Get to know your candidates — Virginia House of Delegates District 47

Yvonne Rorrer (D-Stuart, nonincumbent): "I envision our district as a place where every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, has access to the resources they need to live and succeed. An area where human rights are upheld, mental health is treated as a priority, families and seniors are supported, and personal freedoms are safeguarded.

"Through collaboration, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the people, we will create a government that works for everyone, and not cater to any particular group. I am committed to uniting our district by bridging political divides and focusing on policies that protect and uplift all citizens, without regard to wealth, race, or political party. By prioritizing common ground and practical solutions, we can build a future that respects both individual freedoms and collective responsibilities, which will unite our district."

Wren Williams (R-Stuart, incumbent): "My vision for District 47 is simple: strong families, safe communities, and a thriving economy where people don’t feel like they have to leave here to build a good life. We’ve got a proud heritage in Southwest Virginia — agriculture, small businesses, and hardworking people — and I want to make sure Richmond delivers for us, not just for Northern Virginia or the big cities. That means protecting our conservative values, keeping the government out of our way, and making sure every child has the chance to succeed without being indoctrinated by politics in the classroom."

Rorrer: "I decided to run for public office because our district deserves a representative who puts people first. What we see too often from Richmond and from Delegate Wren Williams is more about headlines and social media posts than helping the families who live here. Residents of Patrick, Floyd, Carroll, Henry counties, and the city of Galax don’t need more political theater. We need results that make life better in our communities.

"I’ve been married to my husband Ryan for 23 years. He’s a moderate Republican and I’m a Democrat, so I live in bipartisanship every single day. While we don’t agree on everything, we listen to each other, respect each other, and find common ground. That’s what real leadership should look like.

"One issue that pushed me to run was learning that Delegate Williams voted against House Bill 1727 in 2025. That bill would have stripped convicted rapists of any parental rights to children conceived through those assaults. To me, that vote showed a complete lack of compassion and common sense. Protecting victims of violent crime should never be a partisan issue. Thankfully, the bill still passed, but his vote told me everything I needed to know about the kind of leadership we have now.

"After I helped bring forward House Bill 1721, the Uniform Easement Relocation Act, and watched it pass the House and Senate unanimously, I realized something important. Regular people, not lobbyists or career politicians, can make real change. That experience taught me that one determined voice can make a difference, and that is why I’m running, to represent everyone in our district, not just one side or the privileged few."

Williams: "I am running for re-election because we’ve seen what happens when Democrats are in charge of Richmond. They tried to ban our guns. They pushed radical policies into our schools that undermined parents. They weakened law and order with cashless bail and bond policies that let dangerous criminals walk free. They advanced sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants, gutted voter ID, rewrote election laws to benefit themselves, and they’re still pushing to enshrine unlimited abortion in our Constitution with no safeguards.

"This isn’t a hyperbolic warning — that’s their record. I’m running again because we cannot let them bring that same radical agenda back. I will keep fighting to defend our families, protect our rights, and keep Virginia safe, free, and prosperous."

Rorrer: "I’m running to be a voice for everyone in our district, and that starts with listening. A Delegate’s job isn’t about power or prestige, it’s about showing up, doing the work, and earning your paycheck. The base salary for a Virginia Delegate is less than eighteen thousand dollars a year. You don’t take that job for the money. You take it because you care about the people you serve. My opponent makes excuses for his lack of work. Out here, we call that being on the ‘draw’, and that’s not what public service is supposed to be.

"My goal is to talk with everyone, no matter their party, and find real solutions that make life better in my district. People around here know we’ve been left out and left behind for too long. Many of our roads need repair. Mental health and addiction services are stretched thin. Rural hospitals and clinics are closing. Families are struggling to afford rent and groceries. Our schools need fair funding, and every home and business in this district should have reliable broadband and cell service. It’s 2025, and many areas on our rural backroads still don’t have a signal.

"As Delegate, I’ll base every decision on what I hear from the people I represent, not from the millionaires, lobbyists, or party bosses in Richmond. My job will be to carry your voice into that chamber and turn it into action. To me, that means one thing, passing bills that help real people."

Williams: "My goals for my next term are to keep pushing for parental rights and school choice so parents are able to decide what is best for their kids, defend our Second Amendment rights, bring more opportunity to Southwest and Southside Virginia by supporting farmers, small businesses, and job creators, and to stand up against out-of-control spending to make sure Richmond lives within its means like the families in our district do every day."

Rorrer: "I know that national politics seem to creep into everything these days, even our local conversations. My focus will always be on the people of District 47, not on what is happening in Washington. The job of a Delegate is to fix what is right in front of us, the roads, the schools, the hospitals, and the cost of living, not to get caught up in the shouting matches on cable news or the latest conspiracy theory on social media.

"Virginia’s motto, Sic Semper Tyrannis, “Thus Always to Tyrants,” reminds us that this Commonwealth was built on standing up to overreach and keeping government close to the people. That spirit still matters today. My job will be to protect the rights and freedoms of Virginians and to make sure the decisions that affect us most are made here at home, not by politicians or bureaucrats in Washington.

"I promise the voters of my district that I will pay more attention to their families’ needs and well-being than to the corporate media’s click-bait headlines of the day. People are tired of showboating and name-calling. They want leaders who listen and get things done. In the House of Delegates, I will work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, who is willing to roll up their sleeves and help me to make life better for my people back home. Leadership means knowing when to stand firm and when to find common ground, always in service to the people, never to a political agenda."

