"The state's Democrats are not complacent this year, fielding candidates for all 100 House districts. Kimberly Pope Adams is one angling to grow the Democratic majority there. (Courtesy of Kimberly Pope Adams) -"Welcome to Cool Beanz!" Nikki Harris calls out to me on a crisp late October morning. The middle-aged Black entrepreneur greets every customer the same way, from the homeless man who frequents her brand-new café to Kimberly Pope Adams, local Democratic nominee for Virginia's House of Delegates."
""She is for real," Harris tells me. "Kim comes from the people. And people know that." A passionate Adams supporter, Harris has known her since they worked in financial systems at the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice in Richmond more than a decade ago. Both were single moms who commiserated and joked about issues at work and at home. They reconnected when Adams ran for this delegate seat in 2023, and lost by only 53 votes to Republican Kim Taylor, now seeking reelection."
"Adams has support from the full progressive coalition locally and nationally, from all major labor unions, along with Planned Parenthood, Indivisible, the Working Families Party, Emily's List, Care In Action, Everytown, Sister District, and many others. "I knocked doors for her last weekend, and people were so positive about her," says Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia."
Kimberly Pope Adams is the Democratic nominee for a Virginia House of Delegates seat and seeks to grow the party's majority. She works as an auditor at historically Black Virginia State University and retains strong local ties, including longtime colleague Nikki Harris. Adams narrowly lost the 2023 race by 53 votes and is campaigning again with persistent door-knocking and visible name recognition. She has amassed endorsements from a broad progressive coalition, major labor unions, Planned Parenthood, Indivisible, the Working Families Party, Emily's List, Everytown, Sister District, and multiple advocacy groups.
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