Summary
Current Position: State Delegate of District 68 since 2018
Affiliation: Democrat
Dr. Dawn M. Adams has been an advocate for healthy communities for over 30 years. After receiving her Bachelors of Nursing degree from James Madison University, Dawn positioned herself in the center of Virginia’s healthcare system as a Critical Care Registered Nurse (RN). As an RN, Dawn saw first-hand how our state’s most vulnerable citizens continually fell through the cracks as a result of limited healthcare access and coverage.
Dawn is honored to take the lessons she’s learned as a nurse practitioner, administrator, educator, and community leader to represent her community as Delegate of Virginia’s House District 68 and is proud to represent the people of the city of Richmond, Chesterfield and Henrico counties.
OnAir Post: Dawn Adams
About
Source: Facebook
Dr. Dawn M. Adams has been an advocate for healthy communities for over 30 years. After receiving her Bachelors of Nursing degree from James Madison University, Dawn positioned herself in the center of Virginia’s healthcare system as a Critical Care Registered Nurse (RN). As an RN, Dawn saw first-hand how our state’s most vulnerable citizens continually fell through the cracks as a result of limited healthcare access and coverage.
In 1989, Dawn returned to school to earn her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia, and soon became a Nurse Practitioner. From there, she went on to earn her Doctorate in Nursing from Old Dominion University, where she now serves as an adjunct professor. Dawn’s research focused on identifying barriers to healthcare access for all people across the economic spectrum. For her research, she won the ODU Nursing Scholar award. As she studied and worked intimately in medicine, it became abundantly clear to her that the right to affordable public education and access to adequate healthcare are inextricably linked—both are necessary as well as critical to building a healthy, successful community.
Prior to beginning her career in education, Dawn worked alongside a nurse lobbyist. This afforded her the opportunity to engage in community stakeholder meetings concerning Medicaid expansion, lobby as an advocate for healthcare access, and attend the 2014 General Assembly (GA) session. This experience led Dawn to author a proposal for a Health Policy Fellowship for nurses. This fellowship is currently available to nurses who attend graduate programs within Virginia.
While at the GA, Dawn was approached by the Assistant Commissioner for Virginia Department for Behavioral Health & Developmental Services. He prompted Dawn to utilize her education and experience to solve the problem of inadequate community-based care. Due to Dawn’s success in this field, she served as the Director of the Office of Integrated Health. In this role, she managed a multi-million-dollar state budget and built strong relationships with state and local agencies to implement local community programs and construct public policy for individuals with developmental disabilities. She has also began work to partner primary care service providers with mental health services.
Dawn’s effort to help our community extends beyond her continuous work in healthcare. Her numerous experiences, which include being the first participant in the Virginia Nurse Advocate Health Policy Fellowship, creating beneficial relationships with Virginia’s elected representatives, and developing public policy in her work as a civil servant, have helped her to identify the troubling disconnect between political maneuvering and our government’s obligation to serve the people. This is what fueled her desire to run for office.
Despite all odds, being outspent 5 to 1, on November, 7, 2017, nearly 20,000 voters in the 68th District cast their vote to bring Dawn into the General Assembly, giving her the highest voter turnout of any Democratic Candidate running against an incumbent.
Dawn is honored to take the lessons she’s learned as a nurse practitioner, administrator, educator, and community leader to represent her community as Delegate of Virginia’s House District 68 and is proud to represent the people of the city of Richmond, Chesterfield and Henrico counties.
Experience
Work Experience
- Director, Office of Integrated Health
- Nurse Practitioner
DNP, ANP-BC
- Adjunct Professor
ODU
Education
- Post-master’s certificate: FNP
Virginia Commonwealth University
1999 to present - M.S., Nursing/Community Health and Organizational Planning
University of Virginia
1989 to present - B.S., Nursing
James Madison University
1986 to present
Personal
- Place of Birth: Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL
- Gender: Female
- Race(s): Caucasian
- Religion: N/A
- Spouse: Margaret J. Constante (Maggie)
Membership & Affiliation
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Nurses Association
Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners
Sigma Theta Tau
Contact
Legislative Assistant: Maureen K. D. Hains
Administrative Assistant During Session: Smokie Crews
Email:
- Government – DelDAdams@house.virginia.gov
Offices
Capitol Office
Pocahontas Building
900 E. Main St,
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 698-1068
District Office
P.O. Box 25331
Richmond, VA 23260
Phone: (804) 698-1068
Web
Government Page, Campaign Site, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram
Politics
Source: Wikipedia
In 2017, Adams challenged Republican incumbent Manoli Loupassi for the 68th district seat in the House of Delegates, ultimately winning by 336 votes of the 40,000 cast in the district.[4] Adams is Virginia’s first openly lesbian member of the Virginia General Assembly,[5] and became part of a record high with 25 women elected to the House of Delegates that year (the previous record had been 19).[6]
Her committee assignments include the House Militia, Police and Public Safety, and The House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committees.[7]
She is up for re-election in the 2019 United States elections on November 5, 2019.
