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Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: TERRY KILGORE
In an unusual Republican party leadership vote in June, Del. Terry Kilgore was voted in as the GOP’s House minority leader, succeeding Del. C. Todd Gilbert, who stepped down to become U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Kilgore, who has served in the House since 1994, unsuccessfully challenged Gilbert for the position in […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: CHARNIELE HERRING
When Democrats took control of the House of Delegates in 2020, Herring became the first woman and first African American to serve as majority leader. After Republicans retook the chamber following the 2021 elections, she became caucus chair but returned to her majority leader role when her party narrowly reassumed power in 2024. Early experience […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: KHALID JONES
Following his appointment by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2024, Jones took the helm of the Virginia Lottery, an agency whose responsibilities continue to grow as the state embraces more forms of gambling. Besides overseeing traditional scratch and draw games, the state lottery has been charged with regulating casinos and internet sports betting. For fiscal 2024, […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: WINSOME EARLE-SEARS
Earle-Sears is a woman of firsts: the first Black woman and immigrant to hold statewide office in Virginia and the commonwealth’s first female lieutenant governor, serving as president of the state Senate and occasionally casting tiebreaking votes. This year, she seeks to be Virginia’s first female governor as the Republican nominee. A U.S. Marine Corps […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: TIM KAINE
Labeled by supporters as “America’s Dad” for his level-headed, folksy and sometimes wonky demeanor, Democrat Kaine has been a fixture in Virginia politics since his 1994 election to Richmond City Council. From there, he became Richmond mayor, then Virginia’s lieutenant governor and governor. His 2006-10 term in the Executive Mansion was marked by both the […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: DON SCOTT JR.
After bumping longtime Del. Eileen Filler-Corn from the top House role in a 2022 shakeup, Scott became Virginia’s first Black speaker in 2024 when Democrats retook the chamber. It wasn’t the only unexpected turn in his history: In 1994, as he was finishing up his law degree, Scott was arrested on federal drug charges. He […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: RICHARD CULLEN
Richmond insider Richard Cullen was an early pick by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to serve on the political newcomer’s cabinet when he took office in 2022, and he has remained a prominent figure in the executive branch since. Before joining the Youngkin administration, Cullen was a senior partner at McGuireWoods, Virginia’s largest law firm. There, he […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: LARRY SABATO
Virginia’s most notable political pundit, Sabato in 1998 founded the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, which hosts programs about civic education, electoral politics and youth leadership. In 2024, the center broke ground on a $10 million expansion, expected to open in early 2026. Sabato’s Crystal Ball newsletter makes predictions about electoral races […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: RYAN MCDOUGLE
A 23-year veteran legislator, McDougle was tapped as minority leader after Republicans failed to regain control of the state Senate in the November 2023 elections. He’s served as an ally to Gov. Glenn Youngkin, pushing for tax cuts and to return Virginia to federal vehicle emissions standards rather than the California rules the state has […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: JASON MIYARES
Miyares, the son of a Cuban refugee, became the first Hispanic person elected to statewide office in Virginia after voters backed his attorney general bid in 2021. This year, the Republican seeks a second term in office, facing former Del. Jay Jones as the Democratic nominee. Miyares has touted successes in reducing crime through Operation […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: SCOTT A. SUROVELL
Surovell is part of the new Democratic leadership in the Virginia General Assembly after the 2023 retirement of several longtime leaders, including former majority leader Sen. Dick Saslaw, whom Surovell succeeded in 2024. In his leadership post, Surovell often acts as the voice of Senate Democrats in criticizing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s priorities. In 2025, […]
Government | Politics | Lobbying 2025: ROB WITTMAN
Representing parts of the Richmond and Hampton Roads suburbs, as well as the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, Republican Wittman is serving his ninth term in Congress. A former environmental health specialist and field director for the Virginia Department of Health’s shellfish sanitation division, Wittman has worked his way up the political ladder from the […]
