Democratic Party of Virginia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairperson | Susan Swecker |
| Secretary | Isaac Sarver |
| Spokesperson | Grant Fox, Communications Director |
| Senate President Pro Tempore | Louise Lucas |
| Senate Majority Leader | Dick Saslaw |
| House Minority Leader | Vacant |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Headquarters | 919 East Main Street[1] Richmond, Virginia 23223 |
| Newspaper | Blue Virginia (unofficial) |
| Student wing | Virginia College Democrats |
| Youth wing | Virginia Young Democrats |
| Women's wing | Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus |
| Overseas wing | Democrats Abroad |
| LGBT wing | LGBT Democrats of Virginia |
| High School Wings | Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus Virginia Teen Democrats |
| Ideology | Centrism Modern liberalism Progressivism |
| Political position | Center to center-left |
| National affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Colors | Blue |
| Statewide Executive Offices | 0 / 3
|
| Senate | 21 / 40
|
| House of Delegates | 48 / 100
|
| U.S. Senate | 2 / 2
|
| U.S. House of Representatives | 7 / 11
|
| Fairfax County Board of Supervisors | 9 / 10
|
| Website | |
| www.vademocrats.org | |
The Democratic Party of Virginia (VA Dems) is the Virginia affiliate of the Democratic Party based in Richmond, Virginia.[2]
Historically, the Democratic Party has dominated Virginia politics. Since the 1851 Virginia gubernational election, the first gubernatorial election in Virginia in which the governor was elected by direct popular vote, 34 Virginia Governors have been Democrats. Since the 1851 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, the first lieutenant gubernatorial election in Virginia in which the lieutenant governor was elected by direct popular vote, 29 Virginia Lieutenant Governors have been Democrats. Since the 1851 Virginia Attorney General election, the first Attorney General election in Virginia in which the Attorney General was elected by direct popular vote, 25 Attorneys General have been Democrats.
As of 2022, Democrats hold majorities in The Senate chambers of the state legislature, controlling 48 of 100 Virginia House of Delegates seats and 21 of 40 Virginia Senate seats. At the federal level, Virginia has voted for every Democratic presidential candidate since 2008 and every Democratic statewide candidate since 2012. Democrats hold seven of the state's 11 U.S. House seats and both of the state's U.S. Senate seats.
Organization[edit]
Local Democratic Committees[edit]
Local Democratic Committees serve to promote the Democratic Party in their specific locality. Some committees may contain several localities. Local committees endorse candidates for nonpartisan office (such as school board).
Central Committee[edit]
The Central Committee has full control over all matters of the Party, including the adoption of an annual budget, the method of nomination for statewide candidates such as Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General; the adoption of resolutions and policy statements. In addition, the Central Committee can veto any decision of the Steering Committee.
The Central Committee meets at least four times a year, usually in Richmond, although by tradition, the September meeting is in Fredericksburg. Central Committee meetings are accompanied by meetings of the Steering Committee the night before, and Caucus meetings over the weekend.
The Central Committee is composed of 20 members from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts. Each district apportions the central committee seats to localities in the district based on population. Additionally, each district committee can elect three more members from local committees and one member of the Virginia General Assembly.
In addition, the following people are ex-officio members of the Central Committee and their District Committees:
- Members of the steering committee
- Democratic Virginia members of the United States Congress
- Democratic statewide elected officials, such as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General
- the President Pro Tempore of the Virginia Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, provided they are Democrats
- the Democratic Leaders of the Virginia House and Senate
- the Chairs of the Democratic Caucuses in Virginia the House and Senate
- the president, national committeeman, and national committeewoman of the Virginia Young Democrats
- the president and first vice president of the Women's Caucus
- the chair of the Association of Democratic Elected Officials
- the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus
- the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats College Caucus
- and the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats City/County Caucus[3]
Steering Committee[edit]
The Steering Committee makes decisions about the Party in-between meetings of the Central Committee, and also has an exclusive role of overseeing staff.
