Behind every woman leader is a line of people who told her she didn’t belong & men who harassed her.
I’m here to tell you — Let them serve as fuel to dream bigger.
Today, I filed to be the first Democratic woman to represent SWVA in my lifetime.
Let’s get to work!
This tweet is limited to 180 characters - 3 shy of the # of votes I lost by. I can’t thank folks enough for all the support our campaign received in the last year. (More to come on that later!)
One thing is for sure: HD-41 refused to be overlooked. We’ll keep fighting in SWVA
I’m here today at Virginia Tech with
@LilyForDelegate
who’s running in a lean red but winnable race. If students at VA tech turn out and vote they could win this race and make it a major upset. If that happens republicans will have a lot harder of a time weakening gun laws.
Updated on HD-41: We’re withholding statements about the outcome of our race until ALL the ballots are counted. Unofficial results show there are more than 2,000 provisional ballots, uncured mail ballots & unreturned mail ballots in the two counties that HD-41 covers. Stay tuned!
Exciting news! I'm officially the Democratic nominee for Virginia's 41st House District!
Thank you so much to everyone who got us to this point, especially my Mom & Dad. I couldn't do this without you ❤️
🧵 (1/3) Our first TV ad is LIVE!
"Bank On It" is my story of graduating college with $5 in my bank account and $20 in my piggy bank. That $20 covered the gas to get me to my first job and paycheck.
I'm running for Delegate because $20 shouldn't make or break anyone.
🧵(1/4) Doxxing and voter suppression - that's what far-right groups have stooped to here in HD-41.
With one week until Election Day, I issued a statement this afternoon calling out Virginia Republicans for spreading false
#ElectionDay
info misleading
#VirginiaTech
voters.
#VoteLaborEndorsement
Lily Franklin grew up working-class in the heart of SW Virginia. She knows the stakes in winning collective bargaining rights for all + ensuring high quality, accessible, public higher education for VA. Let’s send this stellar leader to the state house!
My grandparents never expected their granddaughter to be endorsed by a US senator, especially one that has roots so deep in SWVA. I am so proud to have been endorsed by such a strong and experienced democrat!
@timkaine
Today is one of my favorite days – Election Day! In Virginia, we have more elections than seasons, so luckily, I get many favorite days.
Southside, your voice matters—head to the polls before 7 pm and be a part of the change! Vote for
@_Councilwoman
!
🧵(1/4) As I write this, Gov. Youngkin is en route to HD41 to support my opponent - the man who called overturning Roe V. Wade "a great victory."
Our latest TV ad highlights my opponent's pro-life agenda, but here's the reality: we don't know how far he'll go to ban abortion.
I’m not infiltrating SWVA - I’m a native 😊
Just working to bring good jobs and get the garbage out of politics that’s keeping folks from earning a decent living.
Empower our work via ActBlue!
First negative mail on
@LilyForDelegate
. That means the other side is worried!
We need to win this seat to help flip the House! Help Lily get this done.
🎵🎶 I’ll be there for you 🎶🎵
Latest attack mailer is out, so I guess the cat’s out of the bag: I’m the newest cast member on Friends 🤷🏻♀️ 😂
But really, I’ll be there for the voters of HD-41 & all of SWVA.
Support our efforts via ActBlue!
This seat is absolutely winnable, we just have to do the work! Sign up for a shift on our Mobilize (we have virtual options for folks who don’t live in the district!)
FYI, this district was won in '17 by Ralph Northam & Mark Herring; in '18 by Tim Kaine; then in '21 by Glenn Youngkin. This year, there's an excellent Dem candidate,
@LilyForDelegate
, running against a far-right Republican. Go Lily Franklin! h/t
Last year,
@JoshforVirginia
was so excited to be endorsed by
@SpanbergerVA07
that he ordered literally *thousands* of these yard sign stickers.
It's so surreal to have her support for my race in HD-41! Thank you for knocking doors and spreading the word about our campaign!
Southwest VA used to lead the state in sending women to Richmond, but we fell behind.
As a Delegate, I'll be the first Democratic woman representing Southwest in my lifetime. Let's fix that by electing
@harris4va
&
@twhiteboyd
to the Senate on Nov. 7!
We’re ready to keep the 41st District BLUE! Thank you
@EFillerCorn
for coming out to Roanoke and ensuring we flip back the House on November 7th! Let’s do this!
Only 100 days until Election Day! We can't do this alone. I hope you'll join me as we claim HD-41 for our community, our neighbors and our home!
Sign-up to volunteer:
🎆New Year, New District!📣
My name is Lily Franklin. I’m a young woman & first-time candidate running to be the Democratic nominee for VA's new HD-41. Join me to claim this seat for Dems as we take back the majority in 2023!
