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Debra Gardner

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Debra Gardner
Democratic Party
Virginia House of Delegates District 76
Tenure
2024 - Present
Term ends
2028
Years in position
2
Predecessor: Clinton Jenkins (D)
Compensation
Base salary
$17,640/year
Per diem
$237/day
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 4, 2025
Education
Bachelor's
North Carolina Central University
Graduate
Virginia Commonwealth University
Personal
Profession
Social worker
Contact
Official website
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Campaign X
Campaign Instagram
Campaign YouTube
Personal Facebook
Personal LinkedIn

Debra Gardner (Democratic Party) is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 76. She assumed office on January 10, 2024. Her current term ends on January 12, 2028.

Gardner (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 76. She won in the general election on November 4, 2025.

Biography

Debra Gardner lives in North Chesterfield, Virginia. Gardner earned a B.A. in sociology from North Carolina Central University and a Master's of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her professional experience includes working as a social worker. Gardner has been affiliated with the Commonwealth Domestic Violence Prevention Response and the Virginia Drug Treatment Court Advisory Committee.[1][2]

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

2025-2026

Gardner was assigned to the following committees:


Elections

2025

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2025

General election

General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 76

Incumbent Debra Gardner defeated John Thomas in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 76 on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Debra Gardner
Debra Gardner (D)
 
68.6
 
23,248
Image of John Thomas
John Thomas (R)
 
31.1
 
10,552
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3
 
102

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

Total votes: 33,902
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.

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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Debra Gardner advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 76.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. John Thomas advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 76.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gardner in this election.

2023

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2023

General election

General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 76

Debra Gardner defeated Duc Truong in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 76 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Debra Gardner
Debra Gardner (D) Candidate Connection
 
63.7
 
14,541
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Duc Truong (R)
 
35.8
 
8,185
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.5
 
110

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

Total votes: 22,836
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.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Debra Gardner advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 76.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Duc Truong advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 76.

Endorsements

2021

See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2021

General election

General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 27

Incumbent Roxann Robinson defeated Debra Gardner in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 27 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Roxann Robinson
Roxann Robinson (R)
 
51.7
 
19,047
Image of Debra Gardner
Debra Gardner (D)
 
48.1
 
17,714
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
79

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

Total votes: 36,840
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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Debra Gardner advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 27.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Roxann Robinson advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 27.

Campaign finance

Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Debra Gardner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.

2023

Candidate Connection

Debra Gardner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gardner's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am Debra Gardner, a mom, a former social worker and dedicated public servant with over thirty years of experience in public service, passionate about creating positive change for our communities.
  • Putting People First: I am committed to prioritizing the well-being and interests of the people I serve. I believe in a government that listens to its constituents and works tirelessly to address their needs.
  • Champion for Equity: My advocacy focuses on achieving equity in education, healthcare, and public safety. I am passionate about leveling the playing field for all Virginians, regardless of their background or circumstances.
  • Experience Matters: With a background in public administration and a deep understanding of government operations, I am prepared to navigate the complexities of policy-making and ensure that our communities receive the support they deserve.
I am personally passionate about issues related to public safety reform, gun violence prevention, education, and healthcare access.
The most important characteristics for an elected official include empathy, integrity, and a genuine desire to serve. Being a good listener and a strong advocate for constituents' needs are also essential.
My qualities, including strong leadership, empathy, and a proven track record of advocating for those in need, position me as a candidate who can make a meaningful impact.
The core responsibilities for someone elected to this office are representing the interests of their constituents, crafting and voting on legislation that benefits the community, and working collaboratively to solve pressing issues.
The legacy I aspire to leave is one of positive change and greater equity for all Virginians, particularly in areas of education, healthcare, and public safety.
The ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature should be one of collaboration and communication. Both branches play vital roles in shaping our state's future, and they must work together to achieve the best outcomes for the people they serve. An open dialogue and mutual respect are key to success.
Virginia faces several significant challenges in the coming decade, including improving our education system generally and specifically addressing years of underfunding for physical school infrastructure as well as classroom learning, addressing healthcare disparities, enhancing public safety, and effectively responding to environmental concerns, such as climate change. These issues require proactive and innovative solutions.
Yes, prior experience in government or politics can be beneficial for state legislators. It provides valuable insights into how the system works and helps legislators navigate complex issues more effectively. However, a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives is also essential in the legislature to ensure well-rounded policymaking.
Absolutely, building relationships with other legislators is crucial. These relationships foster collaboration, enable the exchange of ideas, and help overcome partisan divides. By working together, legislators can create more effective policies that benefit their constituents.
No.
Absolutely, compromise is essential for effective policymaking. In a diverse and democratic society like ours, it's crucial to find common ground and create solutions that benefit the majority while respecting the concerns of different stakeholders.
I am particularly interested in committees related to education, public safety, and healthcare. These areas align with my passion for improving the well-being and opportunities for all Virginians.

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.

2021

Debra Gardner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 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.

Debra Gardner campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2023Virginia House of Delegates District 76Won general$211,549 $119,567
2021Virginia House of Delegates District 27Lost general$1,542,214 $1,056,383
Grand total$1,753,763 $1,175,950
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, 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 scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Virginia General Assembly in 2025.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Virginia General Assembly in 2024.

See also

2025 Elections

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External links

Candidate

Virginia House of Delegates District 76
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    		•

    Officeholder

    Virginia House of Delegates District 76
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 9, 2023
    2. ↑ Debra Gardner 2023 campaign website, "Meet Debra," accessed January 8, 2024

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Clinton Jenkins (D)     		Virginia House of Delegates District 76
    2024-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -


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