Dawn Adams (Virginia)

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Dawn Adams
Image of Dawn Adams

Democratic Party

Prior offices
Virginia House of Delegates District 68
Successor: Keith Hodges

Education

Bachelor's

James Madison University

Graduate

University of Virginia

Ph.D

Old Dominion University

Personal
Profession
Nurse, Professor
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

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Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

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Dawn Adams (Democratic Party) was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 68. She assumed office in 2018. She left office on January 10, 2024.

Adams (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 68. She won in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Biography

Adams received her bachelor's degree in nursing from James Madison University, her master's degree in nursing from the University of Virginia, and her Ph.D. in nursing from Old Dominion University. Her professional experience includes working as a registered nurse, a nurse practitioner, and an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University. She has served as director of the office of integrated health at the Virginia Department for Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.[1]

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

Adams was assigned to the following committees:

2020-2021

Adams was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Adams was assigned to the following committees:


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.


Elections

2023

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2023

Dawn Adams did not file to run for re-election.

2021

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021

General election

General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 68

Incumbent Dawn Adams defeated Mark Earley Jr. in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 68 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dawn Adams
Dawn Adams (D)
 
53.1
 
24,624
Image of Mark Earley Jr.
Mark Earley Jr. (R)
 
46.8
 
21,693
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
54

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 46,371
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 68

Incumbent Dawn Adams defeated Kyle Elliott in the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 68 on June 8, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dawn Adams
Dawn Adams
 
61.9
 
5,756
Image of Kyle Elliott
Kyle Elliott Candidate Connection
 
38.1
 
3,536

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 9,292
Candidate Connection = 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 68

Mark Earley Jr. defeated Mike Dickinson in the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 68 on June 8, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Mark Earley Jr.
Mark Earley Jr.
 
91.5
 
2,056
Image of Mike Dickinson
Mike Dickinson
 
8.5
 
192

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,248
Candidate Connection = 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 finance

2019

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019

General election

General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 68

Incumbent Dawn Adams defeated Garrison Coward in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 68 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Dawn Adams
Dawn Adams (D) Candidate Connection
 
54.6
 
20,897
Image of Garrison Coward
Garrison Coward (R)
 
45.3
 
17,329
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
49

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 38,275
Candidate Connection = 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 68

Garrison Coward defeated Lori Losi in the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 68 on June 11, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Garrison Coward
Garrison Coward
 
74.0
 
2,415
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Lori Losi
 
25.9
 
847
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
2

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 3,264
Candidate Connection = 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.

2017

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2017

General election

Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2017. All 100 house seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 13, 2017. The filing deadline for primary election candidates was March 30, 2017. The filing deadline for non-party candidates and candidates nominated by methods other than a primary was June 13, 2017.[2] Dawn Adams (D) defeated incumbent Manoli Loupassi (R) in the Virginia House of Delegates District 68 general election.[3]

Virginia House of Delegates, District 68 General Election, 2017
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Dawn Adams 50.44% 19,772
     Republican Manoli Loupassi Incumbent 49.56% 19,427
Total Votes 39,199
Source: Virginia Department of Elections

Democratic primary election

Dawn Adams defeated Mary Jo Sheeley and Ben Pearson-Nelson in the Virginia House of Delegates District 68 Democratic primary.[4]

Virginia House of Delegates, District 68 Democratic Primary, 2017
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Dawn Adams 47.30% 4,556
Mary Jo Sheeley 36.20% 3,487
Ben Pearson-Nelson 16.51% 1,590
Total Votes 9,633

Republican primary election

Incumbent Manoli Loupassi ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 68 Republican primary.[5]

Ballotpedia will publish vote totals here after they become available.
Virginia House of Delegates, District 68 Republican Primary, 2017
Candidate
Green check mark transparent.png Manoli Loupassi Incumbent

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Dawn Adams did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

2019

Candidate Connection

Dawn Adams completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Adams' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

1. Healthcare access- especially as it relates to the lack of infrastructure to support our aging community and the crisis in epidemic rates of dementia.

2. Environmental solutions that preserve and protect clean air, water and land; the threat to our coastal communities; and the increasing number of heat zones

