Congratulations to State Senator Adam Ebbin (D-SD39; Alexandria/Arlington/Fairfax) on his appointment to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration, “as Senior Advisor at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority beginning in mid-February.” Note that this will be after “crossover” – the mid point of the General Assembly session – and also, crucially, after votes are taken on the redistricting amendment and other key legislation. Per Wikipedia:
“As an openly gay man, Ebbin has made history several times through his electoral success. In 2003, he became the first out LGBT person elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia General Assembly. In 2011 he became the first out LGBT person elected to the Virginia Senate.”
Ebbin was elected to the State Senate in 2011 after winning the Democratic primary over Libby Garvey and Rob Krupicka. In the State Senate, Ebbin has served as Chair of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. Anyway, good luck to Sen. Ebbin in his new job!
P.S. I’m hearing that a leading contender for Sen. Ebbin’s seat will be Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker [UPDATED 6 pm – See Bennett-Parker’s press release, below]. If she runs and wins, that will mean yet ANOTHER vacancy and ANOTHER special election there. If you love elections, Virginia’s definitely the place to be these days (and if you don’t love elections, then maybe not?)! LOL
SENATOR ADAM EBBIN NAMED TO GOVERNOR-ELECT ABIGAIL SPANBERGER’ S ADMINISTRATION
Ebbin will resign Senate seat to serve as Senior Advisor at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority beginning in mid-February
Virginia State Senator Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) announced today his acceptance of a position in Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration as Senior Advisor at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. His resignation from the state Senate, has been officially submitted to Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas, to take effect on Wednesday, February 18.
Currently vice-hair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Ebbin has served in the Virginia General Assembly for 22 years, beginning in 2004 as a Delegate and since 2012 as a Senator.
Senator Ebbin said, “I share Governor-elect Spanberger’s goal that adults 21 and over who choose to use cannabis, and those who use it for medical treatment, have access to a well-tested, accurately-labeled product, free from contaminants. 2026 is the year we will move cannabis sales off the street corner and behind the age-verified counter.”
Governor-elect Spanberger said, “I’m grateful to have the benefit of Senator Ebbin’s policy expertise continuing to serve the people of Virginia, and I look forward to working with him to prioritize public safety and public health.”
Ebbin passed legislation decriminalizing marijuana in 2020 (SB 2) with Delegate Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria) and then in 2021 passed legislation legalizing possession of marijuana in Virginia with co-chief Patron Senator Louise Lucas and Delegate Herring (SB 1406). However, the General Assembly has yet to pass legislation – that was signed by the governor – providing for a regulated retail marketplace for the sale of adult-use cannabis products.
Senator Ebbin serves as the Chair of the influential General Laws and Technology Committee, as well as member of four other Senate Committees: Finance and Appropriations; Commerce and Labor; Privileges and Elections; and the Senate Rules Committee. Ebbin is also the Chair of the Commission on Unemployment Compensation, the co-founder and Co-Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Caucus, the Vice-Chair of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science, a member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, and is a member of the Joint Subcommittee on Health and Human Resources Oversight.
Senator Ebbin has been honored by many organizations for his service, including by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) with their Vanguard Award in 2015, as well as “Solid as a Rock for Education” by the Virginia Education Association, an Environmental Hero by the League of Conservation Voters, an OUTstanding Virginian by Equality Virginia, and is the recipient of Neighborhood Health’s Health Equity Award, an All Star for Animals by the Virginia Humane Society, and as the Legislator of the Year by the Metropolitan Washington Building Trades Council.
A native of Commack, New York, Adam has resided in Alexandria since 1989 and is a 1985 graduate of American University in Washington, DC. He was a Fellow with the Flemming Foundation for Legislative Leadership in 2006 and at the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in 2000. In 2012, Adam was also a Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
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Selected Legislative Accomplishments of Senator Adam Ebbin
Senator Adam Ebbin has been a leader on advancing public safety in the General Assembly, banning firearms in state owned buildings and on the grounds of the State Capitol (SB 1215, 2021), prohibiting public and private school personnel from recommending to a prospective employer a current or former staff member suspected of sexual misconduct (SB 605, 2018; SB 832, 2020), and providing support to victims of human trafficking (SB 259, 2012 and HB2190, 2011).
