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John Bell (Virginia)
John Bell (Democratic Party) was a member of the Virginia State Senate, representing District 13. He assumed office on January 8, 2020. He left office on January 10, 2024.
Bell (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Virginia State Senate to represent District 13. He won in the general election on November 5, 2019.
Biography
Bell received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Regis University. He later received an M.B.A. and a master's degree in organizational development from George Washington University. He has worked in the finance industry. Bell served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years, retiring in 2007 as a major.[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
Bell was assigned to the following committees:
- Commerce and Labor Committee
- General Laws and Technology Committee
- Local Government Committee
- Senate Privileges and Elections Committee
2020-2021
Bell was assigned to the following committees:
- Commerce and Labor Committee
- General Laws and Technology Committee
- Local Government Committee
- Senate Privileges and Elections Committee
2019-2020
Bell was assigned to the following committees:
2016 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Bell served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • Counties, Cities and Towns |
| • Militia, Police and Public Safety |
Sponsored legislation
Elections
2023
- See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2023
John Bell did not file to run for re-election.
2019
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 13
John Bell defeated Geary Higgins in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 13 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Bell (D) | 54.3 | 44,762 |
 | Geary Higgins (R) | 45.6 | 37,645 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 95 | ||
| Total votes: 82,502 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jasmine Moawad-Barrientos (Independent)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 13
Geary Higgins defeated Ron Meyer Jr. in the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 13 on June 11, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Geary Higgins | 65.3 | 6,609 |
| Ron Meyer Jr. | 34.5 | 3,486 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 21 | ||
| Total votes: 10,116 | |||
| = 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
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] Incumbent John Bell (D) defeated Subba Kolla (R) in the Virginia House of Delegates District 87 general election.[3]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 87 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  John Bell Incumbent |
61.87% | 18,234 | |
| Republican | Subba Kolla | 38.13% | 11,236 | |
| Total Votes | 29,470 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
Races we watched
Ballotpedia identified 13 races to watch in the Virginia House of Delegates 2017 elections: four Democratic seats and nine Republican seats. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
This district was a Race to Watch because the incumbent won less than 55 percent of the vote in 2015. In 2015, John Bell (D) first won election to the seat. He received 49.9 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by 1.9 points. He had previously run in 2013 and was defeated by incumbent David Ramadan (R) by 1.0 points. District 87 was one of 51 Virginia House districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 87 by 25.6 points. Democrat Barack Obama won the seat in the 2012 presidential election by 13.8 points. As of 2017, District 87 covered parts of Loudoun County and parts of Prince William County.
Democratic primary election
Incumbent John Bell ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 87 Democratic primary.[4]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 87 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| John Bell Incumbent | ||
Republican primary election
Subba Kolla ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 87 Republican primary.[5]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 87 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Subba Kolla | ||
2015
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 9, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 26, 2015.[6] John Bell was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Chuong Nguyen was unopposed in the Republican primary. Brian Suojanen ran as a Libertarian candidate. Bell defeated Nguyen and Suojanen in the general election.[7][8]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 87 General Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John Bell |
49.9% | 8,203 | |
| Republican | Chuong Nguyen | 48% | 7,883 | |
| Total Votes | 16,429 | |||
2013
Bell ran in the 2013 election for Virginia House of Delegates District 87. Bell was unopposed in the June 11 Democratic primary. He was defeated by incumbent David Ramadan (R) in the general election on November 5, 2013.[9]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 87 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | David Ramadan Incumbent |
50.3% | 10,274 | |
| Democratic | John Bell | 49.3% | 10,087 | |
| Other | Write-in | 0.4% | 80 | |
| Total Votes | 20,441 | |||
Race snapshot
