Democratic Party of Virginia
|
Democratic Party of Virginia
|
|
|---|---|
| Chairman | Susan Swecker |
| House leader | David Toscano Minority leader, Mark Sickles Caucus leader |
| Senate leader | Richard L. Saslaw Minority Leader, Donald McEachin Caucus Leader |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Headquarters | 919 East Main Street. Richmond, Virginia 23223 |
| Ideology |
Liberalism Progressivism Social liberalism |
| National affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Colors | Blue |
| Seats in the US Senate |
2 / 2
|
| Seats in the US House |
4 / 11
|
| Seats in the VA Senate |
19 / 40
|
| Seats in the VA House |
32 / 100
|
| VA statewide offices held |
3 / 3
|
| Website | |
| www.vademocrats.org | |
The Democratic Party of Virginia is based in Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party of the United States. The organization is governed by a State Party Plan, which guarantees an open and fair candidate selection process. Although the party has members and elected officials throughout the state, it draws its highest number of votes from the Tidewater area, Metropolitan Richmond, and suburban Washington, D.C.
Historically, the Democratic Party has dominated Virginia politics. Of the 39 governors directly elected by Virginia voters, 34 have been Democrats and five have been Republicans. However, in the 1990s the Republican Party made gains.
The Virginia Democratic Party holds minorities in the Virginia Senate and House, controls all three statewide offices, controls both of the state's U.S. Senate seats and holds four of the state's 11 U.S. House seats.
Susan Swecker was elected as Party Chair on March 27, 2015. Rebecca Slutzky serves as Executive Director.
The 2008 State Party Platform was adopted at the June 14, 2008 State Convention. The key topics covered by the Platform are:
Although it is difficult to measure total fundraising contributions because money is donated to political action committees as well as directly to the parties, public records show that in 2007, the Virginia Republican Party received $3,376,215 compared with $8,245,806 for the Democrats.
In 2006, a budget deadlock between the Republican-controlled House of Delegates and the Republican-controlled Senate resulted in the legislative session extending far beyond its normal term as well as a special session. In general, the Democrats favored a progressive income tax and sought to eliminate the sales tax on groceries.
In 2007, the need to fund $1 billion per year for pressing transportation projects resulted in another impasse between the House of Delegates and Senate. Rather than approve additional tax increases, the final Republican plan, which was enacted into law, resulted in new abusive driving fees of up to $3,000 which are assessed against Virginia residents in addition to the historic fines assessed on out-of-state drivers convicted of the same driving law violations. The Republican plan also called for issuing general obligation bonds which Democrats claim will reduce funding of non-transportation needs in future years. In general, the Democrats opposed the abusive driving fees. On 2007-08-23, the Republican leaders of the House and Senate responded to public opposition of the new fees by promising to moderate them in the 2008 legislative session.
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