♥️ RT & share my story ⬇️🧵
Happy Labor Day from this proud granddaughter of a Southwest Virginia union member!
When unions were thriving, SWVA was thriving. We have to fight for the workers who are the backbone of our economy 💪🏼
It was such a pleasure to meet and spend time with
@MomsDemand
last night during our postcard event! Thank you all so much for coming out and volunteering!
Today while I was canvassing in Blacksburg, a local woman told me a story that I’ve heard countless times before: she’s concerned about childcare.
We need to vote in representatives who will advocate for affordable, reliable childcare for people in our communities!
Let’s face it- we are the only southern state left with access to legal and safe abortion, and that is at stake this November.
I am so excited to be endorsed by
@RoeYourVoteVA
because our district could determine the fate of young folks far beyond our Commonwealth.
Guns should be stored safely. Gun owners should be responsible for what happens with their guns. And representatives shouldn’t be afraid to say so.
Thank you
@MomsDemand
for recognizing our campaign’s commitment to keeping Virginians safe!
It's incredible watching this coalition grow into such a powerful movement. Thank you to everyone who joined us for yesterday's canvass kickoff with
@SpanbergerVA07
&
@runforsomething
!
Join Team Lily by signing up for one of our future events!
Growing up in SWVA, everyone knew someone struggling with addiction long before we ever even heard of opioids.
Executives made MILLIONS off the people of our region. When I talk about accountability for these companies, this ain’t it.
This election could come down to ONE VOTE! Thank you Del.
@marcussimon
for coming down to knock doors in Blacksburg and make sure everyone knows that Election Day is November 7th!
(1/4) Where does my opponent draw the line on abortion bans? I asked him in a forum last month. He supports a 15-week ban but refused to say if he'd vote for a ban at conception or at 6 weeks.
He doesn't have to answer me, but he DOES have to answer to the voters tomorrow.
Chris Obenshain (
@ObenshainChris
) REFUSES to say whether or not he would vote against a 6-week abortion ban.
@GlennYoungkin
is trying to stack the Virginia House and Senate with these extremists to ban abortion in the last safe harbor in the South.
#valeg
To have support from THE Jane Fonda Climate PAC is surreal. Thank you so much for ensuring Southwest Virginia has a strong climate advocate in Richmond!
When it comes to getting things done for Virginians, few can compete with
@SpanbergerVA07
. She stands up for all Virginians, even when they're not in her district. I'm so excited to work with her as we claim HD-41 this fall!
🌦️ Our team won't let Saturday's weather stop us from flipping this district! Join us for phonebanking at noon to get out the vote. Special Guest, Congresswoman
@JennMcClellanVA
, will kick off our voter conversations.
Sign-up below ⤵️
We're excited to introduce Jackson Covey, our newest staff member! Jackson most recently worked on
@AdeleMcClure_
’s election in Arlington and joins our team as Field Director. He'll be heading up our canvass launches, phone banks, and all of our other field operations.
Just like that, the office is open for business! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to celebrate with us including
@runforsomething
and my dad! I could not be more excited for this next step to guide us to victory in November!
How it started --> How it's going
It's been an incredible journey watching this campaign grow into such a strong coalition.
My environmental work started with pipeline protests & fighting corrupt corporate polluters.
As a Delegate, I'll continue that fight in Richmond
We're still seeing these false door hangers in HD-41, especially in off-campus
#VirginiaTech
student apts.
Here's the truth: You can cast a ballot as long as you're in line by 7PM (NOT 6PM!) on
#ElectionDay
. Make you plan to vote today!
Yikes 😬
@VA_GOP
, consider using our tool, , to get accurate election information before printing next time.
Now, let’s get it straight here: Polls are open on November 7, 2023 from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. You can also early vote tomorrow or Saturday.
The Exec team met for the first meeting of the Semester at our Team Lily HQ in Blacksburg!
We then hit the phones for
@LilyForDelegate
and spread the word about her historic campaign. Early voting starts September 22nd!
Every. Single. Seat. is on the ballot for the General Assembly. Your vote is your voice and your voice is power! I hope you’ll join me and cast your ballot early!
Visit to learn how
When I ask voters about their priorities, they don't talk about culture war issues; they talk about this.
Childcare is so outrageously expensive it hurts our working families & our economy. Solutions like this are a win-win for parents, kids, & providers
In it to win it 💪
UCW-VT members Dale and Jenni have been out helping to make sure we have a union supporting Delegate in
@LilyForDelegate
!
Election day's only a week and some change away--want to help? Sign up at
Happy first day of Early Voting!
