Candidate Interview: Dr. Mark Downey

00:00.85Sam ShiraziHi everyone, I'm Sam Shirazi and this is Federal Fallout the 2025 Virginia Elections. This episode I will be interviewing Dr. Mark Downey. He is the Democratic candidate in the 69th House of Delegates District in the Yorktown area.00:17.69Sam ShiraziThis is a seat Democrats are targeting and was narrowly carried by President Trump by a little over one points in November. The current incumbent is Republican delegate Chad Green, and I would be happy to have him on or any other Republicans on in the future. But today we have Mark. Thank you for joining me.00:36.80Mark downeyThank you for allowing me to come on your podcast. Thank you.00:41.25Sam ShiraziYeah, so don't you tell me about yourself and what made you want to run?00:45.80Mark downeyYes, so I'm a pediatrician living in Williamsburg, grew up in this area, been here in the community since age two, went to all the local public schools in York County, went undergrad UVA, med school at MCB,01:04.58Mark downeyand after residency had an opportunity to come back and practice pediatrics here and in my hometown. Inherited the house I grew up with so grew up in, so I was able to raise my kids in the same house I grew up in, and really have gotten to know my community, taking care of kids, and now taking care of people that I took care of, taking care of their children.01:29.98Mark downeySo i think Being a pediatrician, being a medical doctor, that is really is what driven me to run again in this this cycle.01:40.81Mark downeyI ran twice in 2019 and 2021. But I think what really prompted me to get back into this election cycle is really wanting to be an advocate for quality health care for all Virginians, not just my patients, but their families, their grandparents, their relatives that are are being affected by all the changes that are coming from the federal level and making sure that Virginia maintains strong and quality access to healthcare.02:12.67Sam ShiraziAnd I appreciate your perspective as ah ah as a doctor, because you know typically you think of politicians, a lot of lawyers, and you know you have people from that background or maybe small business owners, people who are have the means to do this. And and you know doctors are obviously usually pretty busy and don't always have time to run for office and or serve.02:32.06Sam Shiraziyou know What perspective do you think you bring in as a doctor that might be missing from other people who are currently serving in the House of Delegates?02:41.95Mark downeyWell, I think just like any field, it's it's good to have people with expertise in that field to provide perspective, provide you know good data, information on on what these policies, what these potential legislation may have an impact in in that particular field.03:00.85Mark downeygot off a candidate training with Planned Parenthood, and you know I was able to share a lot of information about you know, access to reproductive care, access to just health care in general for for all folks. And i think that's where my strength is. That's where I feel like I can contribute to the discussion and make sure that policies that are being proposed are are are really going to do what they intend to do and actually benefit the most people.03:31.69Sam ShiraziAnd I wanted to ask you one question about kind health care in general, because the Republicans currently are trying to pass a bill and there's been a lot of talk about cuts to Medicaid. And can you kind of explain, you know, what Medicaid is, why it's important and and what could potentially happen if there are those cuts?03:50.92Mark downeyYeah, Yeah, um great question. I mean, Medicaid is one of those very foundational safety nets that we have in our country that really primarily looks to help out those that are lower income or disabled or near the end of end of their life when they need elder care.04:10.44Mark downeyAnd it provides that critical safety net where a lot of folks prior to Medicaid being around didn't have access to care. So there was a great disparity and and basically rationing of healthcare where they weren't able to receive the same level care that folks that had yeah employee-based insurance and for Virginia, we were able to expand Medicaid, and Medicaid expansion in 2018, but it came with restrictions on it or a trigger that if the federal funding ever dropped below ah ah current level of 90%, that all those individuals that were added under Medicaid expansion would potentially lose lose their coverage.04:56.20Mark downeySo it's critically important as we look to see what the federal government is planning or trying to do, that we have a plan, a backup plan, or a way to protect those individuals that have health care so they don't find themselves without the ability to get the care that they need.05:15.63Sam ShiraziWell, another thing I wanted to ask you about is ah other cuts the federal government and and also potentially the job cuts that have been happening with the federal government. you know as ah ah As I mentioned in other podcasts, that's typically viewed as more of a Northern Virginia story. But I do think down in your area, there there have been impacts.05:35.49Sam ShiraziAnd i was wondering specifically about your district because you have two large military installations. There's york Yorktown Naval Station. and Fort Eustis.05:45.39Sam ShiraziHave you heard anything or what are you hearing on the ground in terms of the impacts of the federal cuts on the military side?05:53.68Mark downeyWell, I think you hit it right on the head. This