- Chairwoman: Susan Swecker
- 1st Vice Chair for Organization: Gaylene Kanoyton
- 2nd Vice Chair for Rules and Resolutions: Marc Broklawsk
- Vice Chair for Technology and Communications: Ricardo Alfaro
- Vice Chair for Outreach: Sen. L. Louise Lucas
- Vice Chair for Finance: Tyler Bishop
- Secretary: Isaac Sarver
- Treasurer: Barbara Klear
- DNC Member: Yohannes Abraham
- DNC Member: Del. Joshua Cole
- DNC Member: Doris Crouse-Mays
- DNC Member: Elizabeth Guzman
- DNC Member: Dave Leichtman
- DNC Member: Chris Lu
- DNC Member: Leopoldo Martinez
- DNC Member: Sen. Jennifer McClellan
- DNC Member: Atima Omara
- DNC Member: Anthony Perrone
- DNC Member: Jeion Ward
- 1st Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Matt Rowe
- 2nd Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Sandra Brandt
- 3rd Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Clint Jenkins
- 4th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Del. Lashrecse Aird
- 5th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Suzanne Long
- 6th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Kym Crump
- 7th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Abbi Easter
- 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Margo Horner
- 9th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Gary Hancock
- 10th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Zach Pruckowski
- 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Robert Haley
- Labor Caucus Chair: Julie Hunter
- Associations of Local Chairs Chair: Clarence Tong
- Democratic Black Caucus Chair: EJ Scott
- Women's Caucus Chair: Linda Brooks
- LGBT Democrats of Virginia Chair: Maggie Sacra
- Veterans and Military Families Caucus Chair: Vacant
- Virginia Young Democrats President: Maureen Coffey
- DisAbility Caucus Chair: Cyliene Montgomery
- Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia Chair: Praveen Meyyan
- Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia President: Jonathan Dromgoole
- Rural Caucus Chair: Vee Frye
- Small Business Caucus Chair: Mark Cannady
- Immediate Past Chair: Dwight Jones
Staff[edit]
- Executive Director: Andrew Whitley
- Communications Director: Grant Fox
- Deputy Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer: Brenner Tobe
- Data Director: Katie O'Grady
- Digital Director: Nick Scott
- Finance Director: Carrie Hamilton
- Chief Operations Officer: Elise Vess
- Political Director: Shyam Raman
- Deputy Political and Party Services Director: Khalid Naji
- Voter Protection Director: Ja'Scotta Jefferson[4]
Current elected officials[edit]
Members of Congress[edit]
U.S. Senate[edit]
Democrats have controlled both of Virginia's seats in the U.S. Senate since 2008:
Junior U.S. Senator Tim Kaine
Senior U.S. Senator Mark Warner
U.S. House of Representatives[edit]
Out of the 11 seats Virginia is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, seven are held by Democrats:
| District | Member | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Elaine Luria |  |
| 3rd | Bobby Scott |  |
| 4th | Donald McEachin |  |
| 7th | Abigail Spanberger |  |
| 8th | Don Beyer |  |
| 10th | Jennifer Wexton |  |
| 11th | Gerry Connolly |  |
Statewide offices[edit]
As of 2022, Democrats control none of the three elected statewide offices.
Legislative leadership[edit]
- President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia: Louise Lucas
- Senate Majority Leader: Dick Saslaw
- House Minority Leader: Eileen Filler-Corn
List of chairs[edit]
- Watkins Abbitt Sr. (1964–1970)
- William G. Thomas (1970–1972)
- Joseph T. Fitzpatrick (1972–1979)
- Richard J. Davis (1979–1980)
- Owen B. Pickett (1980–1982)
- Alan Diamonstein (1982–1985)
- Richard J. Davis (1985–1986)
- Lawrence H. Framme III (1986–1990)
- Paul Goldman (1990–1993)
- Mark Warner (1993–1995)
- Suzie Wrenn (1995–1998)
- Kenneth R. Plum (1998–2000)
- Emily Couric (Co-chair, 2000–2001)
- Lawrence H. Framme III (Co-chair, 2000–2001; 2001–2003)
- Kerry J. Donley (2003–2005)
- Richard Cranwell (2005–2010)
- Brian Moran (2010–2012)
- Charniele Herring (2012–2014)
- Dwight C. Jones (2014–March 27, 2015)
- Susan Swecker (March 27, 2015–present)
Controversies[edit]
2019 Virginia political crisis[edit]
In 2019, all three of Virginia's statewide executive office holders, all Democrats, were embroiled in various controversies. Governor Ralph Northam's medical school yearbook page had featured an individual in blackface and an individual in a Ku Klux Klan hood, Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax was accused of having sexually assaulted a professor in 2004, and Attorney General Mark Herring was revealed to have worn blackface at a college party. Most Democrats urged Northam to resign from the governorship, but he refused. Ultimately, none of the three accused resigned.[5]
Historical firsts[edit]
- First African American Governor of Virginia and Lieutenant Governor of Virginia: Douglas Wilder
- First Lebanese-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Hala Ayala
- First Palestinian-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Sam Rasoul
- First Korean-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Mark Keam
- First Vietnamese-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Kathy Tran
- First Filipino-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Kelly Fowler
- First Jewish American to represent Virginia in the United States House of Representatives: Norman Sisisky
- First Jewish American Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates: Eileen Filler-Corn
- First Peruvian-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Elizabeth Guzmán
- First Salvadoran-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Hala Ayala
- First Mexican-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Kelly Fowler
- First openly gay member of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia: Adam Paul Ebbin
- First openly lesbian member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Dawn M. Adams
- First openly transgender member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Danica Roem
- Women
- First female Attorney General of Virginia: Mary Sue Terry
- First female Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates: Eileen Filler-Corn
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Democratic Party of Virginia". Vademocrats.org. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
- ^ "Contact Archived 2010-04-30 at the Wayback Machine." Democratic Party of Virginia. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.
- ^ https://vademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/DPVA-Party-Plan-September-2018.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Staff". Democratic Party of Virginia. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ Schwartzman, Paul. "On a political roll, Virginia Democrats now awash in scandal". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
External links[edit]
- Democratic Party of Virginia Party Website
- Virginia Young Democrats
- Arlington Democrats
- Senate Caucus
- House Caucus
| General | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
Virginia political parties | ||
|---|---|---|
| Major |  | |
| Minor | ||
| Defunct | ||