Democrat Jeff Bourne is elected to Virginia House

Jeff Bourne, a member of the Richmond School Board, easily won a special election Feb. 7 for the Virginia House of Delegates. Bourne, the Democratic nominee in the race, will represent the 71st House District, which includes parts of Richmond and Henrico County.

With all precincts reporting, Bourne received 3,708 votes, almost 90 percent of the ballots cast. The second-place candidate, Libertarian John Barclay, got about 7 percent. Regie Ford, an independent candidate, received about 3 percent.

Bourne fill the seat vacated by a fellow Democrat, Jennifer McClellan, who was elected to the state Senate last month.

At an election party at Southern Kitchen in Shockoe Bottom, Bourne thanked Attorney General Mark Herring, among others, for their support, and he expressed gratitude to his wife and children.

Bourne said his children inspired him to run. He said his goal is to help children who don’t have the same parental engagement his children are lucky enough to have.

“It is incumbent on us as public servants and as leaders of our community to make sure that they have every opportunity to succeed,” Bourne said. “And so that’s what’s going to be my focus – public education and finding common-sense solutions.”

As a member of the Richmond School Board for the past five years, Bourne campaigned on a promise of supporting education.

“It really is a way to address some of the most systemic issues,” Bourne said. “We have some of the most significantly concentrated poverty in our city, and education could help break that up.”

House Democratic Leader David Toscano of Charlottesville congratulated Bourne on his win.

Bourne will be decidedly in the minority in the House of Delegates: Republicans hold 66 seats; Democrats hold 34.

“Republicans this session killed Democratic bills that would have raised the minimum wage, established paid family leave and helped borrowers refinance student loan debt. Meanwhile, the Republican Caucus focused its efforts on divisive social issues that target women and other marginalized populations,” Toscano said. “Jeff’s voice will provide a much-needed breath of fresh air, and I look forward to working with him as he joins us for the remainder of the session.”

Del. Charniele Herring of Alexandria, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, also congratulated Bourne.

“Jeff is a respected community leader who has honorably served as a deputy attorney general and as a member of the Richmond School Board,” Del. Herring said. “He is committed to expanding economic opportunity for all Virginians, and his service to Richmond’s public schools is testament to that commitment. I congratulate Jeff on his win, and I look forward to working alongside him in the House.”

Bourne will serve the remainder of McClellan’s term, until January 2018. The seat will be up for election again in November.

The 71st House District stretches from Bryan Park, Scott’s Addition, the Fan and the Virginia Commonwealth University campus on the west, to Church Hill, Fulton Hill, Richmond’s East End and the Ratcliffe area of Henrico County.

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Tyler Hammel, Contributing Writer