is a yeah an area that has a tremendous amount of folks that come here for the military, either in active duty as they rotate through, but then a lot of folks end up retiring after they finish their 20 years or 30 years in the military and they retire here and oftentimes take on civilian jobs.06:17.08Mark downeyAnd those are Those options are are not going to be there anymore as the cuts get made and they're not the hiring freezes that are being imposed on civilian contractors for the local military bases.06:31.36Mark downeySo that means we're going to lose out on on people that actually want to stay in this area and and really support the area. you know Growing up here, I'd have friends that I would see for two or three years and they would go away you know as their family got PCS to a different location, but then they a lot of them would end up coming back here and and finishing their high school and and settling in this area.06:53.02Mark downeyAnd I think that brings you know brings no opportunity for growth and sustaining our economy in this area. So all that is at risk.07:02.92Sam ShiraziAnd I should ask a kind of a follow up. You know, I often find doctors when patients come in, they often tell them a lot of the problems they're having and things that they're experiencing.07:15.04Sam Shiraziah ah You as a doctor, you know, what are you seeing when your patients are coming in? Are they telling you things that maybe aren't covered in the news necessarily? or Or what are some of the things that people are telling you as they they come to visit your office?07:29.26Mark downeyWell, lately, it's been a lot of questions, concerns about how federal policy may be changing towards vaccinations and in general, you know, healthcare and education support for their kids.07:47.33Mark downeyObviously, i deal with pediatrics and their families, but it's it's we're seeing more and more questions about Are we gonna continue to make sure that our kids get the vaccinations that they need and required and making sure that our community is safe?08:05.45Mark downeyI think that's becoming more front of mind to people, things you Prior to the election cycle, we didn't have to worry about as much. I had a new parent, very first visit, they asked, are we still going to be allowed to get our child vaccinated? I'm like, absolutely.08:22.10Mark downeyAnd I'm planning on running for house of delegates to make sure that Virginia stays a state that really follows the science and data on the effectiveness and safety of vaccines and encouraging folks to keep up to date.08:35.36Sam ShiraziWell, that's interesting to have that perspective and being able to talk to your patients about those issues. I did want to ask, so you mentioned you previously ran for the House of Delegates and you came up short in those races. What did you learn running previously that you're going to try to apply this time and hopefully and for you from your perspective have a different outcome?08:58.23Mark downeyWell, i I do this, well, I did in the first two elections. I'm planning on doing it this election. I'd like to share with folks that as a pediatrician, I take care of all walks of life. I take care of families that I know support more Republican candidates, Democratic candidates, independents, low income, medium income, high income.09:19.81Mark downeyi treat every individual in front of me every patient, the same, regardless of their background, their income status. And I think that allowed me to overperform in the first first two times I ran because I've earned that trust from individuals and families that may not see me solely as a Democratic candidate, but they see me as their pediatrician that they've trusted with their children and their grandchildren.09:45.33Mark downeyand I heard a lot of people on the doors last few times I ran, like saying, I've never voted for a Democrat before, but you've taken care of my kids for the last 15 years.09:56.48Mark downeyAnd I know you and I trust you. And, you know, you have my vote. And I think we we plan on leaning into that again this year, this cycle. And I think people are really...10:07.62Mark downeylooking for that, people that are are genuinely wanting to get into office help them, help their families, help their loved ones. And I think that's that's a winning message message. It should be a winning message every election cycle.10:21.41Sam ShiraziYeah, I think that's all helpful background and certainly gives some perspective on why doctors tend to be overperforming because people in the community know them and might like doctors more than they like lawyers who are typically running in elections.10:35.23Sam ShiraziAnd you touched on this and in your previous answer, but you know I'd like to look at the different districts and this district slightly voted for Trump in November.10:46.68Sam ShiraziBut there is a part of the district over the York River in Gloucester, not a huge part of it, but about 10 percent of the district that's much redder. You talked about trying to win over some people. um know, what is your plan to try to convince people who vote who may have voted for President Trump in November vote for you this November?11:05.100Mark downeyWell, I think just like we need to compete in every district and ah across the Commonwealth, we need to you know make sure that we get our voice out and our message out to every precinct in our district, and including ones that traditionally haven't haven't favored the Democratic candidate.11:25.34Mark downeyBut again, i have quite a few families and come across the river