Scott Surovell
2024 - Present
2028
0
Scott Surovell (Democratic Party) is a member of the Virginia State Senate, representing District 34. He assumed office on January 10, 2024. His current term ends on January 12, 2028.
Surovell (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Virginia State Senate to represent District 34. He won in the general election on November 7, 2023.
Surovell previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 44 from 2010 to 2016.
Surovell began serving as state Senate majority leader in 2024.
Biography
Surovell has a B.A. in political science from James Madison University and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is a co-founding partner in the law firm of Surovell Markle Isaacs and Levy PLC.[1]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Surovell was assigned to the following committees:
- Judiciary Committee
- Senate Privileges and Elections Committee
- Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee
- Senate Transportation Committee
2020-2021
Surovell was assigned to the following committees:
- Commerce and Labor Committee
- Judiciary Committee
- Senate Privileges and Elections Committee
- Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee
- Senate Transportation Committee
2019-2020
Surovell was assigned to the following committees:
- General Laws and Technology Committee
- Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee
- Local Government Committee
2016 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, Surovell served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2016 |
|---|
| • General Laws and Technology |
| • Local Government |
| • Rehabilitation and Social Services |
2015 legislative session
In the 2015 legislative session, Surovell served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Counties, Cities and Towns |
| • Militia, Police and Public Safety |
| • Science and Technology |
2014 legislative session
In the 2014 legislative session, Surovell served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2014 |
|---|
| • Counties, Cities and Towns |
| • Militia, Police and Public Safety |
| • Science and Technology |
2012-2013
In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Surovell served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2012 |
|---|
| • Counties, Cities and Towns |
| • Militia, Police and Public Safety |
| • Science and Technology |
2010-2011
In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Surovell served on the following committees:
| Virginia committee assignments, 2010 |
|---|
| • Science and Technology |
| • Counties, Cities and Towns |
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
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2023
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 34
Incumbent Scott Surovell defeated Mark Springman in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 34 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Scott Surovell (D) | 69.8 | 38,140 |
 | Mark Springman (R) | 30.0 | 16,389 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 149 | ||
| Total votes: 54,678 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Scott Surovell advanced from the Democratic primary for Virginia State Senate District 34.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Mark Springman advanced from the Republican primary for Virginia State Senate District 34.
Endorsements
2019
See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2019
General election
General election for Virginia State Senate District 36
Incumbent Scott Surovell won election in the general election for Virginia State Senate District 36 on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Scott Surovell (D) | 95.9 | 37,518 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.1 | 1,623 | ||
| Total votes: 39,141 | |||
| = 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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2015
- See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2015
Elections for the Virginia State Senate 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.[2] Scott Surovell was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Gerald Foreman was unopposed in the Republican primary. Surovell defeated Foreman in the general election.[3]
| Virginia State Senate, District 36 General Election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Scott Surovell Incumbent |
60.6% | 18,320 | |
| Republican | Gerald Foreman | 39.4% | 11,890 | |
| Total Votes | 30,210 | |||
2013
Surovell won re-election in the 2013 election for Virginia House of Delegates District 44. Surovell ran unopposed in the June 11th Democratic Primary. He defeated Joseph A. Glean (I) in the general election on November 5, 2013.[4]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 44 General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Scott Surovell Incumbent |
71% | 13,438 | |
| Independent | Joseph A. Glean | 28.1% | 5,321 | |
| Other | Write-in | 0.9% | 162 | |
| Total Votes | 18,921 | |||
2011
On November 8, 2011, Surovell won re-election to District 44 of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was uncontested in the August 23 primary and defeated John Barsa (R) and Joseph Glean (I) in the November 8 general election.[5]
| Virginia House of Delegates, District 44 General Election, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Scott Surovell Incumbent |
59.4% | 8,738 | |
| Republican | John Barsa | 39.1% | 5,742 | |
| Independent | Joseph A. Glean | 1.5% | 223 | |
| Total Votes | 14,703 | |||
2009
In 2009, Surovell lost his bid for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates.[6]
Campaign themes
2023
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Scott Surovell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Scott Surovell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Surovell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
Virginia's education funding has fallen to the bottom quartile in the country while our median family income is in the top ten. This needs to be increased so we can raise teacher salaries, construct better school facilities, provide one-to-one computers for students, and lower tuition in higher education. Second, the Commonwealth needs to lay the groundwork for major investments in transit. Road widening is becoming prohibitively expensive with increased property values, is inefficient, and not carbon-friendly. Third, Virginia needs to have a real carbon reduction plan.
I have been a leader on ending predatory lending, environmental protection, and criminal justice reform since I was elected ten years ago. These are ongoing long-term problems that we are close to making headway to resolve and especially impactful in the 36th District which borders the Potomac River and contains large numbers of families struggling to live the American Dream.
My predecessor State Senator Toddy Puller was one of the first women elected in Northern Virginia and laid the groundwork for much of the work we are doing today in the U.S. 1 Corridor. My predecessor in the House of Delegates Kris Amundson knows more about secondary education policy than any leader I've ever met.
The Political Brain by Drew Westen - I think many elected officials have lost the ability to communicate effectively with constituents to achieve policy priorities.
That you are true to yourself and your district.
