Dear Washington Post Editorial Board,

In 2016, you chose to endorse Rep. Barbara Comstock in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District.
You did so even though you said you disagreed with her decision to side with the gun lobby
over the safety of us, the students and children in her district. ​You wrote​, “The Republican Party
will badly need elected officials willing to govern, not just wage partisan warfare.” That was a
noble thought, but in the two years since, Rep. Comstock has sided with President Trump
97.8% of the time and has voted in line with the NRA’s extreme views time and time again.

Even though we were just a few months past the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando,
one of our nation’s worst mass shootings, we understood your motivations for endorsing her.
But in the following two years, we’ve seen carnage at a concert in Las Vegas, the mass killing of
worshippers at a church in Texas, and the slaughtering of students like us in Parkland, Florida.

Virginia Tech and Columbine taught us years ago that we are not immune to gun violence. And
while mass shootings get the headlines, far too many students across the country face daily
violence just getting to and from school.

Your endorsement holds huge influence for voters in every election, especially in Virginia. We,
the youth, students, and new voters of Virginia’s 10th district, demand that you listen to our
voices in this election, because the 2018 midterms could have grave consequences for our
futures. Jennifer Wexton has proven that she can and will stand up to the NRA to keep us safe
from gun violence in our homes and our schools.

We can’t afford another two years without change. There is no time left to be complacent. We
cannot expect change unless we support and elect a candidate that reflects the changes
necessary to protect people in the 10th District.

Jennifer Wexton is a lifelong advocate for gun violence prevention. She is a champion for
common sense legislation to keep our homes and schools safe. She is the change that we need
as the students and young people of Northern Virginia. We ask you to endorse Sen. Jennifer
Wexton in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. Our futures depend on it.

Sincerely,
Sean Murphy and students of Virginia’s 10th Congressional District
Young People of Virginia’s 10th District Signatories

Adam Balick, University of Pittsburgh

Ainsley Rucker, Sherando High School
Amanda Donovan, Rocky Run Middle School
Ayesha Gill, University of Virginia
Ben Bressette, Broad Run High School
Ben Payne, James Madison University
Ben Radomsky, University of Virginia
Ben Wagner, William and Mary
Caroline Donovan, Poplar Tree Elementary
Catherine Klepic, Chantilly High School
Chad Wiggins, University of Richmond
Claire Kirk, Dominion High School
Helen Jasper, New College of Florida
Isabella Todaro, University of Virginia
Jacob Medley, Virginia Commonwealth University
Julia Condie, Woodgrove High School
Kathleen Donovan, Paul VI High School
Madison Roberts, University of Virginia
Megan Custard, University of Virginia
Nicholas Gothard, Lewis and Clark College
Patrick Northrup, James Madison University
Saajid Hasan, University of Virginia
Sabah Parsa, New York University
Sean Murphy, William and Mary
Sophie Howery, McLean High School
Travis Kirk, Dominion High School