With 2019 elections determining control of state House, Virginia Dems pick new leader
December 11, 2018By Tyler Arnold | Watchdog.org
The House of Representatives chamber in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia.
Shutterstock photo
Virginia House Democrats have chosen a new leader for their caucus with elections coming up in less than a year that could shift the chamber from red to blue.
The caucus chose Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, who has been in the House of Delegates since 2010 after winning a special election in her district by 37 votes. If the Democrats take the House in the 2019 elections, she would be the first woman to serve as Virginia speaker.
The role of the caucus leader is to be the public face of the caucus as well as assist in guiding policy, negotiations and fundraising. She was selected to serve at least through the 2019 year, including the elections.
Democrats have shown optimism for the 2019 elections after gaining several seats two years prior, which cut the Republican majority from 63-34 to 51-49. The Democrats are also expected to get a future boost from redistricting aimed at decreasing gerrymandering; however, the new districts might not take effect in time for the 2019 elections.
“Our historic victories in 2017 were not a fluke,” Kathryn Gilley, a spokesperson for the Virginia House Democrats, told Watchdog.org. “Virginians over the past several years have consistently shown that they no longer feel the current Republican Party represents them. Under Delegate Filler-Corn's leadership, House Democrats will support strong and diverse candidates who will represent the Commonwealth and work for all Virginians.”
Gilley said the Virginia Democrats’ agenda will focus on “issues that matter to Virginians,” including education, school safety, health care, gender equality and workforce development.
Filler-Corn expressed optimism in a statement sent out in a House Democrats news release.
“It is an incredible honor to serve as Leader of the House Democratic Caucus, and I want to thank my colleagues for their faith in me, as well as Delegate Toscano for his years of service as Leader,” she said as part of her statement and added that, “What we do in the General Assembly matters to every Virginian across the Commonwealth, and I am committed to standing up for good legislation and strong Democratic candidates.”
Filler-Corn, 54, will replace Del. David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, who has served as the House Democratic leader since 2011. Toscano is 68 years old and has served in the state legislature since 2005. Although he is resigning from the leadership position, he has said that he will seek re-election in 2019.
“Delegate Filler-Corn has shown tremendous leadership in her roles within the Caucus, including as Co-Chair of the Safe Virginia Initiative,” Toscano said in the House Democrats news release. “I know she will work tirelessly for the Caucus, and Commonwealth, as House Democratic Leader.”