Recent Elections
2019
| Dawn M. Adams (D) | 20,897 | 54.60% |
| Garrison R. Coward (R) | 17,329 | 45.27% |
| Write-In (Write-in) | 49 | 0.13% |
| TOTAL | 38,275 |
2017
| Dawn Adams (D) | 19,761 | 50.4% |
| George Manuel Loupassi (R) | 19,425 | 49.5% |
| Write In (Write-in) | 46 | 0.1% |
| TOTAL | 39,232 |
Finances
ADAMS, DAWN M has run in 2 races for public office, winning 1 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $368,727.
Source: Follow the Money
Committees
Committees
Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Militia, Police and Public Safety
Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Subcommittee #2
Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Subcommittee #4
Appointments
Voting Record
See: Vote Smart
New Legislation
Source: Virginia Legislative Information System
Issues
Source: Campaign page
Dr. Dawn M. Adams holds a life-long passion for helping people achieve what each of us most desire from life: secure and healthy lives for ourselves and our families. Over her years as a resident of District 68 and as a nurse in Virginia’s healthcare system, Dawn has witnessed first-hand the struggles and heartbreak caused by poverty, inadequate living conditions, and limited healthcare access and coverage. As your Delegate, Dawn will work tirelessly to ensure that members of this community and all Virginians can live in safe, secure, and healthy communities.
Governance
Fiscal Responsibility
Virginia is a Balanced Budget state. This means that it is required by law that we balance the budget, and not because any one party has decided to be more financially responsible. The real question regarding the budget is how are we spending the money and collecting the revenue to prepare for the Commonwealths priorities? Dawn gets it, and her peers within the General Assembly know it. She is well aware of the General Assembly’s responsibility to be good stewards of our State’s funds and has submitted several pieces of legislation toward that end.
Economy
In Virginia, we are fortunate to have a relatively low unemployment rate. Yet,there is still work to be done to create more jobs that enrich individuals, families, and communities. The growth, incentivization, and development of small business are a few ways to create more jobs. We need Dawn’s demonstrated ability to work across the aisle to develop other workforce solutions that will also reduce the demands for more healthcare workers, rebuild our crumbling transportation and educational infrastructure, install state-wide broadband, and operationalize energy alternatives to meet our persistent dependence on carbon fuel through solar and wind power installation.
Education
All kids deserve a good education. Education is the foundation from which children can dream and young people can aspire to be the person they were meant to become. Strong public school education creates strong adults. Teachers and the supportive infrastructure to address the increasing demands and pressures impacting our youth today are critical to their success or failure as students. Additionally high school graduates deserve affordable options for post-secondary school and when qualified, guaranteed admission to Virginia State schools. We need Dawn’s academic insight and ideas to make this a reality. Dawn will continue to fight for the cost-effective solutions that will maximize every opportunity for our children.
Environment
Virginia is home to the pristine splendor of our mountains, green forests, expansive ocean, and beautiful array of lakes, streams, and rivers. In our District (68th), the James River runs right through our backyards. We can do more to keep this scenic resource clean and open for recreation and ensure that the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways are safe and protected for generations to come. As a member of the Virginia House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee, Dawn understands thatprotecting these resources makes sense for our children, families, and Virginia.
Health Care
Affordable healthcare coverage for all just makes sense. We can provide lower cost care to ensure all citizens receive the preventative medical, dental, and eye care that will keep them healthy, while addressing the opioid crisis, provide more comprehensive mental healthcare, and reducing the costs associated with chronic illness. At the same time, we must be prepared to take on the challenges of the epidemic of dementia, escalating needs of our aging population, the high cost of prescription drugs, and respond nimbly to the ever-changing policy demands from the federal government. We need Dawn’s three decades of diverse healthcare experience and ideas to develop affordable solutions to issues.