We couldn't be more excited as we head into the final 45 days of our campaign. Our work isn't done - we need to ensure every voter in HD-41 knows how to cast their ballot. Now's the time to pick up a vol shift, make calls, and knock doors!
Our official release of “VT VOTES” was a blast! Thanks so much to everyone from the Virginia Tech community who came out (despite the wind!) to chat and support our campaign! Let’s get to work claiming this district!
#VTVotesForLily
"Other states" means VA, the last southern state where women can access this crucial healthcare.
It also means those patients likely will drive through HD-41 as they seek care at the Roanoke Planned Parenthood facility.
My opponent has vowed to ban abortion.
🚨BREAKING NEWS: South Carolina Supreme Court allows Six-Week Abortion ban to go into effect 🚨
Patients in the region will be forced to seek abortion care in other states. This ruling continues to illustrate the importance of Virginia’s elections in November 🗳️ VOTE THIS FALL⬇️
In Southwest Virginia, having a statewide elected Democrat show up and do so authentically means the world to us. Thank you so much to
@MarkWarnerVA
for spending the evening chatting with the community and connecting with the
@YoungDems_VT
Deep dive from
@CardinalNewsVA
on our race ⬇️
A statewide path to victory for Democrats must include Southwest Virginia. Luckily, we have a roadmap for how to do it.
Let’s take our lessons learned in 2023 as we head into next year’s elections.
Opinion: Democrat candidate Lily Franklin says some donors didn’t give her money because they "don’t understand or care about Southwest Virginia."
She lost by just 183 votes, even though she received less funding than some other party candidates.
(4/4) That's what you can expect from me as a Delegate.
We only have one week until abortion access, our climate, and our children's future will be determine in Virginia. I'm asking you to chip in today to get us one step closer to victory on Nov. 7th.
So excited to welcome Senator
@timkaine
to Blacksburg this Saturday! Join us for a canvass launch with
@genratifyva
and
@YoungDems_VT
as we gear up for Early Voting! See our Mobilize link for details and to sign up -->
This year's
@NetworkVirginia
Women's Summit felt like a homecoming. I've watched this event grow into the powerhouse it is today, and I'm so excited to be part of such an incredible slate of candidates! Let's get back to work!
We have a new member of Team Lily!
Meet Edward York, our new Deputy Campaign Manager! Edward is new to Blacksburg but has a wealth of organizing experience in Virginia. He’ll be taking over our field operations.
Welcome, Edward!
I'm thrilled to announce I've been featured as one of the
@DLCC
’s Spotlight Candidates! Together, we can win HD41 and flip the house blue! Check out my page at the link below.
BIG NEWS: Introducing our 17 Virginia Spotlight candidates! This November, the entire legislature is up for election & so much is at stake. Flipping the VA House & holding the VA Senate are our top priorities, & these Dems in must-watch races will be the key to victory.🧵
(3/4) Unlike the cowards who sent this mystery mailer, I'm willing to sign my name to the things I say.
So here's my message to them: I'm not backing down. I'm running precisely because political garbage like this is getting in the way of a decent paycheck.
Seeing so many
@JoshForVirginia
supporters from last year felt like a family reunion ❤️
Thanks so much to everyone who came out in Charlottesville to catch up and continue our work as we flip the House this fall!
So excited to welcome Congresswoman
@JennMcClellanVA
for our Weekend of Action with
@youngdems_vt
! Join us for a canvass kickoff before we head out to knock doors and connect with voters! RSVP via Mobilize ⬇️
Excited to be with
@DonScott757
in
Blacksburg to support two amazing battleground candidates -
@twhiteboyd
and
@lilyfordelegate
! It’s going to take a team effort to keep our majority in the Senate and flip the House. 🏈
Folks, we have ONE WEEK until voters head to the polls for Early Voting in Virginia. We can't lose our momentum.
Now's the time to volunteer, donate, and check your registration. Visit to check out our upcoming events and contribute. Let's get to work!
People in Southwest Virginia are desperate for leadership that reflects their values. That's why our race caught the attention of incredible organizations like
@emilyslist
. I’m so excited to join the hundreds of incredible women supported by EMILY’s List on this journey!
Takeaways from today's
@PPAVirginia
lunch:
17% increase on abortions
28% of patients live outside VA
They're providing compassionate care for people from TN, KY, and even as far as MS. To see patients go from fear to relief - that’s what we're here for.
With 41 days left, it's more important than ever to make a plan to vote, knock some doors, and remind folks that we (always) have an election in Virginia!
Visit to get started
41 days until
#ElectionDay
in Virginia, so I want to shoutout Dem candidate
@LilyForDelegate
who is running in VA's HD-41! She’s spent most of her life in the mountains of Southwest VA and is ready to amplify rural voices in Richmond!
