Current Position: State Senator since 1992
Affiliation: Democrat

Louise Lucas is a Portsmouth native and product of the Portsmouth Public School System. She is President/CEO of Lucas Lodge, Lucas Transportation, Portsmouth Day Support Program and Southside Direct Care Provider organizations operating in The Lucas Professional Center located in Portsmouth.

Senator Lucas served in the position of Congressional Liaison for Sponsored Program at Old Dominion University from 1992 – 1994. She also served as Assistant Professor, Department of Academic Affairs and Special Assistant to the Vice President for University Advancement at Norfolk State University from 1994 – 1998.

Current Position: State Senator since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): 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 since 2004
Affiliation: Democrat

Mamie Locke has a Ph.D. from Atlanta University, Political Science, 1984.  Mamie is a Professor of Political Science, at Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia.

She is member of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, Past President and Council Member. Dr. Locke has participated on numerous panels of political science and women’s studies organizations as a guest speaker, addressing various political issues and topics on race and gender.

Current Position: State Senator since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): 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 since 2014
Affiliation: Democrat

Current Position: State Senator since 2017
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): State Delegate from 2006 – 2017

During Jenn McClellan’s tenure in the General Assembly, Jennifer has served as a member of Governor Ralph Northam’s Transition Committee, Chair of Governor McAuliffe’s Transition Team, and a member of Governor McDonnell’s Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Advisory Board, Governor Kaine’s Poverty Reduction Task Force and Commission on Sexual Violence, and the Civil Rights Memorial Commission.

Jennifer has also been a longtime Democratic Party activist and leader at the local, state, and national level.  She serves as a member of the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Party of Virginia Steering and Central Committees, and the Richmond City Democratic Committee.

Current Position: State Senator
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
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): 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 since 1996
Affiliation: Democrat

John Edwards  currently serves on the following Senate committees: Courts of Justice, Privileges and Elections, Transportation, Commerce and Labor, Education and Health, Finance, Rules (Chair).

Edwards serves on the Virginia War Memorial Foundation Board, the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, the Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center Board, and the Virginia Commission of At-Risk Youth & Children. He is Chairman of the Virginia Code Commission and serves on the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association.

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

Senator Deeds’ public service career began in 1987 when he was elected to serve as the Commonwealth’s Attorney of Bath County. In 1991 he ran against an incumbent and won in the 18th District in the House of Delegates. After serving 10 years in the House, Sen. Deeds was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2001. Senator Deeds was the Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 2005 and for Governor in 2009.

Senator Deeds chairs the Joint Subcommittee to Study Mental Health Services in the Twenty-First Century. He also serves on the Small Business Commission, the Joint Commission on Transportation Accountability, and the Joint Committee to Study Interstate 73.

Current Position: State Senator since 2016
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): 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 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 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 since 2012
Affiliation: Democrat

Throughout her public life, Barbara Favola has been a vigorous supporter of universal human rights.  In the Virginia Senate, Barbara is focusing her legislative efforts on women’s reproductive rights, health care access, K-12 education funding, workforce training, safety net programs, helping foster children, preventing domestic violence and sensible environmental policies.

Senator Favola also believes that a living wage is essential for families and communities to thrive.  She acknowledges that job creation and economic security are the cornerstones of a vibrant Commonwealth and a secure future.

Current Position: State Senator since 1992
Affiliation: Democrat

Senator Howell is one of Virginia’s most influential senators.  She was the first woman to serve on the powerful Senate Finance Committee. She also serves on the Courts of Justice, Education and Health, Privileges and Elections and Rules committees, and is a Senate budget conferee.

Senator Howell is credited with major legal reforms. Education, children, and families have always been top priorities.

Current Position: State Senator 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 since 2008
Affiliation: Democrat

Chap has been an attorney in private practice since 1994, successfully representing thousands of local people and businesses. In 2011, his peers selected him as one of thirty “Leaders of the Law” in Virginia.  His law firm, Chap Petersen & Associates, PLC, is located in downtown Fairfax, near the historic Fairfax County courthouse.

Chap began his career in politics by serving on the Fairfax City Council (1998-2002) and as a member in the Virginia House of Delegates (2002-2006).

Current Position: State Senator 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 since 2010
Affiliation: Democrat

Elected to the Virginia Senate in 2010 in a special election, David Marsden has earned a reputation as a hard working legislator who gets things done for FairfaxCounty 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.

Featured video: This interview was conducted by Nader Momtaz at the Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax City during the LWV-Fairfax Redistricting Forum on Nov. 17, 2019. Original interview recording has not been edited in any way.

Current Position: State Senator since 2008
Affiliation: Democrat

With a background in healthcare management and policy, Senator Barker has worked tirelessly to address the rising costs of quality healthcare for Virginia families.

Since being elected in 2007, he has established a reputation as bipartisan leader who knows how to get things done. The Washington Post described him as, “one of the more effective, pragmatic lawmakers in Richmond.” From fixing transportation and improving our education system, to creating an environment that is good for businesses and job growth, Senator Barker is committed to working together to find common sense solutions that will benefit Virginians in his district and across the Commonwealth.