Candidates for the Virginia 65th House of Delegates face off at UMW debate

by EMMA KINGKEO

Associate Editor

Incumbent Democrat Joshua Cole and Republican nominee Sean Steinway faced off in Virginia’s 65th District House of Delegates debate. The event, hosted in UMW’s George Washington Hall, highlighted the candidates viewpoints on a variety of topics, including proposed changes to the Virginia constitution. 

November’s election could determine the future of three proposed constitutional amendments. The proposed amendments include an elimination of Virginia’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, a reinstation of voting rights for convicted felons upon their release and a constitutionally enshrined right to reproductive freedom. Virginia law requires two legislative sessions to approve the amendments before they are placed on ballots for voters to ultimately decide. 

Earlier this year, Virginia’s General Assembly approved by a simple majority to advance the three proposed amendments and further the two-year process. Democrats currently have a 51- 49 edge over Republicans in the House, however all 100 seats are up for election this November. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, the race between Cole and Steinway is one of 10 competitive races that could determine which party secures a majority of the House.  

“I look forward to making sure that we can vote to pass that constitutional amendment so that the people—the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia—will have their own choice at the ballot box during the midterm elections come next year,” said Cole, in response to a question about the proposed amendments. “It should be up to the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia if they want to enshrine that in the constitution.”

To kick off the debate, the candidates were asked specifically about the proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine the right to reproductive freedom if passed in the 2026 legislative session and subsequently approved by voters. 

“So first of all, I would like to say that I am pro-life,” said Steinway. 

He continued by sharing a personal story from when he was a teenager and faced an unexpected pregnancy with his then-girlfriend.

“I was just graduated out of the Marine Corps bootcamp and I received a call saying that my girlfriend was pregnant. I had to make a decision,” he said. “It was the toughest decision I had to make, I was not ready for it. But today I look at the eyes of my son and I’m blessed that I made the right decision.”

52.5% of the state Senate initially voted to establish a fundamental right to reproductive freedom in January, and 51% of the state House passed the chamber’s version of the bill in February. Cole voted in favor of the amendment. 

“There are three constitutional amendments that will be before the General Assembly in January. Specifically, reproductive freedom, I’ve led every time I’ve run to making sure that we can protect access to reproductive freedom and making sure that women have their own reproductive choice,” he said. 

The debate was hosted by the UMW Student Government Association, moderated by Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth, and co-sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area. Professor and Chair of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman and WFVA Radio News Director Ted Schubel joined Farnsworth in asking questions covering a variety of topics relevant to voters, including those related to healthcare, traffic and crime. 

According to his campaign website, Steinway is a father of five with an extensive law enforcement background. He is a Marine Corps veteran, has worked undercover for the Fairfax County Police Department, is a former Drug Enforcement Administration contractor and has worked as a Patrol Deputy Sheriff for the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. He currently co-owns a food truck and lives in White Oak.

Cole, according to his campaign website, is a pastor and father who has served on the House of Delegates since 2023. He was the first Black person from Fredericksburg elected into the 65th district seat, where he lobbied for legislation regarding the Equal Rights Amendment, workers’ rights and access to reproductive healthcare. 

Early voting in Virginia is currently underway and runs through Nov. 1. The deadline to register and request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 24. Election Day is Nov. 4.