Ebbin has worked to protect the rights of Virginians, passing a comprehensive ban on discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity (SB 868, 020), establishing statutory penalties for unlawful evictions (SB 1215, 2021), allowing employees to sue employers for stealing their earned wages (SB 838, 2020), protecting the Latino community from legal fraud (SB 503, 2014), and creating a public defender office in Arlington County (HB 1500, 2004). He led efforts to enshrine marriage equality in Virginia’s Constitution that the General Assembly will consider sending to the Commonwealth’s voters for consideration this year.
Senator Ebbin also has been a champion for coalition building and pragmatic solutions, passing legislation to enable lower interest rates on deferred property taxes for seniors (HB 2635, 2005), providing prenatal care for immigrant mothers (SB 568, 2012), ending the practice of suspending driver’s licenses for nonpayment of court costs and fees (SB 10, 2020) and allowing ABC mixed beverage licensee to make sangria (HB 1269, 2008.)
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Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Launches Campaign for Senate District 39
Alexandria, VA – Today, Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker is announcing her candidacy for the upcoming special election in Virginia’s 39th Senate District, following Senator Adam Ebbin’s appointment as Senior Advisor, Cannabis Control Authority.
“Senator Adam Ebbin has been an exemplary legislator and leader for our community for over twenty years. His appointment by Governor-Elect Spanberger to her administration is a well-deserved recognition of his dedication to public service, and I congratulate him on this exciting next chapter,” said Delegate Bennett-Parker.
“I am excited to share that I am running for Senate District 39 in the upcoming special election,” said Delegate Bennett-Parker. “I’m running to continue delivering real results for my constituents and to build on my work over the last four years, now with a Democratic trifecta.”
“In my two terms in the House of Delegates and despite our divided government, I passed 21 bills into law on topics ranging from strengthening voting rights and disability rights, eliminating a tax break for multimillionaires, protecting victims of stalking, reducing food waste, and much more. I am also proud to have passed bills to preserve affordable housing and enact commonsense gun violence prevention policies, and proud of the progress we have made as a Democratic majority: providing historic investments to our public schools, raises for teachers and first responders, and delivering direct relief to Virginians through tax rebates. I look forward to continuing this work in the Virginia Senate and I am honored to have the endorsements of Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Speaker of the House of Delegates Don Scott, and House Majority Leader Charniele Herring.”
Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker has served two terms in the House of Delegates; she currently represents the 5th District, which includes most of the City of Alexandria. In her first term, she represented parts of Arlington and Fairfax Counties, as well as Alexandria. She has been named a Legislative Champion by the Virginia Education Association, received a 100% score from the Virginia Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters, and earned an A+ from ReproRising (formerly NARAL Virginia). Previously, she served as Vice Mayor of Alexandria and served on several regional commissions.
She and her husband live in Alexandria with their toddler and rescue dog and cat.
For more information, please visit www.elizabethforva.com.
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UPDATE 9:30 pm: Former Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria) announces that he’s running for this State Senate seat.
I am Running for the Senate of Virginia!
Dear citizens of Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax County, Virginia
I am proud to announce my candidacy for the Virginia Senate seat that will be vacant following the resignation of Senator Adam Ebbin, announced less than three hours ago.
The election could be held as soon as this Tuesday.
Our country is in crisis, with a corrupt Presidential Administration determined to take away our freedoms, weaken our democracy, and unloose ICE to terrorize our communities. The people of Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax face an affordability crisis, with a tough job market, students struggling with student loans, high home prices, and runaway inflation caused by the Trump tariffs.
This is no time for complacency. This is no time to elect a Senator who “goes along to get along” with a Republican Administration more focused on graft than on public service. Virginia needs a Senator in a closely-divided 21-19 Senate who is unafraid to speak out on behalf of constituents and to defend them using every legal means possible. Virginia needs a Senator who does the hard work, reads the bills, gets into the nitty gritty. I promise to use my extensive training from serving as a lawyer on staff of a high-ranking member of the US Congress and six years leading progressive causes in the Virginia House of Delegates to get every detail right for you.
It is possible to substantially insulate blue states like Virginia from the chaos and authoritarianism of the federal government. I know. I served Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax during the entirety of the first Trump Administration.
