Current Position: District 37 Senator from 2010
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: Senate District 35

Dave is a progressive Democrat who supports reproductive healthcare access, gun safety, protecting our environment, a fully funded education system and child care, paid family and medical leave, juvenile justice reform, lowering the costs of prescription drugs, transportation infrastructure, and campaign finance reform.

Elected as a Democrat to the Virginia Senate in 2010 in a special election (flipping Ken Cuccinelli’s seat), Senator Marsden has earned a reputation as a hard working legislator who gets things done for Fairfax County and the Commonwealth. Before serving in the Virginia Senate, he served 4 years in the Virginia House of Delegates. Never afraid to put progress above partisanship, Senator Marsden has worked with Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation to relieve traffic congestion, improve education, and create jobs and he brings over 40 years of experience and expertise in the juvenile justice field to the legislature.

Current Position: State Senator of District 35 since 1980
Affiliation: Democrat

Dick Saslaw was first elected Senator for the 35th District in 2010. The 35th District includes parts of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Fairfax County.

Senator Saslaw is Senate Majority Leader. Senator Saslaw is also Chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee and is a member of the Education and Health, Finance and Appropriations. Judiciary, and Rules committees. Senator Saslaw has helped advocate for innovative new programs like the Workforce Credentials Grant, which provides funding for workers looking for education and training in high-demand industries like cybersecurity.

Current Position: State Senator of District 18 since 1992
Affiliation: Democrat

Louise Lucas was first elected Senator for the 18th District in 1992. The 18th District includes part of the cities of  Chesapeake, Emporia, Franklin, Portsmouth, and Suffolk and parts of Brunswick, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Greensville, and Surry counties

Senator Lucas is Chair of the Education and Health Committee and a member of the Commerce and Labor, Finance and Appropriations, Judiciary, and Rules committees.

Current Position: State Senator of District 1 since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 2013 – 2015

Senator Monty Mason proudly represents the Virginia Peninsula’s 1st State Senate district, including the City of Williamsburg and parts of Newport News, James City County, Hampton, York County and Suffolk. Monty was twice elected to the House of Delegates in the 93rd District in 2013 and 2015 before winning his race for State Senate in a special election in November of 2016.

Monty’s career in business spans more than 25 years and includes working in real estate with Land America Financial Group and the financial sector with more than a decade at VISA Inc. in fraud and risk management.

Current Position: State Senator of District 2 since 2004
Affiliation: Democrat

Mamie Locke was first elected Senator for the 2nd District in 2008. The 2nd District includes the parts of the cities Hampton, Newport News, and Portsmouth  and parts of York County.

Senator Petersen is Chair of the Rules Committee and is a member of the Education and Health, Finance and Appropriations, General Laws and Technology, and Rehabilitation and Social Services committees. Senator Locke is a Professor of Political Science, at Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia.

Current Position: State Senator of District 5 since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 1994 – 2016

Lionell Spruill is a member of the Virginia Senate representing the 5th District which represents part of Chesapeake and Norfolk.  Previously, he served as the House of Delegates representative, serving since 1994.  That district covered parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk.

Senator Spruill was born in South Norfolk, on December 28, 1946.  He was one of 15 children.  He retired from Bell Atlantic as a Central Office Technician.  His educational background includes Carver High School and Norfolk State University with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

Current Position: State Senator of District 6 since 2014
Affiliation: Democrat

Lynwood Lewis was first elected Senator for the 6h District in 2014. The 6h District includes part of the cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk and parts of Accomack, Mathews County, and Northampton counties.

Senator Lewis is Chair of the Local Government Committee and is a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Education and Health, Finance and Appropriations, and Rules committees. Senator Lewis served in the House of Delegates from 2003 to 2013.

Current Position: State Senator of District 10
Affiliation: Democrat

Dr. Ghazala Hashmi is an experienced educator and advocate who has spent over 25 years working within Virginia’s college and university system. She currently serves as the Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) at Reynolds Community College.

Ghazala is guided by the principles of integrity, social justice, and ethics in government in her approach to public service.

Current Position: State Senator of District 16
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 2008 – 2015

I’ve been working and fighting for a better Richmond since 1989, when I was elected as your Commonwealth’s Attorney and then a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

As a delegate, I fought for Democratic Party principles, like bringing Obamacare to Virginia, improving Richmond City Schools, and helping people get their right to vote back.

Current Position: State Senator of District 21 since 1996
Affiliation: Democrat

John Edwards was first elected Senator for the 21st District in 1996. The 21st District includes the city of Roanoke, Giles County, and parts of Montgomery and Roanoke counties.

