Central Nova News

Wren Williams is one of seven candidates endorsed by the American Federation for Children to win a primary on June 20 for a statewide seat in Virginia. He will run for a seat to represent District 47 on the Nov. 7 ballot.

"I am thankful Southside and Southwest Virginia put their confidence in us to continue delivering for our community," Williams wrote in a June 20 Twitter post.

“It’s happening,” school choice activist Corey DeAngelis tweeted after the Virginia primaries were held on June 20, according to Old Dominion News. He joined the American Federation for Children in celebrating the seven out of eight total candidates endorsed by the AFC that won in the state’s primary election and will be on the November 2023 general election ballot for positions in the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. The seven candidates included Williams as well as Emily Brewer (SD17), Tara Durant (SD27), John Stirrup (HD21), Lee Peters (HD65), Mark Earley (HD73) and Mike Dillender (HD84).

Williams, a Republican, is a current member of the Virginia House of Delegates, according to Ballotpedia, having been elected in 2021. He represents the 47th district and is aiming for reelection this fall for another two year term. He will run against Democrat Patty Quesenberry in the November election.

An AFC press release celebrated the news, congratulating the winners and the growing focus of the state and residents on the issue of school choice for their families and students. “The VFC PAC invested more than $300,000 in state races to support school choice proponents during the 2023 primary,” according to the press release.

The American Federation for Children is an organization that fights for school choice rights for all families at the state and federal level. “When funding for education follows students to the school of their choice, families win,” according to the organization's website. “We believe all parents should have a wide range of high-quality educational options to choose from, regardless of income.”

According to EdChoice.org, Virginia has varying types of options for school choice available to K-12 students. They have intradistrict school choice, allowing families to transfer within their district, and also offers a private school scholarship program. This scholarship is open to families earning less than 300% of the federal poverty line, or students of special needs. The program allocates only $25 million annually to students, an average of $2,918 per student scholarship, which equals about 23 percent of the normal per pupil state spending.

“The education establishment in Virginia has fought the ability for parents to select the best education options for their children, but parents made their wishes clear again at the ballot box this week,” AFC National Director of Government Affairs Ryan Cantrell said, according to the press release. “The victories tonight are just the first step in bringing true school choice to Virginia, and parents are well-positioned to elect a school choice majority in both chambers in November’s general election.”