So often we forget what's at the heart of the labor movement: earning a good wage with decent benefits so folks can tuck their kids in at night and go to weekend T-ball games.
That's not luxury - that's life. This announcement is good news for the whole Virginia Tech community!
👀 Behind the scenes of yesterday’s video shoot at HQ with NextGen
How important is the youth vote? Just look at all the efforts to suppress it.
Thanks
@nextgenpaction
for uplifting the voices of future voters!
#YourFutureYourVote
@ClimateHawkVote
next, in HD41, we're endorsing
@LilyForDelegate
. Lily Franklin is running in a rural reddish district, she's got policy smarts, legislative experience, and passion for helping others. (and a very cute puppers)
This
@MachinistsUnion
T-shirt has been in my family for 50 years. My Papaw helped start their Roanoke chapter to raise wages and uplift his coworkers back in the 1970s
I was so proud to wear it yesterday as we marched in support of
@vtcampusworkers
&
@vt_glu
!
#GearedForAction
(2/4) Meanwhile, an anti-labor organization listed my personal cell phone number on a mailer and urged recipients to "turn the heat up on her" because I support workers. It didn't even have a "paid for by" disclaimer.
You can see my full statement here:
THIS SATURDAY: Join
@AaronRouseVaBch
and
@DonScott757
for a Season Opener Reception supporting our campaign and
@twhiteboyd
!
Sen. Rouse's district is far east of here, but we know he's a Hokie at heart 🦃
Get your ticket before they sell out!
The latest fundraising numbers are live, and I'm thrilled to share that our campaign raised more than $67k! Thank you for all the folks who chipped in what they could - we simply couldn't do this without you.
The blue commonwealth gala always feels like pitching a home game. You get to see your team’s MVPs like
@timkaine
@MarkWarner
and
@lashrecseaird
!Feeling energized to take back the House and hold the senate. Let’s get to work!
Come out to support Roanoke Valley Democratic candidates!
We will be partying before we head out to knock for Trish White-Boyd, Sam Rasoul, Lily Franklin, Samantha Newell, Jade Harris, & Nancy Horn. Door knocking will begin about 12:30pm!
Join us next Saturday for a canvass kickoff in Blacksburg with Rep. Abigail
@SpanbergerVA07
and Delegate
@marcussimon
!
Now's the time to knock doors and talk to as many voters as possible between now and Nov. 7th!
THIS WEEKEND: Join Former VA House Speaker
@EFillerCorn
for a canvass kickoff in Roanoke County!
With less than one month until early voting, we need your help connecting with voters across HD41. Hope to see you Sunday!
Sign up via Mobilize --->
(3/3) With less than 4 weeks until Election Day, we have to share this message with as many voters as possible. Help us keep this ad on the airwaves through Nov. 7th by contributing via ActBlue!
Join us for our General Election Kickoff Fundraiser this Thursday with special guest
@CreighDeeds
at the beautiful Beliveau Farm Winery! There's only a few tickets left, so be sure to RSVP via ActBlue >>
Poppy unfortunately won’t be canvassing with us this weekend (most voters don’t understand that “woof” translates to “vote for my mom”), but you could be! Sign up here!
Thousands of community members and professionals have stated there is no way to build MVP without harmful impacts on our community. The stakes are too high for our future. We have to continue to say
#StoptheMVP
. Thank you to the Virginia Delegation for fighting for us!
Don't forget to VOTE today! Polls are open until 7 PM, so make sure you're in line by then at your correct precinct. Make a plan before it's too late!
Visit for info!
Calling all Tech fans, students, and residents! Join us for our Virginia Tech season opener reception SATURDAY from 12-1pm with special guests Senator
@AaronRouseVaBch
and House Minority Leader
@DonScott757
! There will be food and drinks, and this event is COMPLETELY free!
When I graduated early from Longwood University, I came home with nothing to my name except the $5.66 in my checking account, along with significant student and credit card debt. I had just landed a Teach for America job in Mississippi, but I had no gas money to get there.
While out canvassing for our two Young Dem candidates,
@LilyForDelegate
and
@harris4va
, I had the honor of getting a yard sign up for Miss Alma in Salem.
Every Democrat should be investing in these races like Lily, Jade, and
@twhiteboyd
down here in SW. They’re crushing it!
Virginians shouldn’t have to choose between paying their bills or affording their medication. Excited to work with
@TeamFreedomVA
as we claim HD-41 for our hardworking families and seniors!
Collective bargaining is a way to uplift workers. As a product of a working class family, I will always fight to ensure hard working families are our priority.
I fully support Montgomery Co. Teachers in their efforts to create a better workplace through collective bargaining.