Senator Edwards is Chair of the Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Commerce and Labor, Education and Health, Finance and Appropriations, and Rules committees. Senator Edwards is Chairman of the Virginia Code Commission and serves on the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association.

Current Position: State Senator of District 25 since 2001
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Positions: State Delegate from 1991 – 2000; Commonwealth’s Attorney of Bath County. from 1987 – 1991

Creigh Deeds was first elected Senator for the 25th District in 2001. The 25th District includes the cities of Buena Vista of Fairfax and parts of Fairfax County.Albemarle County (Part), Alleghany County (All), Bath County (All), Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Lexington , and Covington and the counties of Covington, Nelso, Highland, Rockbridge.

Senator Deeds is Chair of the Privileges and Elections Committee and is a member of the Finance and Appropriations, Commerce and Labor, Judiciary, and Rules committees.  Senator Deeds was member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1991 to 2001. Senator Deeds was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 2005 and for Governor in 2009.

Current Position: State Senator of District 13 since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 2016 – 2019

Delegate John Bell is a retired member of the United States Air Force. He served almost 26 years before retiring as a Major in 2007. During his Air Force career, John served as a Finance Officer all over the world, including tours in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

John has worked across party lines to pass Medicaid expansion, increase school funding and teacher pay, fight for common-sense gun safety reforms and champion policies to address the opioid addiction crisis

Current Position: State Senator of District 29 since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat

“Jeremy McPike is a public servant who has dedicated his life to serving our community. As a volunteer firefighter and EMT, Jeremy understands the urgency of identifying and solving challenges, and that’s the approach he will take to Richmond.”

Current Position: State Senator of District 30 since 2012
Affiliation: Democrat

As a leader in the General Assembly, Adam Ebbin has fought to advance progressive priorities, including incentives for cleaner energy, funding for mass transit improvements, ending discrimination in state employment, and electoral reform.

Adam has distinguished himself as a voice for the easily exploited.

Current Position: State Senator of District 31 since 2012
Affiliation: Democrat

Barbara Favola was first elected Senator for the 31st District in 2012. The 31st District includes parts of Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties.

Senator Favola is Chair of the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee and is a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Local Government, Transportation, and Rules committees. Senator Favola has been a vigorous supporter of universal human rights throughout her public life.

The interview below was conducted by Nanayaa Obeng in May, 2021. The original interview recording has not been edited in any way.

Current Position: State Senator of District 32 since 1992
Affiliation: Democrat

Janet Howell was first elected Senator for the 32nd District in 2008. The 32nd District includes parts of Fairfax and Arlington counties.

Senator Howell is Chair of the Finance and Appropriations Committee  and is a member of the Education and Health, Local Government, Privileges and Elections  and Rules committees. Senator Howell is credited with major legal reforms. Education, children, and families have always been top priorities.

Current Position: State Senator of District 35 since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat

Jennifer Boysko’s  priorities are working to continue to build the New Virginia economy here in Virginia that supports both working families and small businesses in her district. She has actively sought to restore funding to our public schools and has worked on legislation that would make sure everyone has access to affordable healthcare.

Boysko seeks to find common ground and work with both Republicans and Democrats to get things done. However, finding common ground does not mean we abandon our priorities and values. She will always stand up and speak out for the issues most passionately held where there are stark differences that cannot be negotiated.

Current Position: State Senator of District 34 since 2008
Affiliation: Democrat

Chap Petersen was first elected Senator for the 34th District in 2008. The 34th District includes the city of Fairfax and parts of Fairfax County.

Senator Petersen is Chair of the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee  and is a member of the Education and Health, Finance and Appropriations, Judiciary, and Rules committees. Senator Petersen was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2006.

Current Position: State Senator of District 36 since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat

Scott is a co-founding partner and owner of Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, an 18-attorney law firm in Fairfax dedicated to helping Northern Virginia’s people and small businesses solve their legal problems.

Surovell has been a leader in the Virginia General Assembly on government transparency, criminal justice reform, consumer protection and environmental protection. In 2016, Surovell passed legislation requiring government officials to redact public documents instead of withholding entire records  and passed similar legislation applying to homeowner, condo and cooperative associations the following year.

Current Position: State Senator of District 39 since 2008
Affiliation: Democrat

George Barker was first elected Delegate for the 39th District in 2008. The 39th District includes parts of Alexandria City, southern Fairfax County, and northern Prince William county.

Senator Barker serves as Chair of the General Laws and Technology Committee and is a member of the Education and Health and Finance committees. Senator Barker has been involved with a wide variety of local issues and has been an active member of a number of civic and community organizations.