I do my homework, value my relationships with my colleagues and try to be as transparent as possible with my constituents.
Fighting to ensure your district's priorities are valued, respected and recognized by the Commonwealth while ensuring that the entire Commonwealth receives a fair shake as well.
That I fought hard for my constituents and got a few things done.
I destroyed legal files in a basement at my father's law firm when I was 13 and waited tables at Bob's Big Boy when I was 15.
I have two jobs and four kids. I don't really do holidays.
The best book I read lately was The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker. It talks about how human society has become less violent over time. I'd have think a while about my favorite book. I don't have as much time to read as I used to.
I haven't really read fiction since I was forced to in college.
My yard. Because I can decompress out there.
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Not saying "no" enough.
The Senate is a smaller, more collaborative, and less partisan body. Standing for election once every four years causes the Senate to be more deliberative and focused on the long-term.
Reforming our tax system that was designed for a 1920's economy, funding transportation infrastructure to facilitate continued economic growth, our chronic underfunding of education, and coming up with realistic carbon reduction strategies.
We are equal branches of the Government. The Governor is uniquely capable of taking the lead to force discussion on big issues.
It's absolutely essential. The longer you serve, the (hopefully) more credibility you have with your colleagues and that helps to get the votes to get things done.
Nonpartisan redistricting.
I am the Senate Democratic Caucus Whip.
I'm happy where I am.
Last month, I was knocking doors in Harmony Place Trailer Park on U.S. 1 gathering signatures for to support a pedestrian underpass and I ran into a high school student living in a 150 SF two trailer. He told me the laptop he was given by the school had made a big difference in his education. I've been fighting for one-to-one computers in Fairfax County Public Schools for nearly 10 years and I was heartened to hear someone tell me what a difference it had made to him.
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.
2013
Surovell’s website highlighted the following campaign themes:[7]
- My Vision For Improving U.S. 1
Excerpt: "In the long term, the Yellow Line should be extended ten miles from Huntington, under Beacon Hill, through Hybla Valley, Woodlawn, and Fort Belvoir and should end in Lorton. Preferably below ground. This is less than one-half the distance of the new twenty-three-mile Silver Line. I believe bus rapid transit in dedicated bus lanes can provide mid-term relief until funding for a Metro Extension is in place."
- Preserving Virginian's Right to Hunt & Fish
Excerpt: "Keeping our rivers, streams, and lakes clean allows Virginians to enjoy the same activities that I did as a child. Preserving open space is critical to ensuring opportunities to hunt. However, as with all things, there is a time and place for everything, and while the vast majority of gun owners use them responsibly, there are a small number of people who do not. I believe in the right to bear arms to hunt and protect one’s family, but I do not believe that felons, terrorists, or troubled teenagers have a right bear arms that threaten our children."
- Control Spending Through Innovation
Excerpt: "The government is the steward of taxpayers’ money. All too often, government at every level does not innovate or manage its programs in a cost-conscious way that minimizes taxpayer burdens."
- Invest in Criminal Justice Enforcement
Excerpt: "While it is easy to say that one is going to be tough on crime and propose new laws criminalizing new behaviors, convicting criminals requires the Commonwealth to actually invest resources in prosecutions. Largely because of television shows, many juries expect first-class forensic services before convicting criminals. As an attorney, I see the effects of these shortcomings daily while defending criminal cases in Virginia’s justice system."
- Move to a Healthy, Clean Energy Environment
Excerpt: "Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide from coal-fired plants, threaten not only our state, but the entire planet. While the solutions are multiple and require action across the globe, Virginia has a role. In terms of energy efficiency, for example, Virginia ranks 38th among states. We could meet 20 percent of our energy needs through measures like tougher building codes and more conserving commercial lighting and heating."
2011
Surovell’s website highlighted the following campaign themes:
- Transportation
Excerpt: "Everywhere Metro has been extended in Northern Virginia, jobs and housing have followed. I will fight to ensure that Mount Vernon receives the same public infrastructure investments as the rest of Northern Virginia."
- Education
Excerpt: "Virginia must invest in its first-class colleges, expand existing schools and study whether new colleges are warranted by demand and limited capacity. I will fight for our state’s colleges and universities because our society is strengthened and enriched by educated people. Our children deserve the same opportunities that my parents and I enjoyed."
- Curb Congestion, Fight Legislative Obstruction
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 [email protected].
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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Endorsements
2013
In 2013, Surovell’s endorsements included the following:[8]
- Virginia AFL-CIO
- NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia
- Northern Virginia Technology Council
See also
2023 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Virginia State Senate District 34 |
Officeholder Virginia State Senate District 34 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Virginia Board of Elections, "2015 General election candidates," accessed August 21, 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
- ↑ Virginia State Board of Elections, "2009 General Election Results," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ State Delegate Scott Surovell, "On The Issues," accessed September 4, 2013
- ↑ State Delegate Scott Surovell, "Endorsements," accessed September 4, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Chapman Petersen (D) |
Virginia State Senate District 34 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Linda Todd Puller (D) |
Virginia State Senate District 36 2016-2024 |
Succeeded by Stella Pekarsky (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Virginia House of Delegates District 44 2010-2016 |
Succeeded by - |
