Analysis by Phil Boykin, President and CEO, Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association
As you know, 2023 marked a historic election year in Virginia.
Democrats took back the House of Delegates to win a 51-49 majority and held onto their Senate majority 21-19.
The State Capital will be a very different place than past years, and we’re not just talking about the new General Assembly Building.
With the Democrats in the majority of both chambers, the incoming class will be the most diverse General Assembly in Virginia history.  It reflects the record number of African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Women and LGBTQ+ preparing to serve their fellow Virginians.
Further, the House is expected to elect the first African-American Speaker in its 400+ year history. As a result, for the first time ever, the Governor will be the only white man on the dais when he gives his State of the Commonwealth in January as the Lieutenant Governor and Senate President Pro Tempore are both Black.
In addition to all the new members, there will be new leadership in the Senate with the retirement of Dick Salsaw (D) and Tommy Norment (R).  Between the fall elections and several special elections throughout the year to fill unexpected vacancies, there will be 55 legislators that have been elected to their respective bodies within the past 11 months. That’s 19 new Senators out of 40, and 36 new Delegates out of 100.
Not all faces are new to us, as some House members moved to the Senate, some previously defeated legislators moved into new, more winnable seats from redistricting, some legislative aides took over their former bosses’ seats, and a former Congressman won an open House seat.
Knowing this was coming, VBWA members worked tirelessly to get the candidates into warehouses over 2023 — and 42 of the 55 completed a warehouse tour this year.  We’re still working to schedule the remaining new lawmakers.
We have compiled a list of websites and bios of the newly elected legislators for our members’ and the public’s convenience. It includes both leadership roles and is broken up by region.

House and Senate Leadership

Speaker-designee Don Scott (D): https://leaderdonscott.com/
Incoming Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D): https://www.charnieleherring.com/
Incoming Minority Leader Todd Gilbert (R): https://www.delegatetoddgilbert.com/

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D): https://scottsurovell.org/

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R): https://www.ryanmcdougle.com/

New Legislators By Region 

Central Virginia 

Delegate-elect Eric Zehr (R): https://www.zehrfordelegate.org/
Delegate-elect Tim Griffin (R): https://www.griffinforvirginia.com/
Delegate-elect Katrina Callsen (D): https://www.katrinacallsen.com/
Delegate-elect Amy Laufer (D): https://lauferfordelegate.com/
Delegate-elect Tom Garrett (R): https://tomfordelegate.com/

Metro Richmond/Petersburg

Delegate-elect David Owen (R): https://votedavidowen.com/
Delegate-elect Mark Early (R): https://www.markearleyforva.com/
Delegate-elect Debra Gardner (D): https://debragardnerfordelegate.com/
Delegate-elect Michael Jones (D): https://www.mikejonesva.com/
Delegate-elect Rae Cousins (D): https://www.raecousins.com/
Delegate-elect Destiny LeVere Bolling (D): https://destinyforvirginia.com/
Senator-elect John McGuire (R): https://www.mcguireva.com/
Senator-elect Glen Sturevant (R): https://glensturtevant.com/
Senator-elect Lashrecse Aird (D): https://www.lashrecseaird.com/
Senator Bagby (D): https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S114
Senator-elect Schuyler VanValkenburge (D): https://vanvalkenburg4va.com/

Fredericksburg/Northern Neck

Delegate-elect Paul Milde (R): https://www.paulmilde.com/
Delegate-elect Josh Cole (D): https://jgcole.org/
Delegate-elect Hillary Pugh Kent (R): https://www.hillarypughkentva.com/
Senator-elect Tara Durant (R): https://taradurant.com/

NoVA 

Delegate-elect Adel McClure (D): https://adeleforva.com/
Delegate-elect Karen Keys-Gamarra (D): https://www.karenkeysgamarra.com/
Delegate Holly Seibold (D): https://www.hollyseibold.com/
Delegate-elect Laura Jane Cohen (D): https://www.laurajanecohen.com/
Delegate-elect Rozia Henson (D): https://henson4va.com/about-rozia/
Delegate-elect Josh Thomas (D): https://jetforva.com/
Delegate-elect Ian Lovejoy (R): https://votelovejoy.com/
Delegate-elect Kanna Srinvasan (D): https://kannanfordelegate.com/
Delegate-elect Atoosa Reaser (D): https://atoosareaser.com/
Delegate-elect Marty Martinez (D): https://www.martyfordelegate.com/
Delegate-elect Geary Higgins (R): https://gearyhiggins.com/
Delegate-elect Delores Oats (R): https://deloresfordelegate.com/
Senator-elect Danica Roem (D): https://www.danicaforstatesenate.com/
Senator-elect Russett Perry (D): https://russetperry.com/
Senator-elect Suhas Subramanyam (D): https://www.suhasforvirginia.com/
Senator-elect Jennifer Carroll Foy (D): https://jennifercarrollfoy.com/
Senator-elect Stella Pekarsky (D): https://stellapekarsky.com/
Senator-elect Saddam Azlan Salin (D): https://www.salimforsenate.com/

The Peninsula

Delegate-elect Chad Green (R): https://greenfordelegate.com/
Senator-elect Danny Diggs (R): https://www.diggsforsenate.com/about

South Hampton Roads/Southside

Delegate-elect Nadarious Clarke (D): https://www.clarkfordelegate.com/
Delegate-elect Baxter Ennis (R): https://baxterennis.com/
Delegate-elect Bonita Anthony (D): https://bonitaforva.com/
Delegate-elect Phil Hernandez (D): https://philforvirginia.com/
Delegate-elect Alex Askew (D): https://alexaskew.com/
Delegate-elect Michael Feggans (D): https://michaelfeggans.com/
Senator-elect Emily Brewer (R): https://brewerforva.com/
Senator-elect Christie New Craig (R): https://christienewcraig.com/
Senator-elect Angelia Williams-Graves (D): https://ballotpedia.org/Angelia_Williams_Graves
Senator Aaron Rouse (D): https://rouseforsenate.com/

Southwest

Delegate-elect Will Davis (R): https://www.davisfordelegate.com/
Delegate-elect Chris Obenshain (R): https://www.obenshainfordelegate.com/
Delegate Jed Arnold (R): https://www.arnoldfordelegate.com/

Shenandoah Valley 

Senator-elect Timmy French (R): https://www.timmyfrench.com/
Senator-elect Chris Head (R): https://chrisheadva.com/

you might also like