3. Education- both K-12 and post secondary education options that yield opportunities for employment and student debt reform
I am personally passionate about the three areas I have listed as priorities. Each of these are in need of immediate attention through innovation, policy reform, and finding paths to affordable solutions.
I look up to everyday people who work hard and value integrity, honesty, loyalty and commitment.
There is no one book or film. I read constantly and the list is broad; I watch informative documentaries and socially popular films of all kinds except for horror, or those that are super violent, or graphic. I enjoy assimilating the knowledge gleaned from all of these media forms.
Despite media's disinterest in highlighting, I value integrity, trustworthiness and authenticity. I think there are many people in politics who are in it for the right reasons. I am not perfect, but I work extremely hard and when I make a mistake I learn from it. Its not popular today to own one mistakes, but its the right thing to do. I wish that we weren't so hard on one another. Most people are doing their best.
I am a relentless worker. Despite obstacles, setbacks or disappointments I will stand back up. I believe building relationships is critical to all success and I value peoples thoughts and input; I build relationships across the aisle, and even when I disagree with the person in front of me, I do my best to make them feel heard. I believe people want elected officials who listen, are smart, are strong problem solvers and are tireless in their representation; I believe I have represented my district with these qualities.
The core responsibilities are to represent the interests and wishes of the collective district constituency, and to make responsible policies that ensure the impact on the global Commonwealth is fair and representative while preserving fiscal solvency.
I would like to be a part of making good policy that helps improve the quality of life for all individuals across the Commonwealth.
I remember the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam war coverage. There were only three channels and the "breaking news" stories always scared me and indicated something bad was happening. That was back in the days though when "breaking news" was more rare.
My very first job was as a babysitter at 10 and I did that until I was able to get a "real job" at 15. I worked in a movie theater in northern Virginia until I became a life guard. Since I went to college at 17, I was not employed in these jobs very long.
Thanksgiving; it is a day to be grateful without presents and commercialization.
My family- because everything else is replaceable.
I believe it is extremely beneficial to have a background in public service- be that in healthcare, government, law, education, fire and police- to name a few. Bureaucracy, as much as we all hate it serves an important purpose. It is extremely important that one understands people in a personal and helping capacity; it affords one the ability to look as issues from many sides and the possibilities for unintended consequences. I think it is also important to understand and appreciate the importance of budgeting and I think you can understand that well only if you have had to manage one- so that is also super helpful.
Preserving our coastal communities and the quality of air, land and water. Addressing the lack of infrastructure to support the long-term health demands of o Commonwealth, and addressing the economic disparities in everything from education to criminal justice.
The ideal relationship would be have true separate but equal powers.
Building relationships with other legislators is critical to accomplishing anything in the General Assembly.
I favor an independent redistricting commission; Virginia's compromise is an adequate first step
As a minority party member and freshman, I was assigned to my committee and have no input in them. Despite my extensive background in Healthcare and Education, I was placed in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, and Militia, Police, and Public Safety- so I bring a health lens to these committees. Agriculture by far is the most fun.
I was recently made assistant to the policy chair for the caucus- this is the first time they have offered this role to its members.
No
I am interested in representing my district and if I can be more helpful in another role I would consider it. I enjoy being a Virginia Delegate.
Yes, but I think these are shared in confidence.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2017

Ballotpedia candidate survey

Adams participated in a survey created by Ballotpedia. The survey was designed to let our readers know more about the candidates and feel confident that they are voting for the best person to represent them. The survey questions appear bolded, and Adams' responses follow below.

Who are your constituents?
“ My potential constituents are individuals and families living in parts of Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield. They are hard working, ambitious, and compassionate. They wish to have a stronger public education system and are concerned about whether or not they're going to be able to afford to send their kids to college or a trade school. Citizens of the 68th District care about access to quality affordable healthcare for everyone and protecting our environment. We are one of the parts of Virginia where the James River runs right through our beautiful community. As of late, many of the people living in my district have become disillusioned with the state of national and state politics in Virginia. They are becoming increasingly aware of the rampant gerrymandering and the fact that Virginia is like the Wild West of campaign finance. The people in my district are looking to take back the power and influence from the special interests that line the pockets of legislators in both parties and have their voices heard with an equal seat at the table.[6] ”
—Dr. Dawn M. Adams
What is the primary job of a state legislator in your view?
“ The primary job of a state legislature in our representative democracy is to serve as a surrogate in the General Assembly for the constituents of their district. They should vote the interests of their community, not based on their own personal ideology, and should have the courage to buck the party line if it is in the greater interest of families in the neighborhoods they represent. As delegate, I intend to be transparent in my votes and policy position and intend to inform those policy positions by having active conversations with citizens and stakeholders in my district. I believe that the best legislators are collaborators and are actually able to shape their legislative priorities and their policy stances based on the concerns and needs of their constituents.[6] ”
—Dr. Dawn M. Adams
How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?
“ As a nurse practitioner, I understand the significance and necessity of building strong relationships in providing health care, living in community, and working within government. One of my top priorities will be to build collaborative relationships with all members irrespective of party affiliation. Since I announced my candidacy in February, I've taken every opportunity to speak with individual citizens, local advocacy groups, and non-partisan organizations to not only learn which issues matter most to them, but listen to what they see as the most effective course of action to address those priorities. I make it a point in these conversations to speak as little as possible unless asked a direct question so that I can truly listen to their concerns without interjection. This strategy has helped me truly tap into the sentiments of voters in my district and I would make it a priority to continue this strategy when I represent the families of the 68th.[6] ”
—Dr. Dawn M. Adams
What is your general philosophy when it comes to economics, jobs, and growth? Do you have any more specific ideas related to these concepts?
“ I believe the Commonwealth is ripe with opportunity for growth in jobs and associated pay. My general philosophy concerning economics, jobs, and growth is that the best way to strengthen the economy, create jobs, and create growth is through investing in our system of public education. Many school districts in Virginia, including all three represented in the 68th District, have per-capita spending levels in 2017 that are still not as high as they were before the Great Recession. We have school buildings in disrepair, teachers with salaries far below their colleagues in neighboring states, and a majority in the General Assembly seeking to pull funds out of our public school in favor of vouchers. By investing in education and proving to students that we value their academic success, we can move towards securing a strong, 21st century economy. I'd also like to see more investment in apprenticeship programs and re-training initiatives to help workers in dying industries learn the skills they need to compete in the modern workforce. Finally, we need to make it easy for entrepreneurs to start small businesses in the 68th and ensure that regulations intended to protect consumers from the negative externalities that can be produced by larger corporations.[6] ”
—Dr. Dawn M. Adams
Candidate website

