Meet Virginia Congressional Candidate Yesli Vega

BUCK: Yesli Vega is with us now. She is running in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. She is a military spouse, mother, and law enforcement officer. Yesli, tell us how it’s going in Virginia’s 7th.

VEGA: Hi, Clay and Buck. We just wrapped up a rally here in King George where we had over 100 people show up during lunchtime. The energy, the enthusiasm on the ground is incredible — and that is why I believe we’re going to win tomorrow.

BUCK: What are some of the top things that you’re hearing? I mean, I’m assuming it mirrors a lot of what’s been said across the country about the top issues. But, you know, Virginia felt like a purple state, recently started to feel more blue and then all of a sudden, Youngkin wins, and now people like you are running and looking like you’ll be able to be a new generation of Republican leadership in the state. So, what are Virginians telling you?

VEGA: Look, we’re talking about the economy, inflation. We’re talking about the crisis at our southern border, how crime is literally crippling our communities, and also parental rights. Who would have thought, right, that we would still be talking about that issue? It seems like today’s liberal progressive Democrat Party didn’t hear the message loud and clear last November. So, we’re going to remind them again that we do not co-parent with the federal government as parents, that we have a fundamental right to be involved in our children’s lives. And that is why people are going to flood the polls tomorrow in numbers like we’ve never seen before.

CLAY: Yesli, we appreciate you coming on. For people out there who don’t know your district and, frankly, there are probably people listening who may be in your district and not even be aware of it. Tell us why your district is so competitive, what’s unique about it, and why you are the perfect choice to represent that district.

VEGA: Sure. It’s a new district. You know, after redistricting, I would say that 70% of the district is new to my opponent, who seems to be running as an incumbent when, in reality, it’s a new district, but it’s a district that also tends to go with the current political climate. And based off of everything that we’ve been seeing out of the Biden-Pelosi agenda over the last couple of years, it’s something that is hurting Virginians, it’s something that people are not pleased with. And that is why I believe that the 7th District is going to flip, because folks want new leadership, they want change, and they want a representative that is going to be, you know, fighting on behalf of the voters during the 7th District and not somebody who’s going to serve as a rubberstamp like my opponent has been for Biden and for Pelosi.

BUCK: We’re speaking to Yesli Vega. She’s running in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Tell us a bit about being a law enforcement officer, Yesli, because we have a lot of veterans we’ve had on the show recently who are running for office now, haven’t had as many law-enforcement officers. What do you bring to — in terms of perspective — the table having actually had to be out there and work in that role?

VEGA: You know, I became a police officer in 2011. My younger brother was viciously gunned down and nearly killed by MS-13. So when we talk about violence, when we talk about gangs, when we talk about drugs, I’ve been at the forefront of this issue and I find it appalling that my opponent is now — because it’s election season — talking about how she’s always supported law enforcement. She was silent over the last two years when the men and women of law enforcement were demonized for doing their job. We have a lot of work to do in order to restore that trust that we once had with folks here in the district and law enforcement.

I’ll share with you all that we had a law enforcement roundtable with the sheriffs of the 7th District, and we were talking about, you know, criminal activity to the extent that we’re now having to deal with cartels here in the 7th District — and again, this is a direct result of a wide-open border. This is a direct result of failed Democrat policies. We’re seeing numbers of deaths here due to fentanyl like numbers we’ve never seen before, and people are tired of losing their children to drugs, people are tired of not feeling safe in their communities, and we’re reminding folks what’s at stake and the importance of people getting out and voting tomorrow.

CLAY: Yesli Vega — you need to go support her in the 7th Congressional District in Virginia. I believe you’re a mom as well, and we have talked to a lot of moms who have been inspired to run for office here in 2022. How many moms and dads are you talking to, Yesli, fired up still over covid policies, over the way that their kids were treated associated with school. And how much do you think the mom and dad vote — in particular the mom vote — is going to make a big difference not only in your district, but across the country?

VEGA: I am a mother, and that’s the most important role that I will ever have in this lifetime. And, you know, my husband and I are raising two beautiful kids that God has blessed us with. We do not co-parent with the federal government. We never have and we never will. I’m talking to parents who are tired of the heavy hand of government trying to tell them what to do and how to raise their children. I’m sure that you all heard of the radical proposal that a delegate here, a Democratic delegate in Virginia, said that her priority in the upcoming legislative session was to put forth a bill that would — listen to this — “jail parents who do not affirm their child’s identity.”

This is madness. My opponent also voted against requiring parental notice and consent before schools can provide services to our children when it comes to gender ideology or orientation. It’s a fundamental right for parents to be involved with their children, not just inside of the classroom, but outside of the classroom. You know, you have to be 18 years old to get underneath a tanning bed, but you can be 12, 13, 14 years old and mutilate your body.

CLAY: Crazy.

VEGA: Our children are expecting for us to just protect them, and that’s why I’m running, and that is why I fight hard, because I will not allow this to continue.

BUCK: Yesli Vega, everybody, be a big pick-up against her opponent. Her opponent is a favorite of the D.C. swamp crew. So you really got to get out there in Virginia 7th. Yesli, you’ve run a great campaign and we hope you’re going to get some good news here in just a matter of, you know, 24, 48 hours or so depending. Thanks so much for being with us.

VEGA: Thank you so much for having me.

BUCK: Yeah. She’s running against one of these Democrats, Clay, who is doing the whole, “Oh, I’m… I go my own way. I don’t… I’m not just one of those Biden Democrats.” That is not the reality.