Incumbent David Ramadan (R) won this seat in 2011 by only 51 votes, and donors have poured money into both sides of the race during Ramadan's bid for a second-term in this district on the western fringes of the Washington, DC, urban area. Bell, an Air Force veteran who ran for the House of Delegates in 2009, was endorsed by Democracy for America and aimed to win in this district that President Barack Obama (D) won with 56 percent of the vote in 2012. However, Governor Bob McDonnell (R) carried this district with 59 percent of the vote in 2009, and although both candidates had raised substantial sums of money, Ramadan had a significant fundraising advantage as of early September. Bell was the first of the two candidates to run a television advertisement, which went on the air in mid-September.[10][11][12][13][14]
2009
Bell ran as the Democratic candidate for District 13 in 2009. He was defeated by incumbent Robert G. Marshall.[15]
| Virginia House of Delegates General Election, District 13 (2009) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Robert G. Marshall (R)
|
22,982 | |||
| John Bell (D) | 14,472 | |||
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Bell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Bell’s campaign website highlighted the following issues:[16]
| “ |
John thinks everyone should be able to see a doctor. John has always supported expanding access to healthcare. That way, more people can get the care they need, including veterans and families who are working two or three jobs. As the father of a son recovering from addiction, fighting the opioid epidemic is a personal priority for John. John knows there are thousands of people in our area without health insurance. These are our neighbors, our colleagues, and our friends. And John knows it's not right. He knows if more people get insurance, more people can get treatment and support. If more people see a doctor, they will spend less time in the emergency room or hospital. That will lower your premiums and save your family thousands of dollars. John has helped cut millions of dollars in waste from state government, which helps us focus on our priorities and values. John understands that women are not always treated fairly. John is determined to fight for a tougher equal pay for equal work law in Virginia. John was raised by a single mother and is the proud father of two daughters and two granddaughters. He knows women are still not treated equally and are often disrespected. As our Delegate, he will work to enforce current equal pay laws and strengthen these laws by making penalties tougher. John will always fight for what is right. John also believes women should be respected and able to make their own healthcare decisions. He voted against defunding Planned Parenthood and against closing health clinics. He has always and will always support a woman's right to choose and guaranteed access to birth control. John knows families are worried about their children's safety. As a veteran who has carried a gun in combat zones, John recognizes dangerous weapons aren't toys. That's why John had the conviction to fight against a bill making it easier to buy bazookas, hand grenades and flamethrowers. John strongly believes in responsible gun safety reforms and will never put your children in jeopardy by allowing guns on school campuses. John fully supports common sense gun laws like background checks on all gun purchases. Education is more than a talking point for John. With five children and three school-age grandchildren of his own, John knows firsthand how important it is for our children to get a quality education. He believes every child deserves access to good public schools, and will work to put resources in our classrooms where they can do the most good. John believes a good education at an early age is the foundation of a good future, and he won't stop until every school in our area has full-day kindergarten. John knows we send more tax dollars to Richmond than any other region, but our schools still don't have the funding they need to fully support our students. John will work to bring more of our money back to Northern Virginia so our children can experience the world-class education they deserve. John was the first person in his family to graduate from a four-year college. He served in the U.S. Air Force while attending college at night. It wasn't easy, but the GI Bill helped him achieve his dream in return for his service. This experience has inspired John to make it easier for more people to go to college. That's why he is working to find a state solution to the college debt crisis by forgiving some student loan debt in exchange for community service. Too many students are being crushed under the weight of student loans, and John is committed to finding workable solutions. John looks for ways to cut waste in order to focus on our priorities. John served in the Air Force for 26 years and became a budget-cutting expert, protecting our country and eliminating millions of dollars in waste to save taxpayers money. As Delegate, he will continue to cut government waste so we can focus on our priorities like schools and our quality of life. [17] |
” |
2013
Bell’s website highlighted the following campaign themes:[18]
- Budget
- Excerpt: "As an Air Force Finance Officer, John received commendations and awards for cutting waste and making things run more efficiently, including eliminating a two hundred million dollar budget deficit. As Delegate, John will use his expertise to streamline government, cut waste, and save taxpayer dollars so we can focus on what matters to Northern Virginia - strong schools that ensure our kids are prepared for the jobs of the future, a sustainable long-term transportation plan that gets Northern Virginia its fair share, and a strong economy that encourages job creation and growth."
