Young Democrats City/County Caucus Local Democratic Committees Local Democratic Committees serve to promote the Democratic Party in their specific locality. Some committees may contain several localities. Local committees may endorse candidates for nonpartisan office (such as school board) and assist in campaigning for their candidate. Current elected officials Members of Congress U.S. Senate Democrats have controlled both of Virginia's seats in the U.S. Senate since 2008: U.S. House of Representatives Out of the 11 seats Virginia is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, five are held by Democrats: Legislative leadership President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia: Louise Lucas Senate Majority Leader: Dick Saslaw Senate Caucus Chair: Mamie Locke House Minority Leader: Don Scott House Caucus Chair: Charniele Herring List of chairs John S. Barbour Jr. (1883–1889) Basil B. Gordon (1889–1890) J. Taylor Ellyson (1890–1916) Rorer A. James (1916–1921) Henry D. Flood (1921) Harry F. Byrd (1922–1924) J. Murray Hooker (1925–1940) Horace H. Edwards (1940–1948) G. Alvin Massenburg (1948–1952) William M. Tuck (July 1952–August 1952) T. Nelson Parker (August 1952–December 1952) Thomas H. Blanton (1952–1964) Watkins Abbitt Sr. (1964–1970) William G. Thomas (1970–1972) Joseph T. Fitzpatrick (1972–1979) Richard J. Davis (1979–1980) Owen B. Pickett (1980–1982) Alan Diamonstein (1982–1985) Richard J. Davis (1985–1986) Lawrence H. Framme III (1986–1990) Paul Goldman (1990–1993) Mark Warner (1993–1995) Suzie Wrenn (1995–1998) Kenneth R. Plum (1998–2000) Emily Couric (Co-chair, 2000–2001) Lawrence H. Framme III (Co-chair, 2000–2001; 2001–2003) Kerry J. Donley (2003–2005) Richard Cranwell (2005–2010) Brian Moran (2010–2012) Charniele Herring (2012–2014) Dwight C. Jones (2014–March 27, 2015) Susan Swecker (March 27, 2015–present) Controversies 2019 Virginia political crisis In 2019, all three of Virginia's statewide executive office holders, all Democrats, were embroiled in various controversies. Governor Ralph Northam's medical school yearbook page had featured an individual in blackface and an individual in a Ku Klux Klan hood, Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax was accused of having sexually assaulted a professor in 2004, and Attorney General Mark Herring was revealed to have worn blackface at a college party. Most Democrats urged Northam to resign from the governorship, but he refused. Ultimately, none of the three accused resigned. Historical firsts African Americans First African American Governor of Virginia and Lieutenant Governor of Virginia: Douglas Wilder Arab Americans First Lebanese-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Hala Ayala First Palestinian-American member of the Virginia House of Delegates: Sam Rasoul Asian Americans First Korean-American member of the Virginia House of