Laufer, one of eight children, grew up on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin. She became the first in her family to attend college, and she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, earning a bachelor's degree in geology. She then joined the Peace Corps, teaching elementary school in a rural town in Jamaica. Following the Peace Corps, she attended Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City, graduating with a master's degree in secondary science education.[4]
Career
Laufer is a former school teacher, having taught at Louisa County Middle School and Tandem Friends School in Charlottesville. In 2011, she was elected to the Charlottesville School Board, and was re-elected in 2015.[5][6] Laufer served as Board Chair from 2015-2016.[7][8] In January 2019, Laufer resigned from the school board due to purchasing a home outside of Charlottesville City.[9][10] Laufer ran for the Charlottesville City Council in 2017, but was defeated in the general election.[11][12] During 2022, Laufer briefly served as the Chair of the Albemarle County Democrats until June.[4]
In 2014, she founded Virginia's List, a political group supporting Democratic women running for office.
In July 2022, Laufer announced her candidacy for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in the newly formed 55th District.[16] The 55th was created in the 2021 redistricting process and has no incumbent.[17] Her opponent in the Democratic race is Kellen Squire, an ER nurse at the University of Virginia Hospital. The winner of the primary will face Republican Reid Wernig.[18] On June 21, Laufer won her primary against Squire by a nearly 70-30% margin.[19]
Abortion statements against Squire
Laufer criticized her opponent in the Democratic primary, Kellen Squire, for his past statements on abortion when he ran against Rob Bell in 2017.[20] In late May 2023, Laufer sent out campaign mailers quoting Squire as being "fervently and unabashedly pro-life". Squire responded that his statements were taken out of context, and that Laufer's use of his statements did not reflect the full intent. Squire works as an ER nurse and provides abortions.[21] Laufer's campaign stood by their usage of Squire's statement.[22]
Personal and family
Laufer lives in Albemarle County with her husband Aaron and their three children, Hannah, Adam, and Henry.[8] One of Laufer's children attended Clark Elementary School in Charlottesville.[23]
