Virginia’s legislative exodus
Prominent retirements may be the story of this year’s assembly session
The biggest development to come out of this year’s General Assembly session arguably wasn’t a bill or resolution or landmark compromise but rather the announcements by so many lawmakers that this would be their last term in the legislature.
What began as a trickle a few weeks ago grew into a steady stream as the session proceeded toward adjournment. That list includes some of Virginia’s most prominent and long-serving lawmakers, such as Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, and several influential voices from Hampton Roads, including Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City County.
Filling those vacancies will not be easy and this region can ill afford to lose some of its most effective advocates in Richmond with so many pressing issues facing residents here. But it’s also an opportunity for the next generation of leaders to step forward, and Hampton Roads should hope our best and brightest put themselves forward to serve.
November’s elections promise to be a unique experience for the commonwealth. Not only will voters choose all 100 seats in the House of Delegates and all 40 members of the state Senate, but this will be the first election following the work of an independent redistricting commission, a body created after Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2020.
The goal was to remove partisanship from the process, but the commission splintered along party lines and couldn’t reach an agreement on new legislative maps. The impasse put the Virginia Supreme Court in charge, and the justices relied on the work of two “special masters,” or professional redistricting map makers, to produce the lines to be used in the fall.
According to an analysis by McGwireWoods Consulting, half of the Senate and 42 House members were placed in districts with at least one other incumbent. Eleven Senate districts and 23 House districts have no incumbent. That prompted introspection by lawmakers as to whether to seek another term in a redrawn district, facing new voters and possibly running against another incumbent, or to retire.
Del. Tim Anderson, R-Virginia Beach, flipped a competitive legislative district in his first bid for elected office in 2021, but was placed in a district with Del. Rob Bloxom, R-Accomack. Anderson announced last week he wouldn’t seek reelection, throwing his support behind Bloxom and suggesting he may seek a different office soon.
Redistricting placed Del. Mike Mullin, D-Newport News, in a conservative-leaning district that dimmed his reelection hopes. Mullin, who served in Richmond since 2016, announced Wednesday that he wouldn’t seek another term. Political calculations were set aside a day later when Mullin announced the tragic news that his 3-month-old had died, which prompted an outpouring of sympathy for his family.
Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford, served 26 years in the General Assembly but said this weekend that she would retire, as did Del. Rob Bell, R-Charlottesville, who was first elected in 2001. Sen. Jill Vogel, R-Fauquier, the 2017 Republican Party nominee for lieutenant governor, is another long-serving lawmaker whose absence will be notable come January.
But no departure can compare to those of Saslaw and Norment, who come January will have spent a combined 80 years in the General Assembly. Even their announcements were true to form: Saslaw was given a celebratory send-off late last week, with those on both sides of the aisle paying tribute to his service and blunt truth-telling, while Norment chose a quiet announcement and a low-key exit from Richmond.
Norment’s retirement will undeniably cost this region some of its sway in the legislature, as his seniority and deft negotiating made sure Hampton Roads’ needs were well addressed. In particular, his work on the Senate Finance Committee was invaluable to this area.
Who will take up that mantle come January? Voters will have their say in November, and one hopes that an altered legislative landscape will prompt new voices with fresh ideas to step forward. When one door closes, another opens.