Northern Virginia Delegate To Be First Female VA House Speaker

VIRGINIA — Democrats have selected leadership picks for the Virginia House of Delegates, with all coming from Northern Virginia and two choices that will make history. Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, who represents part of Fairfax County in the 41st House District, was designated as the next speaker of the House of Delegates. She will be the first female and Jewish speaker in the state House's history. She served as minority leader in 2019.

The leadership positions resulted from a House Democratic Caucus election and are not effective until the Virginia General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8, 2020 and holds a vote. The new majority leader is slated to be Del. Charniele Herring, who represents part of Alexandria in the 46th House District. She's also the first female and first African-American majority leader. Del. Rip Sullivan, whose 48th House District includes part of Arlington and Fairfax counties, was selected to be caucus chairman.

After the caucus vote, Virginia Democrats released a statement saying leadership will pursue a platform of equal rights, affordable health care, gun control and other issues.

Democrats gained control of the Virginia House and Senate in the Nov. 5 general election. The party will have a trifecta—control of the governorship, House and Senate—for the first time since 1993. According to The Washington Post, the Democrats have a 55-45 majority in the House and 21-19 majority in the Senate.

The current Republican House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert congratulated Filler-Corn, Herring and Sullivan in a statement while expressing concern over leadership coming from only Northern Virginia.

"The House of Delegates represents our entire Commonwealth, and the varying and often conflicting interests of Northern Virginia, metro Richmond, Hampton Roads, and rural Virginia deserve a fair hearing in our legislative process to meet their unique needs and challenges," reads Gilbert's statement.

Filler-Corn released a statement after the caucus designated her as the next speaker acknowledging the geographic diversity and perspectives of her Democratic colleagues. "We will continue to have a wide range of opinions as to the best path forward," reads her statement. "I wouldn't want it any other way. We are not bound by an ideology that comes from me or any other Democratic leaders in or Commonwealth or our nation."

Republicans will likely select minority leadership when the Virginia General Assembly session begins. According to The Roanoke Times, current House Speaker Kirk Cox will not seek a leadership role.