Senate Leadership in the Virginia General Assembly

By taking over the majority, Senate Democrats will now hold the leadership positions, which could increase Northern Virginia's clout in Richmond. Here are the key possibilities for senators from Northern Virginia after the Democrats choose leaders in January.

Leadership

Richard L. Saslaw (D)

Majority Leader

Richard L. "Dick" Saslaw
  • D-District 35
  • Member of the Senate since 1980. His district includes parts of the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County.
  • Voters Guide Profile »

Committee Chairs

Patricia S. Ticer

Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Patricia S. Ticer
  • D-District 30
  • Member of the Senate since 1996. Her district includes parts of the City of Alexandria, Arlington County and Fairfax County.
  • Voters Guide Profile »
Richard L. Saslaw (D)

Commerce and Labor

Richard L. "Dick" Saslaw
  • D-District 35
  • Member of the Senate since 1980. His district includes parts of the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County.
  • Voters Guide Profile »
R. Edward Houck

Education and Health

R. Edward Houck
  • D-District 17
  • Member of the Senate since 1984. His district includes Culpeper County, Louisa County, Madison County, Orange County, and parts of the City of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County.
  • Voters Guide Profile »
Charles J. Colgan

Finance

Charles J. Colgan
  • D-District 29
  • Member of the Senate since 1976. His district includes the City of Manassas, the City of Manassas Park and parts of Prince William County.
  • Voters Guide Profile »
Janet D. Howell

Privileges and Elections

Janet D. Howell
  • D-District 32
  • Member of the Senate since 1992. Her district includes part of Fairfax County.
  • Voters Guide Profile »
Mary Margaret Whipple

Rules

Mary Margaret Whipple
  • D-District 31
  • Member of the Senate since 1996. Her district includes the City of Falls Church, and parts of Arlington and Fairfax counties.
  • Voters Guide Profile »

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