![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Virginia%27s_51st_House_of_Delegates_district_%28since_2024%29.svg/330px-Virginia%27s_51st_House_of_Delegates_district_%28since_2024%29.svg.png)
Virginia's 51st House of Delegates district, in Prince William County, Virginia, elects one of the 100 members of the Virginia House of Delegates,[1] the lower house of the state's bicameral legislature.
The 51st district has been represented by Democrat Briana Sewell since 2022.[2]
District officeholders
[edit]Years | Delegate | Party | Electoral history |
---|---|---|---|
January 16, 1998 – January 9, 2008 |
M. B. McQuigg | Republican | Declined to run for reelection |
January 9, 2008 – January 13, 2010 |
Paul F. Nichols | Democratic | Defeated in bid for reelection |
January 13, 2010 – January 10, 2018 |
Rich Anderson | Republican | Defeated in bid for reelection |
January 10, 2018 – January 12, 2022 |
Hala Ayala | Democratic | First elected in 2017 |
January 12, 2022 – present |
Briana Sewell | Democratic | Redistricting |
January 10, 2024 – present |
Eric Zehr | Republican | Incumbent |
Electoral history
[edit]In December 2020, Briana Sewell[3] announced her intention to run for Delegate of District 51. She is endorsed by Hala Ayala,[4] the district's current delegate who is vacating the seat to run for Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, a move announced in July 2020.[5] She is also endorsed by U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly, with whom she has worked in the past.[6] Briana served as Chief of Staff to the Prince William County Chair At-Large, Ann Wheeler, and was previously the Political Director and Senior Organizer for the Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy.[7] According to her candidate website,[8] Briana earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from the College of William and Mary and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from American University. She is running as a Democrat.[9]
Republican Rich Anderson represented District 51 from 2010 to 2018.[10] In November 2017, he was defeated by Democrat Hala Ayala in an election where the Medicaid expansion figured significantly; Anderson opposed while Ayala supported the policy, which ultimately passed, making an additional 14,000 Prince William County residents eligible for the low-income health insurance program.[10]
Anderson declared his candidacy to challenge Ayala in 2019.[10]
Ayala retired to run for lieutenant governor she went on to lose the general election. She was succeeded by Briana Sewell to represent the district.
References
[edit]- ^ House of Delegates District 51 map at vpap.org
- ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections". Historical.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ STAFF, INSIDENOVA. "Briana Sewell to seek 51st District House seat; Ayala not running for re-election". INSIDENOVA.COM. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Delegate Hala Ayala Endorses Briana Sewell for 51st House District". Hala for Virginia. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Hala Ayala Announces Candidacy for Virginia Lieutenant Governor". Hala for Virginia. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Congressman Gerry Connolly's to host Prince William Military Service Academy Night". Potomac Local News. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ Writer, Daniel Berti Times Staff. "Woodbridge resident Briana Sewell announces bid for 51st House of Delegates' seat". Prince William Times. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Briana Sewell for Virginia's 51st House District". Briana Sewell for Delegate. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ "Briana Sewell". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c Palermo, Jill (February 28, 2019). "Former delegate Rich Anderson announces bid for Virginia's 51st District". Prince William Times. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
External links
[edit]- "House District 51" (PDF). Virginia Division of Legislative Services. Map.
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