Ninth District primary challengers criticize Griffith in forum

ABINGDON — The three Democratic primary hopefuls seeking a spot on the Ninth Congressional District race ballot all blasted incumbent Morgan Griffith Wednesday for not being in touch with his constituents. Douglas Crockett, Adam Murphy and Joy Powers joined moderator and UVA Wise political science professor Heather Evans for the Washington County Virginia Democratic Committee-hosted forum at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. During the two-hour round of questions from Evans and the audience of approximately 130, the three candidates talked about their legislative and campaign priorities, healthcare, economic development, views on the current Congress, their own qualifications to run and how they would go after Griffith during the election. Goals and priorities Crockett, a retired United Methodist clergy and attorney, cited a three-point set of priorities if elected: prosperity in the Ninth District, unity across party lines and maturity in achieving that prosperity. Crockett said supporting women's rights, enhancing healthcare access through the Affordable Care Act and reforming immigration including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants all are necessary for the country. Murphy, a software engineer from Roanoke County, called for expanded Medicare for all Americans to improved healthcare access. He also advocated the revival of former Ninth District Democratic Congressman Rick Boucher's "Showcasing Southwest Virginia" economic development program to attract new businesses and existing business growth to the district. Powers — a Bedford County livestock farmer, farm equipment business owner and adoptive parent — cited a four point HOME set of goals: improved healthcare access; opportunity for jobs and economic growth; market affordability for the Ninth's residents and; improved education infrastructure. Voting Rights Act provisions weakened by the Trump administration and Supreme Court also need Congressional protection, Powers added. Reforms Asked which federal programs they wanted to see cut or reformed, all three candidates cited healthcare. Murphy repeated his call for Medicare for all, while Powers and Murphy both want to see Medicaid federal budget cuts restored. Crockett said he preferred to see the Affordable Care Act enhanced through improved insurance subsidies. Powers said the annual federal farm bill needs strengthened provisions for food access programs such as SNAP and WIC.Crockett said reforms are needed for Immigration Control and Enforcement, adding that diversity protections rolled back under the Trump administration have to be restored. All three called for reining in the federal defense budget. Talking to constituents and Republicans "He's a great example how not to communicate with constituents," Powers said of Griffith. "What I love about Congressman Boucher's legacy is that everyone has a positive Congressman Boucher story, regardless of whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, because he was a servant before he was a Democrat … we approach every constituent like they deserve to be served." Powers said her campaign team and a future legislative team include people familiar with all communities in the Ninth. Regular town halls in the district's communities are also needed, she said. "We've seen such legislative neglect, such apathy shown voters by our current representative," said Powers. "We actually not just have to be better than that. We have to actually communicate the way they deserve." Crockett and Murphy each echoed Powers by supporting regular in-person town hall meetings with constituents. "The main thing is hard work, to be on the road, be traveling, to be everywhere in the district," said Crockett. "I am not averse to hard work, to driving long distances." Murphy said he planned to follow Boucher's example by conducting at least two town halls in every locality and community across the district. "I've talked to many Republicans, conservatives, independents, Democrats," said Murphy, "and people don't always agree with what I say. We're not always going to agree on everything but I promise we're going to have a conversation about it, something we don't even get from our current representative in Morgan Griffith today ... I think the representative must have a personal relationship with constituents." Powers, Murphy and Crockett all said that their campaigns have included conversations with Republican voters about issues facing the district. Virginia firearms restrictions Evans asked the candidates about recently enacted Virginia laws limiting firearms and pending legislation by Virginia's U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to male similar restrictions federal law. Murphy said he supports the Second Amendment and current restrictions but questioned the effectiveness of restrictions on weapon magazine size or certain firearm types. He said expanded access to mental health services through Medicare for all would help deal with some causes of shooting incidents or suicides. "After 1990 and Columbine, I believe a lot of people are not being seen or fallen through the cracks," said Murphy. "If we had mental health services all throughout our country, we would see a natural reduction in mass firearm incidents. We'd see a reduction in suicide-related firearm incidents." Powers said, as a firearm owner, she understands the personal safety issue. She also cited her work as a compliance manager for firearm sales, running background checks on purchasers. Part of that included stalling purchasers who had outstanding criminal warrants when flagged by the Virginia State Police for arrest. "Those people that I watched getting taken out of my store in handcuffs as they should, could legally buy a gun from a private individual or at a gun show any day. We have got to close the loophole on uniform background checks. No gun legislation should be made without law enforcement at the table. That's where we went wrong in Richmond this year, to be honest." Crockett said he felt the Virginia gun restrictions passed this year are good, adding that it should not be made easier to but firearms. "It's not always guns," Crockett said of firearm-related issues. "There are socioeconomic issues behind gun violence … and there are studies that do show that it is due to some degree to racial discrimination." Israel All three candidates criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when asked their position on continued U.S. military aid to Israel. "Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal," said Powers. "He is using American dollars to use white phosphorus against civilians, he's using enforced starvation against civilians and it must stop. America cannot be complicit in this … Until the Democrats in this party wake up to that reality we will continue to lose elections." Crockett said military aid should be limited to Israel's defensive capability and not to support their current operations. "It's just awful that we have any part in what's happening in the Middle East with Israel at this point," said Crockett. "What happened to Israel (during the October 2024 Hamas raid) was terrible. It was barbaric, but we should not turn around and do something barbaric back. They've proven that, with unlimited military weapons, they can't be trusted." "I definitely believe Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal and should be tried," said Murphy. "I make no distinction between defensive of offensive weapons. If you give a nation the opportunity to defend itself so it can posture aggressively, offensively, we've given them offensive weapons … We must treat Israel as they are. They are not a very good ally of the American people." Impeachment When asked about supporting the possibility of articles of impeachment against Donald Trump is Democrats gain Senate and House majorities after the November elections, the three candidates differed. "Not just against Donald Trump but the whole administration," said Murphy. "Impeachment is not a political tool," said Powers, "but I will say he has egregiously broken the law." "It depends," said Crockett.