Politics & Government
Consecutive Governor Terms Proposed By Alexandria Legislator
State Sen. Adam Ebbin will try again to pass the bill allowing consecutive terms for governors beginning in 2021.
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Virginia is the only state in the U.S. to prohibit the governor from serving consecutive terms. A bill introduced in the General Assembly would change that.
State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) has introduced legislation to allow the governor to serve consecutive terms effective in 2021. It also specifies governors can run for a second but not third term.
Ebbin, who represents Alexandria and parts of Fairfax County, prefiled the legislation in December for consideration in the 2018 General Assembly session. The legislature reconvenes on Jan. 10, 2018.
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He has pushed for the change, arguing that the governor should be accountable to voters for campaign promises during a second election, WAMU reported. Virginia state senators and representatives have no term limits.
There has been little appetite in legislature for rolling back limits on Virginia's executive. The law has been in effect for 160 years, and Ebbin's previous attempts to change it have failed, WAMU reported. The most recent attempt did not get past the Senate Privileges & Elections Committee.
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“It dates back to 1776,” Brent Tarter, a retired historian with the Library of Virginia, told WAMU. “There was a legacy of resentment of royal authority at the time of the American Revolution, and the way royal authority was exercised was through the office of the governor.”
The governor position will remain in Democratic control under Gov.-elect Ralph Northam, but control of the state House remains up for grabs after a recount in the 94th District (Newport News) ended in a tie. following Election Day, A recount erased incumbent Republican Del. David Yancey's 10-vote lead, instead giving Democrat Shelly Simonds taking the lead by one vote. However, a panel of judges would not certify the results, and the race will be decided by a coin toss at the Board of Elections Dec. 27, The Washington Post reports. A victory for Simonds would result in a 50-50 split control of the house.
Image via Office of Adam Ebbin
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