Lee Carter | |
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Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 50th district |
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Assumed office January 10, 2018 |
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Preceded by | Jackson Miller |
Personal details | |
Born | Elizabeth City, North Carolina |
Political party | Democratic |
Other political affiliations |
Democratic Socialists of America |
Children | 1 |
Residence | Manassas, Virginia |
Occupation | IT specialist |
Committees | Manassas City Democratic Committee |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 2006–2011 |
Lee J. Carter is an American politician and IT specialist who was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. On November 7, 2017 he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for the 50th district. He defeated Jackson Miller, the Republican House Majority Whip. He is a member of the Democratic Party and a former Marine. He is a self-described democratic socialist and was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, of which he is a member, for his 2017 election bid.
Carter was inspired to run after receiving a shock while repairing a lighting system in the summer of 2015 and subsequently struggling to receive workers compensation from Virginia while unable to work. Before choosing to run, Carter had long identified as "...to the left of where the Democratic party [is]..." but was further inspired by Bernie Sanders to explore democratic socialism.
Carter's campaign mostly focused on issues such as single-payer healthcare and financial contributions to politicians.
Jackson Miller, the incumbent Republican, distributed a mailer campaign by comparing Carter to socialist rulers Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong, an act described as fearmongering and condemned by the Democratic Party of Virginia. Miller referred to Carter as an "anti-jobs candidate" and said his "ideas are so out of the mainstream, and so incredibly expensive."