Democrat
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Sourced verbatim from the candidate's website.
My life's work has never been about standing behind a podium or holding party lines—it has been about standing up for the people who keep our communities strong. I grew up in 4-H and FFA, learning firsthand the value of responsibility, resilience, and service. Today, I live and work on my family's 350-acre farm in Bedford, Virginia, where we raise cattle and steward our land for future generations. I know what it means to rely on your faith, your family, and your own two hands to make a living. I am also a mother to my son, Eli, whom I adopted through foster care. Being a parent has deepened my commitment to building a better, stronger Virginia—one where every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed in a community that values them. I also have been active in many organizations in my life including Virginia FFA, Virginia 4-H, Chamblissburg Ruritans, Virignia Simmental Association and the Virginia Farm Bureau. I have spent years serving this district, including: - Superintendent of the Bedford County Fair – Promoting agriculture, education, and local businesses. - Member of the Bedford County Agricultural Economic Development Advisory Board – Strengthening rural economies and advocating for local industries. - Founder of Restore the Harvest – Providing sustainable agricultural education and resources worldwide. - Foster Care Parent and Advocate – Provided a home to children in vulnerable situations and fought for policies that strengthen families, support foster parents, and improve outcomes for children. - Small Business Owner – Working firsthand to create jobs and economic opportunities in our rural communities. I don't just believe in this community—I have invested in it, fought for it, and worked to make it stronger. That's what real leadership looks like.
Joy Powers is a fourth-generation cattle farmer, small business owner, and proud Bedford County mom running for Congress to give rural Virginia a real voice in Washington — one rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Joy learned early that neighbors look out for each other, your word means something, and hope is built through action, not empty promises. Before stepping into public life, Joy spent her days working the land and running her family's farm equipment dealership. She knows what it's like to fight for a small business in an economy built for big corporations and to face the same challenges rural families do when the system stops working for them. When she adopted her son Eli through foster care, she promised to fight for a fairer, more secure future for every child growing up in rural Virginia. As a community leader, Joy has taken on monopoly utilities to lower energy costs, worked to expand rural healthcare, strengthen public education, and protect Virginia's farmland and way of life. Now she's ready to bring that same courage and conviction to Congress — to put people, not corporations, back in charge of their government.
Sourced verbatim from the candidate's website.
No one should have to drive hours or skip care because of where they live. Joy will protect rural hospitals, expand mental health and addiction treatment, and grow the healthcare workforce so every family can get quality care close to home.
People want to work and deserve jobs that pay a living wage. Joy will bring new industries and small business investment to the Ninth District, rebuild infrastructure like roads and broadband, and make sure every community has a fair chance to thrive.
Too many families are being priced out of housing, groceries, and energy. Joy will fight to lower costs by holding corporations accountable, building affordable homes, and ensuring working people can keep more of what they earn each month.
Every child deserves a fair shot from preschool to career. Joy will support teachers, modernize classrooms, and expand access to higher education and job training programs that prepare students for the good-paying jobs of tomorrow.
