Longest-Serving Democrat in the VA House of Delegates, Ken Plum, Blasts Ouster of “Transformative” Eileen Filler-Corn

The following statement is from Del. Ken Plum (D-Fairfax), who is the longest-serving Democrat in the House of Delegates, having first been elected in 1977. So…are other Democratic delegates going to post something and/or explain their votes yesterday? If not, why not?!? It sure seems like Democratic voters, activists, etc. have a right to know what the thinking is behind ousting the historic first-female/first-Jewish Speaker of the VA House of Delegates (as Del. Plum points out), let alone someone who played a major role in getting Democrats to the majority in the first place, then (again, as Del. Plum points out) led the House Democrats as they passed literally HUNDREDS of pieces of progressive and environmental/clean energy legislation that transformed Virginia for the better. And now, by a slim majority (apparently 25-23), they ousted Eileen Filler-Corn and didn’t even select a replacement. What. The. Hell???

“The House of Delegates Democratic Caucus made I believe a horrible mistake yesterday in a secret ballot by the narrowest of margin ousted Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn as its leader. Delegate Filler-Corn defeated me in 2020 to becoming the first woman and the first person of Jewish faith to become Speaker of the House of Delegates. The photo is of her first day as Speaker. During her two years as Speaker the General Assembly passed the most progressive and transformative legislation in its history in the areas of human rights, Voting rights, criminal justice reform, environmental protection, and others. When the Democrats lost a majority of members in the House in 2021 she lost her Speakership. Some newer members unjustly blamed her for the election losses that I believed should more accurately attributed to the disastrous race for Governor. I opposed her ouster. When Democrats regain a majority in the House of Delegates I will support her return as Speaker. She has already made a place for herself in history for the firsts she represents and for her leadership in getting progressive legislation passed. A sincere thank you to Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn!”