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Joe McNamara

REPUBLICAN

Joe McNamara is running for Virginia State Delegate, District 40, Republican Primary.

Personal background

Joe is from Cleveland, Ohio. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the University of Virginia. He lives with his wife, Cheryl, and five children.

Professional background

Joe owns two ice cream shops, Katie's Ice Cram and Chocolates and the Salem Ice Cream Parlor.

Political background

Joe McNamara is currently the state delegate representing district 8. He was first elected in 2017 and has been in office for three terms. He used to be a member of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.

Energy & the Environment

As a state delegate, voted against a bill that will lower energy bills for Virginian’s by $6-$7 per month by changing the way Virginia’s monopoly energy provider, Dominion Energy, can set prices.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have banned Virginia’s government from banning or restricting the use of natural gas.

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Economy

Wants to increase the standard deduction for individuals to take on their state taxes.

Supports getting rid of the 1.5% tax on groceries.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that lowered taxes on groceries from 2.5% to 1%, except for alcohol, tobacco, and prepared hot foods. Diapers and feminine hygiene products were included in the tax decrease.

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Healthcare

Opposes abortion and wants to limit access to abortion.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have let patients sue hospitals that weren’t transparent about their prices for services.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that prevents pharmacists from refusing to fill prescriptions because they were prescribed via telemedicine.

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Education

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have required school principals to tell parents if their child tells a school employee that they don’t identify with their gender assigned at birth or asks to be identified by another gender.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that lets companies be sued for publishing or distributing online content that is “harmful to minors” without checking the age of the internet users accessing the content.

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Public Safety

Opposes gun control.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that gives people $300 off their taxes if they buy a gun safe or lock box. The credit expires in 2027.

As a state delegate, voted for a bill that would have let drug dealers be charged with murder if one of their customers dies of a drug overdose. The punishment would have been 5-40 years in prison.

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