- Each events within the Virginia Senate tapped veteran lawmakers to guide their caucuses within the subsequent Legislature.
- Democrat Scott Surovell will function Majority Chief, whereas Republican Ryan McDougle would be the Commonwealth’s subsequent Senate Minority Chief.
- Democrats narrowly carried each legislative chambers earlier on this month’s elections, dashing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s hopes for a trifecta.
Each Democrats and Republicans within the Virginia Senate picked veteran legislators Wednesday to guide their respective caucuses starting in subsequent yr’s legislative session.
Senate Democrats chosen Scott Surovell, an legal professional from Fairfax County, to function majority chief, the caucus stated in a information launch. He’ll succeed outgoing Senate Majority Chief Dick Saslaw, who in February introduced he wouldn’t search reelection.
Democrats not solely held on to the bulk they’ve had within the 40-member higher chamber since 2020 on this month’s legislative elections but additionally flipped management of the Home of Delegates, dashing Republicans’ hopes of a GOP trifecta with Gov. Glenn Youngkin. However Democrats will management the Senate by the narrowest attainable margin — 21-19 — with Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears presiding over the chamber and casting tie-breaking votes.
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Surovell, who has served within the Common Meeting since 2010, stated in a press release that Senate Democrats would “combat to meet the belief Virginia voters positioned in our caucus to make Virginia a thriving, inclusive, progressive Commonwealth and the very best state in America to lift a household and to begin a enterprise.”
In an aerial view, the Virginia State Capitol is proven on July 12, 2023 in Richmond, Virginia. The Virginia Common Meeting is the oldest elected legislative physique in North America, starting because the Home of Burgesses in 1619. The present Capitol constructing was designed by Thomas Jefferson and its cornerstone was positioned in 1785. (Win McNamee/Getty Photographs)
Sen. Mamie Locke of Hampton, one other veteran legislator, had additionally been competing for the position and had the endorsements of each the Virginia NAACP and Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Locke, who was elected caucus chair, didn’t instantly remark.
Senate Republicans, who grew their caucus by one member this election cycle, tapped Ryan McDougle of Hanover to function GOP chief, based on a information launch.
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McDougle, additionally an legal professional, has been a member of the Senate since 2006 and served within the Home earlier than that, from 2002-2006.
“We’ve got a proficient workforce of skilled lawmakers and expert newcomers who’re ready to advance our optimistic agenda of preventing inflation, decreasing taxes, supporting legislation enforcement, and getting vitality costs beneath management. We shall be working collaboratively with Governor Youngkin to advertise his priorities, and we’re decided to thwart partisan obstructionism,” McDougle stated in a press release.
Each chambers of the part-time Legislature will see large turnover come January as a result of a mixture of retirements and election losses. Within the Senate, virtually half of the members shall be new.
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The Democratic and Republican Home caucuses held their management elections over the weekend. Del. Don Scott will function the following speaker of the Home, changing into the primary Black particular person to carry the submit. And Del. Todd Gilbert, who serves as speaker, will develop into Republican chief in January.
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