CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Redistricting could be a double-edged sword for 6th District Democrat Beth Macy. If proposed redrawn maps are approved by Virginia voters in April, Macy will find herself running a much less Republican dominated district.

But she could find herself in a primary fight against a former Congressman with considerable backing from the Democratic Party in Tom Perriello. 

“I’m ready for it,” Macy told Cville Right Now. “I was ready to run before the new map came out and I’m still ready to run.”

As for Perriello, Macy said she’s ready for a primary challenge, noting the two have some similar stances.

“He’d be a tough competitor,” Macy said. “I think he’s a great guy. I’m not sure where he’s been for the last 13 years since he was out of office. I don’t think he’s spent that much time in this region. I have never left this region.” 

Macy holds endorsements from Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Sen. Tim Kaine, but so does Perriello in the 5th District. It’s unclear who they would back if the redistricting pits Macy and Perriello head-to-head.

Macy has spent nearly 40 years in the Roanoke area. But the former Roanoke Times journalist and acclaimed “Dopesick” author said she won’t need to tailor her position or messaging any if redistricting efforts succeed and the Albemarle County and Charlottesville areas are drawn into the district.

“My values won’t change, even if the districts do,” Macy said. “We need working families to be at the center of policy, not billionaires, not bought off politicians. I grew up working class. I’ve written about the working class my whole entire career. … We have gotten to the point where it’s the most corrupt era of my lifetime, and it’s largely thanks to people in both parties, who centered corporations and billionaires, not working people. So I want to put a stop to that. tired of writing about it, decided to do something.”

Macy began in-depth planning for her campaign in October, aware that the 6th District, as it’s currently constituted, is a Republican stronghold. Advisors warned her the 6th had gone Republican by 12 points in the last election. One friend sent her a 41-page email detailing the challenges of winning the 6th.

“Super ruby red and I decided I was going to go for it anyway,” said Macy, whose most recent book, “Paper Girl,” examines, in part, the political divisions in America. “It was just that what we were losing was too important just to let it go.”

By year’s end, Macy had raised $618,816.12 for her campaign against Republican incumbent Ben Cline, and had $527,708.63 in cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures.

Perriello entered the race for the 5th District in December, prompting most other declared candidates to drop out. He said he believes the issues he’s campaigned on in Albemarle and Charlottesville will resonate in places like Roanoke and Harrisonburg, as well.

“I’ve got a lot of support and we’ve got a lot of momentum,” Perriello told Cville Right Now. “But I think the focus will be on continuing to listen to voters, particularly in the Roanoke Valley and Shenandoah Valley. I love the idea of greater solidarity between these communities, particularly as we face some shared challenges, like affordability.”

One area Macy and Perriello agree on is their criticism of current Republican Representatives Ben Cline (6th District) and John McGuire (5th District) and their support for the policies of the Trump administration.

“We are not helping working people right now,” Macy said. “The gas and heating bills are up 25%. Unemployment is up. The expiration of the Obamacare subsidies is devastating to small business owners and gig economy workers. And instead of giving people healthcare and allowing them to see a doctor and get the medicines they need, Trump and Cline want to spend $85 billion on ICE. Why aren’t we talking about universal childcare instead of Ice, instead of putting kids in jail?”

Perriello said running against Cline or McGuire, in many ways, is the same campaign.

“Ben Cline has done the exact same thing as McGuire,” Perriello said. “Both of them voted to send healthcare prices up. Both of them voted for policies that are closing our rural health clinics. Neither of them had the guts to even sign the Epstein discharge petition that had bipartisan support. Neither of them, both of whom have talked about being part of the Freedom Caucus, have stood up for freedom when ICE is coming into communities. And in the case of Ben Cline, that’s a very active threat across the Valley in places like Harrisonburg.”

Macy noted the redrawn 6th would continue to be heavily made up of college towns. It already is home to Virginia Tech, James Madison and Roanoke College, among others. Redistricting would add the University of Virginia to that grouping.

Macy said improving college affordability and access are among the issues she’s focused on.

“I went to college at a time when it was possible for a working class kid like I was to have my 4-year tuition paid for, room and board, books, I even had work study jobs, all by PELL grants, and now a PELL grant only pays about 30%,” Macy said. “So, we basically took the ability for a poor kid to get a college education away. I think we ought to double the PELL grant. I think in an era of AI coming along, which is going to kneecap so many of these 4-year college jobs, we need to really beef up workforce. Free community college, and make sure we’re making drawing a really clear pipeline between the community colleges and the high schools in our region. And underscoring programs that help single moms and people in their 20s, 30s and 40s go back to school to retrain for the jobs of the future, a lot of which are going to be things that AI can’t do – healthcare, trades, things of that nature.”

Whichever Democrat wins the primary, Macy said they will find voters in Southwest Virginia more open to supporting a Democrat in the general election, a fact underscored by Lily Franklin’s House of Delegates victory in the 41st District, which includes parts of Roanoke and Montgomery County. 

“I’m seeing a lot of activism,” Macy said. “My campaign really grew out of these Monday rallies that were outside Ben Cline’s office, when he wouldn’t ever meet with anyone. People started asking me to run back when it was R+12 for sure. And I’ve been astonished by the support, including a lot of people in the middle. People who’ve never voted for a Democrat before, now hold fundraisers for me. People are really concerned about the lack of decency, the lack of checks and balances.”