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.
It is currently the dominant party in Virginia politics. As of 2026, Democrats hold all 3 statewide elected offices in the state (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General), a 21–19 majority in the Virginia Senate, and a 64–36 majority in the Virginia House of Delegates. At the federal level, Virginia has voted for every Democratic presidential candidate since 2008. Democrats hold six of the Commonwealth's 11 U.S. House seats and both of the Commonwealth's U.S. Senate seats.
Contents
Organization
Staff
Executive Director: Shyam Raman
Deputy Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer: Brenner Tobe
Data Director: Katie O'Grady
Political Director: Emily Hamm
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.
Chair: Lamont Bagby
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: Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy
DNC Member: Doris Crouse-Mays
DNC Member: Bryan Graham
DNC Member: Harry Khanna
DNC Member: Tram Nguyen
DNC Member: Elaine Kamarck
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
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 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
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.
Current elected officials
Members of Congress
Democrats have controlled both of Virginia's seats in the U.S. Senate since 2008:
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: Scott Surovell
Senate Caucus Chair: Mamie Locke
Speaker of the House of Delegates: Don Scott
House Majority Leader: Charniele Herring
House Caucus Chair: Kathy Tran
Mayors
Norfolk: Kenny Alexander (3)
Richmond: Danny Avula (4)
Newport News: Phillip Jones (5)
Alexandria: Alyia Gaskins (6)
List of chairs
John S. Barbour Jr. (1883–1889)
Basil B. Gordon (1889–1890)
J. Taylor Ellyson (1890–1916)
Rorer A. James (1916–1921)
Henry D. Flood (1921)
Harry F. Byrd (1922–1924)
J. Murray Hooker (1925–1940)
Horace H. Edwards (1940–1948)
G. Alvin Massenburg (1948–1952)
William M. Tuck (July 1952–August 1952)
T. Nelson Parker (August 1952–December 1952)
Thomas H. Blanton (1952–1964)
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)
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
First African American Attorney General of Virginia: Jay Jones
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 Indian American Lieutenant Governor of Virginia: Ghazala Hashmi
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