With seven contenders vying to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor, the Mercury asked all the hopefuls to answer a questionnaire covering their political and legislative experiences and their positions on policy that shapes citizens’ lives. Here are Democrat Babur Lateef’s responses, which have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Virginia’s constitution stipulates that the lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate. How has your legislative or political experience prepared you for that role?

Lateef: I’ve spent the last seven years as the At-Large Chair of the Prince William County School Board, Virginia’s second-largest school division in the 10th most-diverse county in the nation. I served as Chair of the University of Virginia Health System Board, where I tackled statewide issues like healthcare access, rising student debt, and housing affordability.

Beyond my official roles, I bring the perspective of a practicing physician, the husband of a federal worker at the NIH, and a proud product of public schools — from kindergarten through medical school. Every day I listen to Virginians — patients, parents, and public servants—and I understand what’s at stake. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll bring that same grounded, results-driven leadership to the Senate chamber.

The last four years have shown us the benefits and challenges of a gubernatorial administration working effectively with a legislative body of the opposite political party. How would you participate in strengthening a productive working relationship with legislators, even if the General Assembly is controlled by a party that’s opposite of yours?

Lateef: Throughout my career, my work has centered on listening to people, hearing their concerns, then working to solve the challenges they face. I’ve worked across ideological lines to raise teacher and nurse pay, expand Medicaid access, and increase graduation rates without letting partisanship get in the way of progress.

In Prince William County, we’ve had board members from across the political spectrum. Yet we achieved historic gains in student performance, pay equity, and inclusion by focusing on common goals and treating each other with respect. That’s exactly the spirit I’d bring to the Senate chamber as lieutenant governor.

I’m also uniquely positioned to understand where families are struggling, because I see 50–60 patients a day as a doctor. That real-world perspective helps cut through political noise and center our conversations on kitchen table issues people are concerned about: affordability, access to quality healthcare and education, and economic opportunity. No matter who controls the General Assembly, I’ll be ready to work with anyone who’s serious about improving the lives of hardworking Virginians.

Though lieutenant governors are not legislators, they can signal favor of work the General Assembly does. Are there specific types of legislation that your office would advocate in support of in the General Assembly?

Lateef: First and foremost, every Virginian — regardless of race, ethnicity, or identity — deserves the opportunity to live in a safe, vibrant community and to experience the pride and stability that comes with homeownership. Creating those opportunities through a “Home by 30” program will be a top priority of mine. Second, we know that investments in education have the highest returns. That’s why I’ll fight to fully fund our public schools and put Richmond’s multi-billion-dollar budget surpluses to work for our students and teachers. Finally, it’s long overdue for Virginia to repeal its most-hated tax, the car tax. I support using our budget surpluses either to fully fund our schools, or to go toward giving our hardworking families a tax break.

What is your stance on school choice and how do you propose to address educational disparities?

Lateef: I strongly oppose diverting public dollars to private school voucher programs or other so-called “school choice” schemes that weaken our public schools and widen opportunity gaps.

Virginia’s public schools are underfunded. Despite our reputation as a top state for business and a nearly $2 billion surplus, we rank far too low in per-pupil spending — about $1,900 below the national average.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will make fixing that inequity a top priority. That means removing funding caps, updating the formula to reflect actual student needs, and ensuring that every school — regardless of zip code — has the resources to provide a world-class education. We must invest in teacher pay, student mental health services, and expanded access to early childhood and career and technical education.

Do you support the current administration’s focus on revising school curricula and how would you approach curriculum content as lieutenant governor?

curriculum. We must teach history accurately and unbiasedly to all people. Sanitizing history does a disservice to our students and undermines their ability to think critically, empathize with others, and engage as informed citizens.

That said, I do support efforts to improve academic rigor across all subjects.

In light of recent controversies involving public officials, how do you plan to uphold and promote ethical standards in your role as lieutenant governor?

Lateef: Ethical leadership starts with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to public service over personal gain, and that’s how I’ve led throughout my career. As Chair of the Prince William County School Board and the University of Virginia Health System Board, I’ve overseen large institutions that directly impact tens of thousands of lives. In both roles, I’ve ensured that decision-making was transparent, inclusive, and well-intentioned.

I’ve never taken contributions from predatory industries like the gambling, and I’ve consistently advocated for policies that protect the most vulnerable — from students and teachers to frontline workers and federal employees.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will continue to lead with that same integrity. I’ll support ethics reforms that increase transparency in campaign finance and ensure that all elected officials are held to the highest standards.

How do you plan to use your tie-breaking power to influence legislation, and in what areas do you see the most opportunity for bipartisan cooperation?

Lateef: I’ll use my power to cast the tie breaking vote to stand up for working families, protect public resources, and ensure that the Commonwealth remains focused on long-term prosperity — not short-term gains.

I’ve consistently opposed casinos in Northern Virginia and slot machines in 7-Elevens (so-called “skill games”), because I believe predatory gambling is not an economic development strategy. It disproportionately targets working-class families and communities of color. … If legislation expanding gambling or casinos reaches a tie in the Senate, I will vote no — because our economy should be built on addiction and exploitation.

At the same time, I see real potential for bipartisan cooperation in areas where Virginians overwhelmingly agree: expanding access to affordable housing, investing in workforce development, improving public education, and lowering healthcare costs.

What’s the most important thing for Virginians to know about you?

Lateef: I served the same locality as former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger while she represented the 7th District. We worked together to deliver federal funds to address the teacher shortage (a program that Trump recently cut). She recently announced support for policies that I’ve long supported, including addressing housing affordability and repealing the car tax.

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