- Transportation
- Excerpt: "Fixing our transportation issues will be one of John’s top priorities. John believes we need to come together to solve this issue and develop sustainable long-term transportation plan that gets Northern Virginia its fair share. He’ll work to make sure we get the most out of every dollar we spend by finding efficiencies and focusing on projects that make the most impact."
- Education
- Excerpt: "As the father of five children and a high school coach, John knows education is the key to future economic success and the success of our entire region. He'll work to make sure teachers are qualified and push for improved teacher training, especially in science and math, so our children are prepared to succeed in the 21st century."
- Jobs and the Economy
- Excerpt: "In order to protect and create jobs in Northern Virginia we need to continue to attract new businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators. That means having a state with a highly educated and skilled workforce as well as infrastructure to support the growing population and maintain a high quality of life. John will also fight to make sure that the Commonwealth is welcoming to people of all backgrounds so employers are excited about moving or starting their businesses here."
- Women's Health
- Excerpt: "John strongly believes that medical decisions, like the choice to use contraception, are personal and not something the politicians in Richmond should be involved in. John is strongly pro-choice."
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.
2023
In 2023, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 11 to February 25.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental and conservation issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the Second Amendment.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the manufacturing sector.
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 12 to March 12.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 13 to February 8.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 12. A special session was held from August 18 to November 9.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through February 24.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 10 through March 10. Special sessions were held from April 11 to May 30 and from August 30 to October 30.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 11 through February 25.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 13 through March 11.
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Endorsements
2017
In 2017, Bell’s endorsements included the following:[19]
2013
In 2013, Bell’s endorsements included the following:
- Democracy for America[21]
- Women's Strike Force[22]
- NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia[23]
- LGBT Democrats of Virginia PAC[24]
- The Sierra Club[25]
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia[26]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Bell and his wife, Margaret, have five children. They currently reside in South Riding, Virginia.[1]
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 About, Bell for Virginia," accessed May 17, 2013
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Candidacy Requirements for the November 7, 2017 General Election," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 November General Unofficial Results," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Democratic Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 June Republican Primary," accessed July 6, 2017
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 Primary election results," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 General election candidates," accessed September 1, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, “Official Results - 2013 General Election," accessed December 2, 2013
- ↑ Democracy for America, "Bell for Delegate," accessed October 3, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "A look at the 2013 Virginia House of Delegates Elections," April 11, 2013
- ↑ University of Virginia Center for Politics, Sabato's Crystal Ball, "Republicans Certain to Retain Control of Virginia House of Delegates," August 8, 2013
- ↑ Virginia Public Access Project, "House of Delegates District 87," accessed October 4, 2013
- ↑ The Loudoun Times, "Ramadan opponent, Bell, hits the airwaves," September 23, 2013
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "November 2009 General Election Official Results," accessed May 17, 2013
- ↑ johnbellfordelegate.com, "Values," accessed August 30, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ John Bell for Delegate, "On the Issues," accessed September 18, 2013(Dead link)
- ↑ johnbellfordelegate.com, "The Latest," accessed August 30, 2017
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Biden endorses Danica Roem, four other Va. Democrats in House races," October 17, 2017
- ↑ Bell for Delegate, "Endorsed by Democracy for America!" February 8, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ PR Web, "Women's Strike Force Announces First Fund Distribution to Virginia House of Delegates Candidates for November Race," August 9, 2013
- ↑ NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Blog, "Pro-Choice Candidate Profile: John Bell, District 87," September 17, 2013
- ↑ LGBT Democrats of Virginia PAC, "LGBT Democrats of Virginia PAC Endorse 30 for House of Delegates," accessed September 18, 2013
- ↑ The Sierra Club, "Sierra Club Endorsed Candidates for the House of Delegates," August 26, 2013
- ↑ Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, "Virginia Planned Parenthood Organizations Endorse John Bell for Delegate in the 87th House District," accessed September 18, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard Black (R) |
Virginia State Senate District 13 2020-2024 |
Succeeded by Lashrecse Aird (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Virginia House of Delegates District 87 2016-2020 |
Succeeded by Suhas Subramanyam (D) |
