Video: Virginia Dems’ Chair Susan Swecker Announces For Reelection, Is Endorsed By “Overwhelming Majority” of DPVA Steering Committee [UPDATED with Names of Other Candidates]

Susan Swecker Announces Re-Election Campaign for Chairwoman of Democratic Party of Virginia

Susan’s seven years as Chair have seen unprecedented gains both electorally and in the professionalization of the DPVA. When Susan was elected Chairwoman, the DPVA had four full time staff and an operating budget of less than one million dollars. Seven years later, the DPVA has 15 full-time staff, upgraded to an office accessible to the General Assembly, is fully unionized, and an operating budget of over three million dollars. Susan also established the first full-time state party voter protection program in the nation. She has put equity and inclusion in the forefront of everything the Party does, including spearheading the creation of the annual DPVA Barbara Johns Day event to tell the full story of Virginia’s history and changing the name of the DPVA’s marquee fundraising event from the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner to the Blue Commonwealth Gala.

During her time as Chairwoman, Democrats won all three statewide offices and fifteen seats in the House of Delegates in 2017, won a majority in the congressional delegation in 2018, and took majorities in the state House and Senate in 2019. The Democratic nominee for President carried Virginia in both Presidential election cycles that she has been Chairwoman and overwhelmingly re-elected U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

“It is with great excitement that I announce my candidacy for Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. We have made so much progress as a Party and Commonwealth over the last seven years, and now is the time to protect and build upon that progress,” said Susan Swecker. “I look forward to speaking with Virginia Democrats in the coming month on my plans on how we will take a results-driven approach to build an even stronger Democratic Party for all Virginians.”

Over the next four years, Susan and the DPVA will continue to hold Glenn Youngkin and General Assembly Republicans accountable, and elect Democrats at all levels across the Commonwealth – starting this November. Susan is also committed to creating year round organizing and voter registration programs from Roanoke to Richmond, Arlington to Abingdon and everywhere in between. By providing full time organizers in key areas across Virginia, the DPVA will be able to build grassroot support in regions crucial to their success in upcoming elections.

Susan is a lifelong rural Virginian and often says she is “a Democrat by birth and by choice.” She formally got involved in the Democratic Party when she was elected Chairwoman of the Highland County Democratic Committee at the age of 22. She has worked in a number of capacities to elect Democrats for over forty years spanning from working on President Jimmy Carter’s presidential race to serving as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Overwhelming Majority of Grassroots Leaders on DPVA Steering Committee Endorse Susan Swecker’s Campaign for Re-Election as State Party Chairwoman

During her time as Chairwoman, Democrats won all three statewide offices and fifteen seats in the House of Delegates in 2017, won a majority in the congressional delegation in 2018, and took majorities in the state house and senate in 2019. The Democratic nominee for President carried Virginia in both presidential election cycles that she has been Chairwoman and overwhelmingly re-elected U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

Susan is now leading the fight against Glenn Youngkin, Republicans in the General Assembly, and their far-right agendas in order to protect the progress Democrats have made over the last eight years. Susan has also been working to create infrastructure and gather resources to prepare Virginia’s Democrats for the crucial November 2022 elections.

“Susan has shown time and again she will put in the work to build a grassroots Democratic Party in every corner of Virginia and that works for all of us,” said Delegate and Steering Committee Member Elizabeth Guzman. “That is why so many members of the DPVA Steering Committee are proud to endorse her to continue fighting for the values that we all share. We need to stay united to regain our majority in the House of Delegates and defeat Youngkin’s agenda and Susan has and will continue to lead Virginia Democrats to victories in every region of the Commonwealth.“

“Susan has been phenomenal as Chair in leading us to historic victories over the last seven years,” said Gaylene Kanoyton, First Vice Chair. “The relationships, passion and resources she brings to the table are unmatched. Now, more than ever, we need her experienced and steady leadership to hold Virginia Republicans accountable and protect and build upon the progress we have made here in the Commonwealth.”

Susan was endorsed by the following DPVA Steering Committee members and 2017-2021 congressional district chairs:

• Gaylene Kanoyton, First Vice Chair
• Senator L. Louise Lucas, Vice Chair, Outreach
• Marc Broklawski, Vice Chair, Rules
• Ricardo Alfaro, Vice Chair, Technology and Communications
• Tyler Bishop, Vice Chair, Finance
• Barbara Klear, Treasurer
• Isaac Sarver, Secretary
• Delegate Josh Cole, DNC Member
• Doris Crouse-Mays, DNC Member
• Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, DNC Member
• David Leichtman, DNC Member
• Mayor Levar Stoney, DNC Member
• Matt Rowe, Chair, First Congressional District
• Sandra Brandt, Chair, Second Congressional District
• Delegate Clint Jenkins, Chair, Third Congressional District
• Delegate Lashrecse Aird, Chair, Fourth Congressional District
• Suzanne Long, Chair, Fifth Congressional District
• Kym Crump, Chair, Sixth Congressional District
• Abbi Easter, Chair, Seventh Congressional District
• Margo Horner, Chair, Eighth Congressional District
• Gary Hancock, Chair, Ninth Congressional District
• Robert Haley, Chair, Eleventh Congressional District
• Mark Cannady, Chair, Small Business Caucus
• Jonathan Dromgoole, Chair, Democratic Latinos of Virginia Caucus
• Julie Hunter, Chair, Democratic Labor Caucus
• Derek Kitts, Chair, Virginia Military Families Caucus
• Praveen Meyyan, Chair, Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia
• Cyliene Montgomery, Chair, DisAbility Caucus
• Maggie Sacra, Chair, LGBTQ Caucus
• EJ Scott, Chair, Democratic Black Caucus of Virginia
• Bob Zwick, Chair, Rural Caucus
• Linda Brooks, President, Virginia Democratic Women’s Caucus
• Clarence Tong, Virginia Association of Democratic Chairs

“I am incredibly proud to receive the support of my colleagues on the Democratic Party of Virginia Central Committee. Their faith in me means the world. Together, we have achieved so much progress for Virginia Democrats – but we are just getting started,” said Susan Swecker.