In my six years serving as your delegate in the Virginia House, I didn’t just vote the right way. I led the way. Fighting both Republicans and Democrats, I forced through transparency rules which are the sole reason Virginians today can monitor every committee and subcommittee through live streaming in their living rooms to find out how their representatives voted and to participate personally in these hearings.
I passed dozens of important bills into law, leading the effort to protect survivors of domestic violence and victims of gun violence, as well as writing the most comprehensive pro-LGBT+ law in Virginia history. I wrote Virginia’s first law on police body cameras and introduced laws to shelter pets from abuse, to protect Virginians from surprise billing in health care, to ban guns in public places, to strengthen unions, to safeguard voting rights, to train teachers, and to weaken ICE in our communities. Two of Virginia’s three constitutional amendments had their genesis in the committee I chaired. The list goes on and on. (See list at markfordelegate.com)
I served on four committees and chaired two subcommittees. I was also known as the “Caucus Goalie,” stopping more bad bills on the unanimous docket than anyone else in the General Assembly, because my staff and I read every bill. I introduced 47 bills in the final unlimited session, the second-most of any delegate, with more than half those bills passing into law in just that session. I outworked everyone else in the General Assembly, often getting there as early as 6 am in the morning and working as late as 2 am at night.
And I was accountable to you. Every week, I reported in great detail every single thing I did at markfordelegate.com. I told you the truth: the good, the bad, and the ugly. And every month for six years, I met with every constituent who wanted to meet me at Mark’s Monthly Meetups, which continue to this day.
Now I need your help. This election isn’t about fundraising—it’s about turnout. The election could be held as soon as this Tuesday. Time is short. I’m asking for your vote and for you to tell friends and neighbors to vote for me: in person, by email, by text, and on social media.
To join the campaign or just be part of our mailing list, email me at Mark@LevineforVirginia.com.
Sometimes history is made in a matter of years. And sometimes it’s made in days. You and I can make history together and help turn Virginia into a bastion of safety against the authoritarian regime that seeks to undermine our constitutional republic.
Mark Levine
Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Announces Key Endorsements In Campaign for Senate District 39
Alexandria, VA – Today, Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker is proud to announce she has earned outgoing Senator Adam Ebbin’s and Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger’s endorsements in her campaign for Senate District 39.
Senator Ebbin, who has represented the district since 2012, said: “I’m proud to endorse Delegate Elizabeth Bennett Parker to succeed me in the Virginia Senate. I’ve worked alongside Elizabeth and have seen her fight for the values of our community. Using persistence, strategy, and diplomacy, she has passed complex, meaningful legislation to benefit Virginians – particularly vulnerable people. Where others might see problems, Elizabeth sees opportunities to right a wrong and improve the law. She is dedicated, hardworking and gets things done. Our Commonwealth will be stronger with Elizabeth Bennett Parker in the Virginia Senate.”
Governor-Elect Spanberger said: “I have been inspired by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker’s commitment to making a real impact on the lives of others since we first met nine years ago. We had both entered politics at the same time, wanting to stand up for our communities and work hard to serve our fellow Virginians. We have been proud to support each other in our campaigns, I am excited to endorse her for Senate District 39, and I look forward to working with her when she enters the Senate. Elizabeth is a dedicated and effective leader who listens and delivers.”
“Senator Adam Ebbin has been an exemplary legislator and leader for our community for over twenty years. His appointment by Governor-Elect Spanberger to her administration is a well-deserved recognition of his dedication to public service, and I congratulate him on this exciting next chapter,” said Delegate Bennett-Parker. “And I am excited to see the progress Governor-Elect Spanberger, who has been a leader and a public servant her entire career, will make with a Democratic trifecta in Richmond this year and beyond.”
Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker has served two terms in the House of Delegates; she currently represents the 5th District, which includes most of the City of Alexandria. In her first term, she represented parts of Arlington and Fairfax Counties, as well as Alexandria. She has been named a Legislative Champion by the Virginia Education Association, received a 100% score from the Virginia Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters, and earned an A+ from ReproRising (formerly NARAL Virginia). Previously, she served as Vice Mayor of Alexandria and served on several regional commissions.
She and her husband live in Alexandria with their toddler and rescue dog and cat.
For more information, please visit www.elizabethforva.com.
