Ralph Northam announces candidacy for Virginia governor.

Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam made his candidacy for the 2017 Democratic Party gubernatorial nomination in an email on Tuesday. “As a former Army doctor and practicing pediatric neurologist, I know that the best way to serve people is to listen to their needs and concerns. And as a public official, I’ve taken the same approach to serving our Commonwealth,” said Northam, who was elected to the number-two position in state government in 2013.

A former state senator, Northam is an alum of Virginia Military Institute and former U.S. Army physician who treated casualties during Operation Desert Storm. He defeated Republican E.W. Jackson in the 2013 state elections with 55% of the vote.

Northam will likely not face a primary challenge in the 2017 cycle, with Democrat Mark Herring, the sitting Attorney General, having announced earlier this year that he will run for re-election.

Northam touted the successes of the Democratic administration led by Gov. Terry McAuliffe that he has helped shepherd through the Virginia General Assembly in his announcement. “We’ve expanded access to affordable health care, created over 40,000 jobs, and opened up pre-K to thousands of young Virginians,” Northam said. “I’ve broken ties on Senate votes in favor of increasing the minimum wage, banning discrimination in the workplace, and repealing the invasive ultrasound mandate.”

“We need to continue investing in early childhood education, creating jobs in the new Virginia economy, protecting women’s reproductive rights and expanding access to Medicaid for 400,000 of our citizens,” Northam said.

At: http://augustafreepress.com/ralph-northam-announces-candidacy-for-virginia-governor/