WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Don Scott made history as he was sworn in as the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. Democrats won full control of the Virginia legislature in November, marking one of the most important victories of 2023 for the DLCC and our partners. Speaker Scott was unanimously elected to lead by the House Democratic Caucus, on the heels of voters electing the most diverse slate of Democratic legislators ever. Scott is now the 7th currently serving Black speaker in the country – a new record.
As the Virginia legislative session gets underway with Democratic leadership, the DLCC is ready to take our momentum into 2024 to defend and expand Democratic power across the country. We are poised to continue overperforming across the map, building state power, and electing diverse slates of legislators across the country.
DLCC President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Today is a watershed moment in Virginia as Speaker Scott becomes the first Black speaker of the House of Delegates in state history. The unanimous support from his colleagues speaks volumes about his character, work ethic, and the respect he’s garnered as minority leader. I am confident that Speaker Scott will guide the Virginia House of Delegates with distinction as they address pressing issues for Virginians, from protecting abortion access to raising the minimum wage.
“When Virginians voted in November, they delivered a mandate for a diverse Democratic legislature to deliver on progress and fundamental rights. Today is step one of that mandate becoming a reality. The DLCC congratulates Speaker Scott on his achievement, and we look forward to supporting him and the Democratic caucus as they defend Virginians from Gov. Youngkin’s extremist agenda.”
Virginia lawmakers convened today for the 2024 legislative session. The DLCC is proud to support the new Democratic majority in the Virginia House and the continuing Democratic majority in the Virginia Senate as they protect fundamental freedoms.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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