Pamela Garner, 54, of Gloucester, is the Democratic candidate in the Nov. 7 election for the newly-drawn Virginia Senate District 26, which covers Gloucester and Mathews counties.

Garner said that, if elected, she will work on a number of issues, including preserving reproductive freedom, expanding sensible gun safety laws, and providing adequate funding for schools.

Reproductive health care should not be legislated, Garner said, asserting that “it’s between the patient and their health care professional.” In addition, she said that sensible gun safety laws are needed to keep guns out of the hands of children and people who have engaged in domestic violence or who have mental health issues.

Schools need funding and support so that “every child can thrive and teachers can have the salaries and working conditions they need,” said Garner.

As a first-time candidate, Garner has been knocking on doors throughout the district, “and when I happen to knock on the door of a teacher ...