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Aaron Rouse
2024 - Present
2028
1
Aaron Rouse (Democratic Party) is a member of the Virginia State Senate, representing District 22. He assumed office on January 10, 2024. His current term ends on January 12, 2028.
Rouse (Democratic Party) ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 17, 2025.
Biography
Aaron Rouse was born in and lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Rouse graduated from First Colonial High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. His career experience includes working as a professional athlete in the NFL, playing for the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Arizona Cardinals. After that, Rouse founded a nonprofit, Rouse's House. He was elected to the Virginia Council as an at-large member in 2018.[1]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Rouse was assigned to the following committees:
- General Laws and Technology Committee
- Local Government Committee
- Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee
- Senate Transportation Committee
Elections
2025
See also: Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2025
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Ghazala Hashmi, John Reid, and Marlow Jones are running in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Ghazala Hashmi (D)  | |
 | John Reid (R) | |
 | Marlow Jones (Independent) (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on June 17, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ghazala Hashmi | 27.5 | 136,717 |
 | Levar Stoney | 26.5 | 131,765 | |
 | Aaron Rouse | 26.2 | 130,485 | |
 | Babur Lateef | 8.5 | 42,099 | |
 | Alex Bastani | 5.7 | 28,476 | |
 | Victor Salgado | 5.6 | 27,593 | |
| Total votes: 497,135 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. John Reid advanced from the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Curran (R)
- Pat Herrity (R)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Rouse received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2023
Regular election
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2023
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 22
Incumbent Aaron Rouse defeated Kevin Adams in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 22 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Aaron Rouse (D) | 55.1 | 29,999 |
 | Kevin Adams (R) | 44.8 | 24,368 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 74 | ||
| Total votes: 54,441 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Aaron Rouse advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 22.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Kevin Adams advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 22.
Endorsements
Rouse received the following endorsements.
- Pres. Joe Biden (D)
- Vice Pres. Kamala D. Harris (D)
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia
Special election
See also: Virginia state legislative special elections, 2023
General election
Special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7
Incumbent Aaron Rouse defeated Kevin Adams in the special general election for Virginia State Senate District 7 on January 10, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Aaron Rouse (D) | 50.8 | 19,923 |
| Kevin Adams (R) | 49.1 | 19,227 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 34 | ||
| Total votes: 39,184 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Virginia Beach City Council At-large (2 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Virginia Beach City Council At-large on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Aaron Rouse (Nonpartisan) | 26.7 | 67,089 |
| ✔ |  | John Moss (Nonpartisan) | 22.6 | 56,868 |
 | Dee Oliver (Nonpartisan) | 22.5 | 56,543 | |
 | Allison White (Nonpartisan) | 13.6 | 34,225 | |
 | Linda Bright (Nonpartisan) | 9.0 | 22,549 | |
| Garry Hubbard (Nonpartisan) | 5.1 | 12,707 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 1,393 | ||
| Total votes: 251,374 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Aaron Rouse did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Rouse's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Lowering Costs for Virginia Families Virginians should be thriving, not just surviving. The middle class is struggling today, with an economy that is not working for hardworking people. Everything from housing and child care to groceries is getting more expensive, and Virginians need someone who understands their pain and who will have their back to help them thrive. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll prioritize building a more affordable economy with middle-class tax cuts. This includes a $10,000 first-time homebuyer grant, a $500 child tax credit, and repealing the last 1% of the grocery tax. In the Virginia Senate, I’ve already led efforts to expand the earned income tax credit, strengthen property tax relief programs for seniors, and raise the standard deduction—because Virginians deserve to get ahead, not just get by. I’ll also fight back against Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s tariffs and tax policies that hurt Virginia families. With a focus on affordability and fairness, I’ll work to ensure that the economy works for everyone and no one is left behind. Ensuring Access to Quality, Affordable Healthcare Every Virginian should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll work with Governor Abigail Spanberger to protect Medicaid and Medicare, stand up to big pharma and fight to lower prescription drug costs. I repeatedly hear about the financial struggles Virginians face, especially our seniors, as their prescription drug costs continue to rise, along with the challenge of accessing care close to home. In the General Assembly, I’ve already led efforts to pass a bipartisan bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs and protect local pharmacies—cornerstones of our community healthcare system—but Governor Youngkin vetoed it. Having seen firsthand the struggles families face when my grandmother battled breast cancer, I’m committed to making healthcare more affordable for every Virginian. Right now, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are attacking our healthcare system, from Medicare to Medicaid. I’ll stand up to them and work with Governor Spanberger to rein in drug prices and protect these essential programs for