Stephen Newman

Stephen Dwayne Newman (born October 15, 1964) is an American politician of the Republican Party. He has served in the Virginia General Assembly since 1991, first in the House (1991-1996) and then to the Senate of Virginia (1996-present). In 2016, Newman became president pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia. However, in the 2019 Virginia Senate election, although Newman won re-election from his district, Democrats won the majority. On January 8, 2020, Louise Lucas, a senior Democratic senator succeeded Newman as president pro tempore.

Stephen Newman
President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate
In office
January 13, 2016 – January 8, 2020
Preceded byWalter Stosch
Succeeded byLouise Lucas
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 23rd district
Assumed office
January 10, 1996
Preceded byElliot Schewel
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 23rd district
In office
January 8, 1992 – January 10, 1996
Preceded byEdward Harris
Succeeded byPreston Bryant
Personal details
Born
Stephen Dwayne Newman

(1964-10-15) October 15, 1964
Stuart, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Kim
Children2
EducationCentral Virginia Community College
Lynchburg College
CommitteesCommerce and Labor
Education and Health
Finance and Appropriations
Transportation
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and education

Newman was born on October 15, 1964,[1] in Stuart, Virginia.[2] His family later moved to Rustburg, Virginia, where he attended Liberty Christian Academy.[2] Newman then attended Central Virginia Community College and Lynchburg College.[1]

Career

Newman spent four years as a member of the Lynchburg City Council before being elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.[2] He was a member of the House of Delegates from 1992 to 1996, and was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1995. He represents Senate District 23, which includes all of Botetourt and Craig counties and parts of Campbell County, Bedford County, Roanoke County, and Lynchburg City.[1] His district is a safe Republican seat.[2]

Newman is chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health.[1][2] Over his decades in the state legislature, Newman gained a reputation as a staunch conservative and a member with a talent for consensus-seeking and negotiation.[2] In 2006, he was a sponsor of the Marshall-Newman Amendment, which banned same-sex marriage in Virginia.[2][3] He opposed Medicaid expansion in Virginia.[4] He opposed 2014 legislation to decriminalize marijuana in Virginia.[5]

In January 2016, Newman was elected president pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia.[2][6] The main duty of the pro tem is to preside over the state Senate when the lieutenant governor of Virginia (who is the president of the Senate) is unable to do so.

Notes
  1. Stephen D. Newman, Senate of Virginia.
  2. Alex Rohr, Steve Newman's quiet rise to legislative leadership, News & Advance (March 12, 2016).
  3. Ray Reed, [Local delegation dislikes AG's same-sex marriage decision], News & Advance (January 24, 2014).
  4. Alicia Petska, Lynchburg legislators remain critical of Medicaid expansion, News & Advance (July 10, 2014).
  5. Alicia Petska, Lynchburg area legislators oppose bill to decriminalize marijuana, News & Advance (December 14, 2014).
  6. Alex Rohr, Newman named Va. Senate president pro tem, News & Advance (January 13, 2016).
  • Official campaign website
  • "Stephen D. Newman". Virginia Public Access Project.
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
Senate of Virginia
Preceded by
Walter Stosch		 President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate
2016–2020		 Succeeded by
Louise Lucas
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