(Farmville, Va.) – 5th District Democrats have chosen a former journalist to run for Congress in November.
Leslie Cockburn was selected Saturday at a party convention in Farmville and hopes to represent a sprawling district that includes Danville and Charlottesville. Cockburn will challenge incumbent Republican Congressman Tom Garrett this fall.
146 of the 236 delegates voted for Cockburn in Farmville, more than the 51 percent needed to secure the nomination. The other two candidates, R.D. Huffstetler and Andrew Sneathern, received 28 and 62 votes, respectively.
After securing the nomination, Cockburn promised to defeat Garrett, and criticized things such as his perceived unwillingness to meet with constituents on Capitol Hill.
Her platform includes prioritizing climate change, equal pay for women and criminal justice reform.