that seat that come to our practice. So I have families that I take care of over there as well.11:35.45Mark downeySo it's I don't plan on changing my message too much yeah over there, except letting them know that I am running. My opponent last time ran unopposed.11:46.03Mark downeySo let them know that there is an option out there if they're not happy with running. the current delegate and they not happy with what's happening at the state level or the federal level that there are, there's an option. And I, you know, I want to present myself as someone who is willing to listen, to understand their concerns and every district, every precinct is different.12:08.24Mark downeyAnd I understand that. And that's, I think ah ah my background as a physician allows me to yeah Take in information, answer questions, listen, and and find common ground. And I think that's what will win over voters, even in the reddest of precincts in my district.12:25.69Sam ShiraziAnd I did want to ask a little bit about your district general. You know, tell me about the district. I think one thing I found interesting is politically it's it's kind of a 50-50 district. you know You know, why do you think that is? And and what but do you think people who aren't super familiar with that part of Virginia should know about your district?12:46.31Mark downeyYes, actually, we have four separate counties and that are involved in cities in my in my district. I have two precincts in Gloucester County, two precincts in Newport News City, four in lower James City County, and 10 in York County.13:02.86Mark downeyAnd I think what makes it kind of competitive is that they're they are all different. But I think there is a common thread in that it tends to attract a lot of, it's more of a suburban area.13:17.24Mark downeyWe get a lot of families that live here that work elsewhere, that work in Hampton, work in Newport News and Norfolk, also work up in Richmond. So I think we have a very highly educated, very engaged voting population in our precinct.13:34.38Mark downeyWe have throughout Presidential elections, governor race, we have oftentimes the highest or some of the highest voter turnout for all of the Commonwealth.13:46.60Mark downeyAnd I think that speaks to the the the strength of our supporting committee, that we have a good established base, that we can reach out to feed people and make sure that each election cycle is emphasized and the importance of it.14:02.20Mark downeyAnd I think that allows us to really reach that you the people that we need to to get out to vote.14:09.32Sam ShiraziWell, I will ask you one other question that's a little bit more fun because I visited your district recently and I actually really like that part of Virginia. I think it's really a beautiful part of Virginia and your district contains Yorktown and I believe it also contains Jamestown.14:26.18Sam Shiraziand Busch Gardens, although I think technically Colonial Williamsburg is in the neighboring 71st District, but you can count it for that this area.14:32.71Mark downeyCorrect.14:35.12Sam Shiraziyou know What's your favorite local attraction and and why do you think it's such a fun spot for people to come visit in terms of taking a vacation?14:45.29Mark downeyWell, growing up in York County, spent a lot of my youth along the York River, including Yorktown, but even along the parkway there, going going um going on walks on the beach, crabbing.14:58.67Mark downeyI have very fond memories of crabbing off of Yorktown Beach and collecting a bushel of crabs in two hours and going home and cooking them and picking them with my my parents and family.15:12.53Mark downeySo I think that image in my mind, that memory, is what really wanted me to come back to this area to allow my kids that experience it It has everything. It has access to the river. It has Columbia Williamsburg, Historic Jamestown, Yorktown.15:33.08Mark downeyyou know Kids read about that in their kindergarten and elementary school classes, and then they can go and actually see and walk it and and be part of it. So I think that, to me, is one of the fun fondest memories that I have growing up here, and I want to preserve that and make sure that it is a great location for families to raise their kids and also for people to retire here. There's lots of adult education opportunities for the College Wayne Mary.16:02.07Mark downeySo I know a lot of people take advantage of that. It's just, it has something for everyone, including the thrill seekers at Busch Gardens and even Water Country. There's also Water Country here. So we have lots of, Great Wolf Lodge in Upper York County. So we have lots of attractions that can entertain people that are looking more for adrenaline.16:20.10Mark downeyadrenaline16:22.43Sam ShiraziWell, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me about your campaign and also about your district. Last question, how can people find out more about your campaign?16:30.74Mark downeyWell, thanks again for having me on. And i ah ah look forward to reaching out to more and more voters. And one way that they can find out more about my campaign is going to my website at downeyforvirginia.com.16:44.84Mark downeyWe have opportunities to learn more about my campaign and hopefully join our campaign and volunteer going forward in the election cycle.16:54.15Sam ShiraziAll right. Well, thank you so much again. i appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. And this has been Federal Fallout, and I'll join you next time. This is a public episode. 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