Adams' campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“

Increase Access to Affordable Healthcare
After a 30-year career as a healthcare provider and educator in Virginia, Dawn understands the importance of investing in healthcare access. Just this year, Virginia’s General Assembly decided, once again, to limit Medicaid expansion and deny over 400,000 Virginians access to healthcare—1,600 of which are residents of the 68th District. In contrast, if Virginia legislators voted to expand Medicaid, our community would be stimulated with $6.8M dollars each day to cover the cost of providing Virginians with adequate healthcare. Medicaid expansion would also generate more than 30,000 jobs in our community. It is fiscally irresponsible and morally reprehensible for our elected representatives to side step public policy that concerns our health and harms our community. As your delegate, Dawn will work to expand Medicaid access for all Virginians who are in desperate need. Dawn will champion women’s reproductive health and support funding for critical medical resources such as Planned Parenthood. Together, we can build a healthier community.

Improve Education
The American dream is built on helping the next generation do better – access to quality education leads to stronger job opportunities. Dawn worked to achieve that dream with the help of her family, hard work and the Virginia public school and university system. Dawn wants to ensure that the opportunity to succeed is available to every Virginian and this can only be made possible with fully funded public schools, trade schools and universities. Students who graduate with crippling student debt cannot buy homes or pursue their dreams of opening a new business. Teacher pay in Virginia lags behind the national average, preventing our schools from recruiting the best teachers. Our schools are overcrowded, underfunded and working with outdated technology. Our students and communities deserve better, and our future requires better. Dawn will work to fund schools, pay teachers fairly, and reduce the debt of students attending Virginia’s public universities and trade schools.

Support Working Virginians
America is at a crossroads and faces a tough choice – develop specialized skills or accept low wages. Attracting high paying jobs to our community now and in the future requires a workforce that has the skills to meet employers’ needs. By creating healthy communities, funding our public school system, and ensuring our graduates aren’t strangled by debt, we can assure that our community continues to thrive. Those who have seen their jobs move or disappear face a similar, difficult choice. Unemployment and skills retraining benefits have fallen short. Dawn will strive to fund job retraining, expand employment opportunities, attract new business to our community, and ensure Virginians are paid a fair wage for their work.

Expand Civil Liberties for All Virginians
In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the protections of marriage apply equally to all, but now those protections are under attack and must be defended. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Dawn will work for a Virginia government that protects the rights of its citizens, instead of rolling them back. She will support anti-discrimination legislation for all marginalized communities across the Commonwealth. Dawn promises to reach out to communities who are often excluded from decision-making and involve those who are often not heard. By including all members of our community, we can elicit positive change that represents all of us equally.

Protect the Environment
Repeatedly we have seen the current administration cast science aside in favor of harmful environmental practices that are guaranteed to harm our planet. By investing in and encouraging clean energy practices instead of relying on outdated and harmful fossil fuels, Virginia will see an increase in job opportunities and a decrease in chronic health conditions such as asthma and allergies. In office, Dawn will push for comprehensive city infrastructure, a clean James River, and renewable energy resources to protect our planet. Dawn understands that healthy communities start with the environment around them.[6]

”
—Dawn Adams, [7]

Endorsements

2017

In 2017, Adams' endorsements included the following:

  • NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia[8]

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Virginia

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

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.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes "on a variety of bills impacting equity, safety, access, and overall well being for LGBTQ+ Virginians."
Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental and conservation issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the Second Amendment.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the manufacturing sector.


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018




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External links

Candidate

Virginia House of Delegates District 68
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    		•

    Personal

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Vote Dawn M. Adams, "About Dawn," accessed May 15, 2017
    2. ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Candidacy Requirements for the November 7, 2017 General Election," accessed March 21, 2017
    3. ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 November General Unofficial Results," accessed November 7, 2017
    4. ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Democratic Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
    5. ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Republican Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    7. ↑ Vote Dawn M. Adams, "Issues," accessed May 15, 2017
    8. ↑ NARAL, "2017 Endorsed House Candidates," accessed August 31, 2017

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    -     		Virginia House of Delegates District 68
    2018-2024    		 Succeeded by
    Keith Hodges (R)


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