Joy Powers for Virginia

For the last year I’ve driven every corner of this Southwest Virginia, and I want to tell you what I saw: I saw good people who work harder than almost anyone in this country and have less to show for it every year.

I also saw people who refused to give up on their communities, and believed in the possibility of something different. You put up signs when it would’ve been easier not to. You knocked doors and made calls and gave what you could, when you didn’t have much to give. You had hard conversations with people you love. And I thank you, I don’t take one bit of it for granted.

We came up short on Tuesday but I don’t believe for a minute that what we built goes away because of one election. A political system broken over a decade sometimes takes more than one cycle to correct. But every conversation we had, every person who got involved for the first time, is still here. I’m proud to say we moved the needle in every single community across this district because the entire district worked to do so. That work will continue.

On election night I called Congressman Griffith, congratulated him, and wished him a productive two years in the House. I meant it. He’ll have a historic opportunity in this next Congress to work across the aisle and deliver for Southwest Virginia: jobs, healthcare, and the resources this district has gone without for too long. I hope he seizes it. And I hope that every time he casts a vote, he remembers the people with the least margin for error. They are the ones who pay first when Washington gets it wrong.

Across the country, voters handed Democrats control of the House and the Senate, including in places many said we couldn’t win. I’m proud of that. But a mandate is not a trophy. It’s a job. The American people did not vote for speeches or score-settling. They voted because the cost of living is crushing them and they want relief. My party now has a responsibility to govern well, honestly, and in the open, and to spend every day of the next two years lowering costs and lifting the pressure off working families. That is the job.

As for me, I said on election night that I wouldn’t be a stranger to Southwest Virginia, and I won’t be. This is my home, and it always will be. I’m not going anywhere, and neither is the fight for this district.

With love and gratitude,

Joy

JOIN THE FIGHT FOR OUR HOME

I WANT TO JOIN JOY'S TEAM

A SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA VOICE FOR WORKING FAMILIES, FARMERS, AND SMALL TOWN

Joy Powers is a fourth-generation cattle farmer, small business owner, and proud Bedford County mom running for Congress to give rural Virginia a real voice in Washington — one rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Joy learned early that neighbors look out for each other, your word means something, and hope is built through action, not empty promises.

Before stepping into public life, Joy spent her days working the land and running her family’s farm equipment dealership. She knows what it’s like to fight for a small business in an economy built for big corporations and to face the same challenges rural families do when the system stops working for them. When she adopted her son Eli through foster care, she promised to fight for a fairer, more secure future for every child growing up in rural Virginia.

As a community leader, Joy has taken on monopoly utilities to lower energy costs, worked to expand rural healthcare, strengthen public education, and protect Virginia’s farmland and way of life. Now she’s ready to bring that same courage and conviction to Congress — to put people, not corporations, back in charge of their government.

Joy’s HOME Plan is about building a Southwest Virginia where families can put down roots and thrive. It’s focused on the basics that matter most — good healthcare, good jobs, affordable living, and strong schools. Because no one should have to leave home to find opportunity. With the HOME Plan, Joy will fight for the resources our communities deserve and make sure Southwest Virginia has a seat at the table when decisions are made in Washington.

H

HEALTHCARE THAT'S CLOSE TO HOME

No one should have to drive hours or skip care because of where they live. Joy will protect rural hospitals, expand mental health and addiction treatment, and grow the healthcare workforce so every family can get quality care close to home.

O

OPPORTUNITY FOR WORKING FAMILIES

People want to work and deserve jobs that pay a living wage. Joy will bring new industries and small business investment to the Ninth District, rebuild infrastructure like roads and broadband, and make sure every community has a fair chance to thrive.

M

MARKET AFFORDABILITY IN SWVA

Too many families are being priced out of housing, groceries, and energy. Joy will fight to lower costs by holding corporations accountable, building affordable homes, and ensuring working people can keep more of what they earn each month.

E

EDUCATION FOR
EVERY CYCLE

Every child deserves a fair shot from preschool to career. Joy will support teachers, modernize classrooms, and expand access to higher education and job training programs that prepare students for the good-paying jobs of tomorrow.