Democratic Party of Virginia

The Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA/VA Dems) is the Virginia affiliate of the Democratic Party based in Richmond, Virginia.

Historically, the Democratic Party has dominated Virginia politics. Since the 1851 Virginia gubernatorial election, the first gubernatorial election in Virginia in which the governor was elected by direct popular vote, 34 Virginia Governors have been Democrats. Since the 1851 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, the first lieutenant gubernatorial election in Virginia in which the lieutenant governor was elected by direct popular vote, 29 Virginia Lieutenant Governors have been Democrats. Since the 1851 Virginia Attorney General election, the first Attorney General election in Virginia in which the Attorney General was elected by direct popular vote, 25 Attorneys General have been Democrats.

As of 2022, Democrats hold majorities in the Senate chamber of the state legislature, controlling 21 of 40 Virginia Senate seats. At the federal level, Virginia has voted for every Democratic presidential candidate since 2008. Democrats hold seven of the state's 11 U.S. House seats and both of the state's U.S. Senate seats.

Organization

Local Democratic Committees

Local Democratic Committees serve to promote the Democratic Party in their specific locality. Some committees may contain several localities. Local committees may endorse candidates for nonpartisan office (such as school board) and assist in campaigning for their candidate.

Central Committee

The Central Committee has full control over all matters of the Party, including the adoption of an annual budget, the method of nomination for statewide candidates such as Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General; the adoption of resolutions and policy statements. In addition, the Central Committee can veto any decision of the Steering Committee.

The Central Committee meets at least four times a year, usually in Richmond, although by tradition, the September meeting is in Fredericksburg. Central Committee meetings are accompanied by meetings of the Steering Committee the night before, and Caucus meetings over the weekend.

The Central Committee is composed of 20 members from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts. Each district apportions the central committee seats to localities in the district based on population. Additionally, each district committee can elect three more members from local committees and one member of the Virginia General Assembly. The Central Committee is "reorganized" every four years following the election for Governor. The last reorganization was held in March of 2022.

In addition, the following people are ex-officio members of the Central Committee and their District Committees:
* Members of the steering committee
* Democratic Virginia members of the United States Congress
* Democratic statewide elected officials, such as Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General
* the President Pro Tempore of the Virginia Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, provided they are Democrats
* the Democratic Leaders of the Virginia House and Senate
* the Chairs of the Democratic Caucuses in Virginia the House and Senate
* the president, national committeeman, and national committeewoman of the Virginia Young Democrats
* the president and first vice president of the Women's Caucus
* the chair of the Association of Democratic Elected Officials
* the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus
* the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats College Caucus
* and the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats City/County Caucus

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee makes decisions about the Party in-between meetings of the Central Committee, and also has an exclusive role of overseeing staff.

* Chairwoman: Susan Swecker
* 1st Vice Chair for Organization: Gaylene Kanoyton
* 2nd Vice Chair for Rules and Resolutions: Marc Broklawsk
* Vice Chair for Technology and Communications: Ricardo Alfaro
* Vice Chair for Outreach: Sen. L. Louise Lucas
* Vice Chair for Finance: Clarence Tong
* Secretary: Isaac Sarver
* Treasurer: Abbi Easter
* DNC Member: Del. Joshua Cole
* DNC Member: Doris Crouse-Mays
* DNC Member: Elizabeth Guzman
* DNC Member: Dave Leichtman
* DNC Member: Atima Omara
* DNC Member: Mayor Levar Stoney
* 1st Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Dianne Carter de Mayo
* 2nd Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Sandra Brandt
* 3rd Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Charles Stanton
* 4th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Alexsis Rodgers
* 5th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Patricia Harper Tunley
* 6th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Kym Crump
* 7th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Matt Rowe
* 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Margo Horner
* 9th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Mary Lynn Tate
* 10th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Zach Pruckowski
* 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee Chair: Robert Haley
* Labor Caucus Chair: Julie Hunter
* Associations of Local Chairs Chair: Tina Winkler
* Democratic Black Caucus Chair: EJ Scott
* Women's Caucus Chair: Linda Brooks
* LGBT Democrats of Virginia Chair: Maggie Sacra
* Veterans and Military Families Caucus Chair: Derek Kitts
* Virginia Young Democrats President: Denver Supinger
* DisAbility Caucus Chair: Cyliene Montgomery
* Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia Chair: Praveen Meyyan
* Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia President: Jonathan Dromgoole
* Rural Caucus Chair: Vee Frye
* Small Business Caucus Chair: Mark Cannady
* Immediate Past Chair: Dwight Jones

Staff

* Executive Director: Andrew Whitley
* Communications Director: Gianni Snidle
* Deputy Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer: Brenner Tobe
* Data Director: Katie O'Grady
* Digital Director: Nick Scott
* Finance Director: Randy Sprinkle
* Chief Operations Officer: Elise Vess
* Operations Director: Kristi Glass
* Political Director: Shyam Raman
* Local Elections Director: Tierra Ward
* Training Director: Kiana Ham
* Voter Protection Director: Ja'Scotta Jefferson

Fairfax County Democratic Committee

The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) is the local arm of the Democratic Party in Fairfax County, Virginia. It is the largest Democratic committee in Virginia, with Fairfax County representing over 17% of the Democratic vote in the 2020 presidential election in Virginia. In recent years, Democrats have dominated Fairfax County politics, holding 57 of the 59 local, state, and national offices representing the county. Its counterpart is the Fairfax County Republican Committee.

