Del. Sam Rasoul wants to build coalitions, make politics more accessible as lieutenant governor

Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, thinks that there are better ways to win elections and engage voters. His campaign for lieutenant governor aims to prove that coalition-building is key to getting agendas across. 

“This is something I’ve been very passionate about my entire time in politics — is how can we use new age relational organizing tactics and appeal to people’s better angels to build broad coalitions to advance progressive politics?” Rasoul said. 

Rasoul has served in the House of Delegates for eight years. In recent years, Rasoul sponsored and passed a bill in 2020 that implemented socio-emotional learning in K-12 curriculums statewide and introduced health care reform legislation earlier this year. 

In crafting his lieutenant governor campaign platform, Rasoul started with a blank slate. As his campaign has progressed, he’s formulated suggestions from Virginians into plans for COVID-19 recovery, broadband expansion, health care and…