Crockett the latest declared Democrat in Ninth District primary race

NORTON – Douglas Crockett said disappointment in the results of the 2024 presidential election was the starting point in deciding to run in the Democratic primary to unseat incumbent Republican Ninth District Congressman Morgan Griffith.Crockett joined other Democratic candidates Joy Powers and Adam Murphy Saturday for a candidate forum before talking about his decision to run in the Party's August 4 primary. A Wythe County native and Emory & Henry University graduate, he was a Methodist minister before attending the College of William & Mary law school and retiring from a second career as an attorney in 2024."After the 2024 election, I was really disappointed," Crockett said of his decision. "I'd already made my mind up that I was going to retire from my law practice in 2025 and was thinking what I was going to do after that. I was praying about it, and there's a scripture that says, unless the lord builds a house you build it in vain. Unless he guards a city, the soldiers guard it in vain. I know in my life, I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for divine intervention and grace and a lot of help from above."Crockett said his conversations with Democrats and Republicans in the district led him to believe that Griffith is not representing the Ninth."I'm not sure he represents any of the people because it seems he's given up his vote, his voice to whatever," said Crockett. "That's really a disservice to the people. I know it's true of the Democrats because I'm talking to them. I've talked to some Republicans, and they say 'We never see him. We send him mail and we ask questions and we get a form letter back which doesn't address our questions.'"Like his fellow Democratic candidates, Crockett cited the legacy of Griffith's predecessor, Rich Boucher, as an example to follow if elected."People look back to the Boucher times and it's like a golden age," Crockett said. "I would like to have the respect that he gets from other people. I would like to emulate his being present for people. People perceive him as having been really hands-on with needs in the community. In Buchanan County they talk about the Grundy flood control project."During the forum, Crockett said the next Ninth District representative has to cross party lines in dealing with constituents."I want to reach out to Republicans and Democrats because it affects jobs, it affects the economy and affordability, it affects everybody," Crockett said. "A lot of the issues are not Republican or Democrat." With the Virginia redistricting referendum becoming an issue across the sate as well as in Southwest Virginia, Crockett said he was not for redistricting overall in non-census years but called the referendum as matter of "fair, equal treatment" in the wake of Donald Trump's call for Republican-controlled states to redistrict to hold a majority in the 2026 midterm elections."I'm not against fair treatment," Crockett added, "but I'm for fair equal treatment."Crockett cited healthcare, education, broadband internet connectivity and tourism as three of the district and Southwest Virginia's main economic drivers."Healthcare and education need to be built up," said Crockett. "Broadband affects education and jobs. If you don't have a decent internet connection, how can you work from home? The government needs to breathe some money into the district and Appalachia in general. They're all tough issues and it's going to take some money to deal with it."Crockett said there is an Appalachian caucus within Congress willing to work together, "which I don't think Morgan Griffith really does."