34 Facts About Creigh Deeds

Robert Creigh Deeds is an American lawyer and politician serving as a member of the Senate of Virginia representing the 11th district since 2024, and previously the 25th district since 2001.

Creigh Deeds was defeated in both of those races by Republican Bob McDonnell.

Creigh Deeds was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 to 2001.

Creigh Deeds was born on January 4,1958, in Richmond, Virginia.

The name "Creigh Deeds" is a family surname, originating from Confederate sympathizer, David Creigh Deeds, a distant relative.

Creigh Deeds's family moved early in his life to Bath County.

Creigh Deeds then entered the Wake Forest University School of Law, from which he received his Juris Doctor in 1984.

Creigh Deeds married Siobhan Gilbride Lomax of Lexington, Virginia, in June 2012.

On November 19,2013, Creigh Deeds was stabbed multiple times at his home in Bath County, Virginia by his 24-year-old son, Gus, who then died by suicide.

Creigh Deeds was initially reported to be in critical condition at University of Virginia Medical Center.

In 1994 Creigh Deeds supported and was a major co-sponsor of George Allen's initiative to abolish parole for those convicted of a felony.

Creigh Deeds won a special state senate election in 2001 to succeed Emily Couric, who had died of pancreatic cancer.

Creigh Deeds was a proponent of a Senate resolution to close Virginia's gun show loophole, and made public appearances to generate support for the measure.

Creigh Deeds announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for governor on December 13,2007.

Creigh Deeds again faced McDonnell, the Republican nominee, in the November 2009 general election.

In January 2009, Creigh Deeds proposed up to a $10,000 tax credit for businesses that made "job-creating investments" and supported exemption of the sales tax on the purchase of solar or wind energy systems for homeowners.

Creigh Deeds has stated that he will not make a no-tax-increase pledge and wrote in The Washington Post that he would support a new gas tax to fund transportation.

In 2008, Creigh Deeds voted for a bill in the State Senate which would raise the Virginia gas tax $0.06 per gallon over the next 6 years.

Creigh Deeds is in favor of tougher sanctions on lenders that deal subprime mortgages.

Creigh Deeds supports removing the "trigger-man" clause, which restricts the death penalty to those who physically committed the action, in Virginia capital punishment law.

In 2005, Deeds said that he disagreed with the Supreme Court ruling in Roper v Simmons, which made it unconstitutional to execute juveniles.

Creigh Deeds argued that it was the jury's duty to determine when and where the death penalty should come into play.

In 2021, Creigh Deeds voted to abolish the death penalty in Virginia.

In 2006, Creigh Deeds was part of the unanimous Democratic coalition that voted to oppose an amendment to the Virginia State Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.

Creigh Deeds voted against it because he believed the Amendment went too far in its definition of marriage.

In July 2009, Creigh Deeds stated he believed "Marriage is between a man and a woman" and declined to say gay marriage is a civil right.

Creigh Deeds was endorsed by the NRA during his 2005 Attorney General run over Republican Bob McDonnell.

In February 2011, Creigh Deeds was one of eight senators on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee who "passed by indefinitely" House Bill 1573, defeating the bill by an 8 to 4 margin.

In February 2020, Creigh Deeds broke party ranks to shelve House Bill 961 which would have prohibited the sale and transport of assault firearms, certain firearm magazines, silencers, and trigger activators.

Creigh Deeds voted to make undocumented immigrants ineligible for in-state tuition and state and local benefits.

Creigh Deeds voted in favor of designating English as the official language of the United States.

Creigh Deeds said that, if elected Governor of Virginia, he would use his veto power and amendment powers to try to force the House of Delegates into accepting a version of SB926.

Creigh Deeds was criticized by the McDonnell campaign for lacking a coherent transportation plan.

Creigh Deeds later wrote a column in The Washington Post laying out his plan, which included the possibility of a new gas tax or other tax.