul E. Krizek (D), Mark H. Levine (D), Alfonso H. Lopez (D), and Adam Roosevelt (R).

• Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Sully Government Center: 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly. Invited candidates: Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum (D), David L. Bulova (D), Donte T. Tanner (D), Timothy D. "Tim" Hugo (R), Karrie K. Delaney (D), James M. "Jim" LeMunyon (R), Jennifer R. Boysko (D), and Linda C. Schulz (R).

The remaining televised forum at Fairfax County Public Access are on Channel 10 or livestreamed on YouTube “Inside Scoop Livestream.” The public can submit questions by email to theinsidescooptv@gmail.com or call 571-749-1142 between 7-8:30 p.m. Tune in on:

• Monday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.: Invited candidates: Kathleen J. Murphy (D), Cheryl A. Buford (R), Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum (D), Donte T. Tanner (D), Timothy D. "Tim" Hugo (R), R.C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. (D), Karrie K. Delaney (D), James M. "Jim" LeMunyon (R), Jennifer R. Boysko (D), and Linda C. Schulz (R).

Killing the Poor to Pay Millionaires, Current Attempt

Because the current effort in the Senate to vote on “repeal and replace” for the Affordable Care Act is, if anything, worse than the previous attempts in substance, I hope that you will read my previous editorial from June. http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2017/jun/27/opinion-editorial-killing-poor-pay-millionaires/

— Mary Kimm

mkimm@connectionnewspapers.com