Virginians. Protecting Virginia’s Federal Workforce Virginia is home to hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors. They’re hardworking people who keep our Commonwealth moving. As Lieutenant Governor, I will stand up for these Virginians, ensuring they are protected from harm during times of crisis. As a Senator, I got a new law signed to strengthen protections for furloughed federal workers and contractors during a government shutdown, shielding them from eviction and foreclosure, so they aren’t left out on the streets because of reckless actions by Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Right now, we need leaders who will fight for Virginians, and that’s exactly what I will do. Under President Trump’s reckless tariff scheme and indiscriminate cuts, Virginians are losing their jobs while facing higher costs for basic necessities. I’m proud to have voted for budgets that have built $4 billion into our rainy day fund, allowing us to protect against devastating cuts in the near term. As Lieutenant Governor, I will prioritize getting Virginians back to work, leveraging existing career training programs to reskill workers for good jobs. We must instruct every state agency to closely monitor federal actions and develop contingency plans to ensure all Virginians can access the critical health, mental health, disability, or veterans services they need. Building Stronger Communities Through Affordable Housing Every Virginian deserves access to a safe, affordable place to call home, one that puts them on a path to success. As Lieutenant Governor, I will ensure that every Virginian has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing because I believe housing is more than just a roof over your head. It’s about dignity, opportunity, and building stronger families and communities. I saw firsthand how where I lived impacted my opportunity. Thankfully, I had a mom who was determined to make sure I could succeed. In the Virginia Senate, I fought to make housing more fair, stable, and affordable for everyone. I worked to give renters more time to catch up on missed payments before facing eviction, pushed to prevent people from being denied housing due to a past eviction case that was dismissed or withdrawn, and strengthened property tax relief programs for seniors and individuals with disabilities to help them stay in their homes. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll expand down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, fight to protect renters by holding bad landlords accountable, and expand programs to help families afford rent and stay in their homes. I’ll work with local governments to increase the supply of workforce housing, support development that fits each community, and encourage businesses to offer housing benefits like down payment help or rent support so that workers can live near their jobs and businesses can thrive. Reproductive Freedom I believe in protecting reproductive freedom in Virginia, ensuring every individual has the right to make their own healthcare decisions without government interference. As Lieutenant Governor, I will fight relentlessly to pass a constitutional amendment that enshrines reproductive freedom in Virginia’s Constitution and protects abortion access. In the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, I stepped up to challenge Governor Youngkin’s hand-picked candidate for State Senate, flipping a red seat to blue and becoming the deciding vote to protect reproductive freedom in Virginia. This past session, I voted for the Right to Contraception Act, a critical safeguard for Virginians’ access to birth control, and my committee passed a resolution that brings us one step closer to a voter referendum on this issue. I’m ready to keep standing firm for Virginia women, families, and personal freedoms. Keeping our Communities Safe Every life lost to gun violence is a tragedy, and every day we fail to act, more lives are at risk. As Lieutenant Governor, I will fight to protect Virginians from this ongoing crisis. Having witnessed the devastating effects of gun violence personally, losing multiple friends and experiencing tragedies like the Virginia Tech mass shooting in 2007 and the Virginia Beach mass shooting in 2019, I am deeply committed to finding solutions. In the Senate, I worked alongside my colleagues to pass common-sense gun safety legislation, from promoting responsible firearm storage to ensuring individuals with criminal records cannot access firearms. Unfortunately, Governor Youngkin vetoed these life-saving measures, but as Lieutenant Governor, I will continue pushing for critical legislation like firearm storage laws and advocate for the creation of a statewide Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention Center to implement data-driven, community-based solutions. With firearm violence now the leading cause of death for children and teens in Virginia, surpassing even motor vehicle deaths and other leading causes, this is a crisis we cannot ignore. I will fight for safer communities and work tirelessly to protect Virginians from the pain and heartbreak of gun violence. |
” |
| —Aaron Rouse’s campaign website (2025)[3] | ||
2023
Regular election
Aaron Rouse did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
Special election
Aaron Rouse did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Virginia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 10 to March 9. Special sessions occurred May 13, 2024; June 18 to July 1; and July 18, 2024.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 11 to February 25.
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See also
2025 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Lieutenant Governor of Virginia |
Officeholder Virginia State Senate District 22 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Aaron Rouse 2023 campaign website, "Meet Aaron Rouse," accessed February 12, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Aaron Rouse’s campaign website, “Vision for Virginia,” accessed May 5, 2025
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mark Peake (R) |
Virginia State Senate District 22 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Jennifer Kiggans (R) |
Virginia State Senate District 7 2023-2024 |
Succeeded by Bill Stanley (R) |
| Preceded by Ben Davenport |
Virginia Beach City Council At-large 2019-2022 |
Succeeded by - |