The Fairfax County Democratic Committee is led by a chair, elected following elections in odd-numbered years. FCDC also has a one-person staff consisting of an Executive Director, who runs the day-to-day operations of the committee. The current chair is Bryan Graham, and the current Executive Director is Jack Kiraly.

The steering committee consists of the county-wide elected elected vice chairs, chairs of district committees, and chairs of standing committees and caucuses. It also contains members of the Democratic Party of Virginia steering committee who live in Fairfax County. The steering committee meets monthly to handle more urgent FCDC business, and is given priority over consideration of budget and resolution matters.

Membership in FCDC is divided between Fairfax County's nine magisterial districts: Braddock, Hunter Mill, Dranesville, Franconia, Mount Vernon, Mason, Providence, Springfield, and Sully. Each magisterial district has its own committee and leadership, and meet regularly, usually monthly, to coordinate activities. Membership is open to any Fairfax County resident age 13 and older.

Public Positions

Fairfax County Police Chief Firing

In 2021, after it was revealed that the newly hired Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis had been involved in previous incidents of alleged police brutality and misconduct, FCDC voted to call for Board of Supervisors to fire Davis. The nine Democrats on the Board of Supervisors sent a letter to the FCDC prior to the vote explaining their reasoning for hiring Davis and urging against the measure.

Response to School Board Removal Petitions

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of organizations formed to advocate for a return to in-person school instruction amid concerns over student performance gaps. The Open FCPS Coalition formed as a non-partisan organization, however received financial contributions from prominent Republicans, such as former Gubernatorial candidate Pete Snyder. The Open FCPS Coalition also sought the removal of three Fairfax County School Board members for alleged dereliction of duties related to Fairfax County Public School's COVID-19 response. On August 20, 2021, the Fairfax County Circuit Court dismissed the first of three removal petitions for lack of evidence.

In November 2020, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee passed a resolution affirming its support for evidence-based school re-opening plans and urging state legislators to refrain from coercing the FCPS school board to change their school reopening plan by threatening to cut their budget. The resolution passed with 98% of the vote.

In January 2021, State Senator Chap Petersen said he would propose an amendment to the Virginia state budget which would prohibit funds from going to school systems that don't open for in-person learning. In March 2021, Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill requiring schools to open for in-person learning in the fall.

Current elected officials

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

Democrats have controlled both of Virginia's seats in the U.S. Senate since 2008:

File:Tim Kaine 116th official portrait.jpg, Junior U.S. Senator
File:Mark Warner 113th Congress photo.jpg, Senior U.S. Senator

U.S. House of Representatives

Out of the 11 seats Virginia is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, six are held by Democrats:

Legislative leadership

* President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia: Louise Lucas
* Senate Majority Leader: Dick Saslaw
* Senate Caucus Chair: Mamie Locke
* House Minority Leader: Don Scott
* House Caucus Chair: Charniele Herring

List of chairs

* Watkins Abbitt Sr. (1964–1970)
* William G. Thomas (1970–1972)
* Joseph T. Fitzpatrick (1972–1979)
* Richard J. Davis (1979–1980)
* Owen B. Pickett (1980–1982)
* Alan Diamonstein (1982–1985)
* Richard J. Davis (1985–1986)
* Lawrence H. Framme III (1986–1990)
* Paul Goldman (1990–1993)
* Mark Warner (1993–1995)
* Suzie Wrenn (1995–1998)
* Kenneth R. Plum (1998–2000)
* Emily Couric (Co-chair, 2000–2001)
* Lawrence H. Framme III (Co-chair, 2000–2001; 2001–2003)
* Kerry J. Donley (2003–2005)
* Richard Cranwell (2005–2010)
* Brian Moran (2010–2012)
* Charniele Herring (2012–2014)
* Dwight C. Jones (2014–March 27, 2015)
* Susan Swecker (March 27, 2015–present)

Controversies

2019 Virginia political crisis

In 2019, all three of Virginia's statewide executive office holders, all Democrats, were embroiled in various controversies. Governor Ralph Northam's medical school yearbook page had featured an individual in blackface and an individual in a Ku Klux Klan hood, Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax was accused of having sexually assaulted a professor in 2004, and Attorney General Mark Herring was revealed to have worn blackface at a college party. Most Democrats urged Northam to resign from the governorship, but he refused. Ultimately, none of the three accused resigned.

Historical firsts

;African Americans
* First African American Governor of Virginia and Lieutenant Governor of Virginia: Douglas Wilder
; Arab Americans
* First Lebanese-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Hala Ayala
* First Palestinian-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Sam Rasoul
;Asian Americans
* First Korean-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Mark Keam
* First Vietnamese-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Kathy Tran
* First Filipino-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Kelly Fowler
;Jewish Americans
* First Jewish American to represent Virginia in the United States House of Representatives: Norman Sisisky
* First Jewish American Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates: Eileen Filler-Corn
;Latino Americans
* First Peruvian-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Elizabeth Guzmán
* First Salvadoran-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Hala Ayala
* First Mexican-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Kelly Fowler
;LGBT
* First openly gay member of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia: Adam Paul Ebbin
* First openly lesbian member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Dawn M. Adams
* First openly transgender member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Danica Roem
;Women
* First female Attorney General of Virginia: Mary Sue Terry
* First female Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates: Eileen Filler-Corn

See also

* Politics of Virginia
* Republican Party of Virginia

References

External links

Democratic Party of Virginia Party Website

Virginia Young Democrats

Arlington Democrats

Senate Caucus

House Caucus

{{U.S. Democratic Party state parties

Virginia
Political parties in Virginia
1924 establishments in Virginia