Matthew James
Matthew James (Democratic Party) was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 80. James assumed office in 2010. James left office on May 20, 2019.
James (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates to represent District 80. James did not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 5, 2019.
James resigned from the chamber.[1]
Biography
James earned his B.A. in economics and mathematics from Hampton University and his M.B.A. from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He worked as the president and chief executive officer of Peninsula Council for Workforce Development and director of economic development for the City of Portsmouth.
Committee assignments
2016 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, James served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Appropriations |
| • Health, Welfare and Institutions |
2015 legislative session
In the 2015 legislative session, James served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • Appropriations |
| • Health, Welfare and Institutions |
2014 legislative session
In the 2014 legislative session, James served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2014 |
|---|
| • Commerce and Labor |
| • Finance |
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
2012-2013
In the 2012-2013 legislative session, James served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2012 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • General laws |
| • Finance |
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, James served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2010 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources |
| • General laws |
| • Militia, Police and Public Safety |
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
2019
See also: Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia House of Delegates District 80
Don Scott defeated Jim Evans and Ryan Collin Benton in the general election for Virginia House of Delegates District 80 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Don Scott (D) | 66.0 | 12,027 |
| Jim Evans (R) | 23.2 | 4,236 | ||
| Ryan Collin Benton (Independent) | 10.6 | 1,930 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 27 | ||
| Total votes: 18,220 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Matthew James (D)
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 Matthew James (D) ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 80 general election.[3]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 80 General Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Matthew James Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 20,292 | |
| Total Votes | 20,292 | |||
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections | ||||
Democratic primary election
Incumbent Matthew James ran unopposed in the Virginia House of Delegates District 80 Democratic primary.[4]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 80 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
| Matthew James Incumbent | ||
Republican primary election
No Republican candidate filed to run for this seat. [5]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 80 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 Matthew James was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8]
2013
James won re-election in the 2013 election for Virginia House of Delegates District 80. James ran unopposed in the June 11 Democratic Primary. He was unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 5, 2013.[9]
2011
On November 8, 2011, James won re-election to District 80 of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was uncontested in the August 23 primary and ran unopposed in the November 8 general election.[10]
2009
In 2009, James was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.[11]
| Virginia House of Delegates General Election, District 80 (2009) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Matthew James (D)
|
9,818 | |||
| Jennifer Lee (R) | 4,486 | |||
Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Matthew James did not complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
2017
As of August 2017, James' campaign website highlighted the following themes:[12]
| “ |
Economic Development: As the CEO of the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development Delegate James works tirelessly to bring quality jobs to Hampton Roads. He takes that experience to the House of Delegates where he is considered a leading voice on economic development. That is why the Virginia Chamber of Commerce has recognized him on several occasions. Delegate James has championed legislation to expand the Green Job Tax Credit, make it easier for small, women, and minority owned business to get loans, and help tourism projects benefit from tourism zones. Education: Delegate James is a strong supporter of Virginia teachers and children. He has worked across the aisle to reform the SOLs, so we have less tests and more critical thinking in our classrooms. He has also fought to bring Virginia teachers more in line with the national average for pay. However, there is still a lot more work to do. Transportation: Hampton Roads has some of the worst traffic in the country and it not only a problem for commuters, but it makes things dangerous in a disaster and hurts our ability at economic development. Delegate James was proud to support the 2013 transportation bill, which makes a big step toward funding critical projects needed in our community. He has also worked with the Governor to ensure lower tolls on the Midtown tunnel. We should not be funding our roads on the backs of the working poor. Minimum Wage: Virginia’s minimum wage is simply impossible to live on. It is well past time we raised the wage, so working families can afford to live. Raising the minimum wage will raise wages for everyone, so our economy works for all. Healthcare: Virginia must expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It is irresponsible that we are sending our tax dollars to other states for their Medicaid program when thousands of Virginians could be benefiting from health care coverage. [13] |
” |
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.
2019
In 2019, the Virginia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through February 24.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business-Virginia: 2018-2019 voting record
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on small business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Family Foundation of Virginia: 2018-2019 report card
- Legislators are scored by the Family Foundation on their votes on bills related to "principles of life, marriage, parental authority, constitutional government and religious liberty."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the climate and energy.
- 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 based on legislation related to business and industry issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental and conservation issues.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes toward various bills supported by the organization
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
James and his wife, Karen, have two children.
See also
2019 Elections
External links
- Official campaign website
- Imagine Election profile
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- VA Public Access Project profile
- Campaign contributions: 2009
Footnotes
- ↑ Daily Press, "Portsmouth Del. Matthew James steps down to take state economic development post," May 3, 2019
- ↑ 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
- ↑ delegatematthewjames.com, "Issues," accessed August 30, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Virginia House of Delegates District 80 2010-2019 |
Succeeded by Don Scott (D) |
