Ken Plum
Ken Plum (Democratic Party) was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 36. He assumed office in 1982. He left office on January 10, 2024.
Plum (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 36. He won in the general election on November 2, 2021.
Biography
Plum earned his B.A. at Old Dominion University in 1965 and his M.Ed. from the University of Virginia in 1967.
Plum was an administrator for Fairfax County Public Schools from 1967 to 1997, a teacher from 1967 to 1997, and the director of adult and community education from 1966 to 1996.
He has sat on the board of Celebrating Special Children, the Dulles Corridor Rail Association Board, and the Virginia Literacy Foundation.[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
Plum was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee
- Appropriations Committee
- Public Safety Committee
2020-2021
Plum was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee, Chair
- Appropriations Committee
- Communications, Technology and Innovation Committee
- Public Safety Committee
2019-2020
Plum was assigned to the following committees:
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee
- House Rules Committee
- Science and Technology Committee
- House Transportation Committee
2016 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Plum served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Rules |
| • Science and Technology |
| • Transportation |
2015 legislative session
In the 2015 legislative session, Plum served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Rules |
| • Science and Technology |
| • Transportation |
2014 legislative session
In the 2014 legislative session, Plum served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2014 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Rules |
| • Science and Technology |
2012-2013
In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Plum served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2012 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Rules |
| • Science and Technology |
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Plum served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2010 |
|---|
| • Rules |
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Science and Technology |
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.
Elections
2023
Ken Plum 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 36
Incumbent Ken Plum defeated Matthew Lang in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ken Plum (D) | 71.7 | 26,189 |
 | Matthew Lang (R)  | 28.1 | 10,287 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 69 | ||
| Total votes: 36,545 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 36
Incumbent Ken Plum defeated Mary Barthelson in the Democratic primary for Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on June 8, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Plum | 77.4 | 6,180 |
 | Mary Barthelson | 22.6 | 1,801 | |
| Total votes: 7,981 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican convention
The Republican convention was canceled. Matthew Lang advanced from the Republican convention for Virginia House of Delegates District 36.
Campaign finance
2019
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 36
Incumbent Ken Plum won election in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 36 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ken Plum (D) | 92.9 | 19,558 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 7.1 | 1,485 | ||
| Total votes: 21,043 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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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 Ken Plum (D) ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 36 general election.[3]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 36 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Ken Plum Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 24,149 | |
| Total Votes | 24,149 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
Democratic primary election
Incumbent Ken Plum ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 36 Democratic primary.[4]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 36 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Ken Plum Incumbent | ||
Republican primary election
No Republican candidate filed to run for this seat. [5]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 36 Republican Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
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] Incumbent Ken Plum was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8]
2013
Plum won re-election in the 2013 election for Virginia House of Delegates District 36. Plum ran unopposed in the June 11th Democratic Primary. He was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 5, 2013.[9]
2011
On November 8, 2011, Plum won re-election to District 36 of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was uncontested in the August 23 primary and defeated Hugh Cannon (R) in the November 8 general election.[10]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 36 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Ken Plum Incumbent |
64.1% | 9,522 | |
| Republican | Hugh Cannon | 35.9% | 5,327 | |
| Total Votes | 14,849 | |||
2009
In 2009, Plum was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. He defeated Mac Cannon in the General Election.[11]
| Virginia House of Delegates General Election, District 36 (2009) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Ken Plum (D)
|
12,893 | |||
| Mac Cannon (R) | 8,581 | |||
Campaign themes
2021
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ken Plum did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Ken Plum did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
2011
Plum’s website highlighted the following campaign themes:
- "Working for a stable economy and job growth."
- "Serving as a role model for civility in public life."
- "Protecting and enhancing funding for public schools"
- "Expanding transportation choices including rail in the Dulles Corridor."
- "Safeguarding our environment."
- "Keeping our community safe."
2007
Plum's answers to the Virginia State Legislative Election 2007 National Political Awareness Test are available. He listed his top priorities as:
- "Work to improve quality of the environment and use of renewable energy."
- "Expand mass transit"
- "Strengthen our public education programs, pre-K through college"[12]
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.
Endorsements
2017
In 2017, Plum’s endorsements included the following:
- NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia[13]
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
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
| 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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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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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 14 to February 28, 2015.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 10.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 to February 25.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Virginia General Assembly was in regular session from January 11 to March 10.
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See also
2021 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Virginia House of Delegates District 36 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "November 2011 General Election Official Results," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Virginia House of Delegates 2009 General Election Results," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Issue Positions," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ NARAL, "2017 Endorsed House Candidates," accessed August 31, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Virginia House of Delegates District 36 1982-2024 |
Succeeded by Ellen Campbell (R) |