Williams: "Absolutely. Virginia Democrats take their marching orders from those in Washington, and we see that show up in Richmond every session. Whether it’s radical energy mandates, soft-on-crime policies, or efforts to shove parents to the side, the Democrats in Virginia are happy to carry water for the same agendas we see come out of D.C. That’s why it matters so much who we send to the General Assembly. We need strong conservatives who will stand up, draw a line in the sand, and say: not in Virginia. I’ve done that every day I’ve served, and I’ll keep doing it because if we don’t push back here at home, Washington’s chaos will become Virginia’s reality."

Rorrer: "There are one hundred Delegates in Virginia, and the one elected to represent you should be someone you can count on. Your Delegate should have an office in or near the district, should answer your calls, respond to your emails, and be willing to sit down face to face. If they are not doing that, you have every right to ask where that one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars they get each month for office space is going.

"Your voice matters more than you might think. A Delegate’s job is to carry the voices of the people back to Richmond, not the voices of lobbyists or party insiders. If you do not know who represents you, visit whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov to find out. You can also visit 5calls.org to reach your representatives directly and keep pressure on them.

"Do your homework before Election Day. Learn about each candidate from their own websites. Check who is funding their campaigns at vpap.org. Then show up and vote. That is how we remind Richmond who they work for."

Williams: "I tell voters all the time that it’s quite simple: VOTE. Elections are decided by a handful of votes. If you want lower taxes, safer streets, and leaders who share your values, it starts with showing up to vote. Talk to your neighbors, bring your friends and family to the polls, and make sure your voice is heard."

Rorrer: "I introduce myself as someone who understands what life is really like in our part of Virginia. I wasn’t born into privilege and I’ve never had anything handed to me. I live an everyday rural life just like most of the people reading this. I know what it’s like to struggle, to worry about how to pay for healthcare, childcare, housing, groceries, or car repairs, and to wonder if the last fifty dollars in your account will stretch to the next payday. I know what it’s like to lie awake at night worrying about your children and what kind of future they’ll have if things don’t change.

"My top priority will always be safe children, safe schools and safe communities. Right behind that is getting broadband internet and reliable cell phone service throughout my entire district. Our children’s economic future depends on it. Beyond that, I will fight for the things that make life better right here at home. That means maintaining and improving our roads, fully funding our schools, and making sure every family has access to affordable healthcare and mental health services. Every decision I make will come back to one thing, doing what is best for the families of this district."

Williams: "I tell them I grew up right here in Southwest Virginia, I’m raising my family here, and I’m fighting every day to protect the values we share: faith, family, and freedom. I make sure folks know that I’m a conservative fighter who isn’t afraid to take on the establishment and deliver real wins for our community.

"My priorities are clear: protect parents’ rights in education, defend our Second Amendment, keep our communities safe from crime, and fight back against the radical Left’s attempts to rewrite Virginia into something unrecognizable. At the end of the day, voters don’t have to guess where I stand. I’m not afraid of tough fights, I won’t water down my principles, and I’ll always put the people of District 47 first."

Rorrer: "I joined this race in mid-February out of pure frustration with what I see happening to our communities here in Southwest Virginia. Too many families feel ignored, and too many politicians spend more time online than on our roads or in our neighborhoods. I started my campaign the only way I know how, by talking directly with people one-on-one, whether they are Republican, Democrat, or Independent.

"There isn’t a door I won’t knock on or a person I won’t talk to. I want to hear from everyone, not just those who already agree with me. The only way to fix what’s broken is to start listening again. 

"I plan to campaign the way I intend to serve, by showing up, being honest, and finding common ground. I’m running to represent real people, not rich campaign donors or billionaires. That means meeting people where they are, listening to them, shaking hands, and earning their trust the old-fashioned way."

Williams: "I am running the same campaign I always have: boots on the ground meeting voters face-to-face. We’ve built strong grassroots operations talking to people at their homes, at church, at community events, and making sure they know they’ve got a conservative fighter representing them. That’s how we won before, and it’s how we’ll win again."

Rorrer: "I want the people of this district to know that I’m not a career politician. I’m a wife, a mother, and a neighbor who has lived the same struggles and shared the same hopes as everyone else around here. I’ve spent my life listening, helping, fighting, advocating, and finding solutions that actually work. That’s what I’ll do in Richmond.

"I’m proud that I can sit down and have a real conversation with anyone, whether they vote Democrat, Republican, or Independent. My husband and I have built a good life together through mutual respect and understanding. So, listening to both sides isn’t something I talk about, it’s something I live every single day.

"What I want voters to know most is this. I’ll always put people before politics, and I’ll fight for fairness, safety, and opportunity for every family in District 47. I’m not backed by billionaires or special interests. I’m backed by the people who work hard, pay their taxes, and just want leaders who will work, do what’s right, and respect the taxes they pay. I’m running to represent you, to fight for you, and to make sure our part of Virginia has the voice it deserves."

Williams: "I want them to know I will never back down from a fight, and I’m here to root out corruption on both sides of the aisle. I’ll always put the people of our district first and at the end of the day, this is about making our community a better place to live, work, and raise a family."