19 Facts About Dick Saslaw

Dick Saslaw represented the 35th district, made up of the city of Falls Church and portions of Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria.

Dick Saslaw was the leader of the Virginia Senate Democrats from 1998 to 2024.

Dick Saslaw served as Senate Majority Leader from 2020 to 2024, having previously served from 2008 to 2012 and January to June 2014.

Dick Saslaw served as Senate Minority Leader from 1998 to 2008,2012 to January 2014, and June 2014 to 2020.

Dick Saslaw ran for Congress in Virginia's 8th congressional district in 1984.

Dick Saslaw was born and raised in Washington, DC He attended Woodrow Wilson High School.

Dick Saslaw is Jewish and has been active in Virginia's Jewish community for decades.

Dick Saslaw joined several other Jewish Democrats who live in Virginia in defending Israel against criticism from the Virginia State Bar.

Dick Saslaw continued as Majority Leader until 2012, when the Democrats lost control.

Dick Saslaw served as Minority Leader from 2012 through 2019, except for the first half of 2014, when he served as Majority Leader.

Dick Saslaw was Chair of the Senate's Commerce and Labor Committee, and a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary, Education and Health, Finance and Appropriations, and Rules Committees.

Dick Saslaw has been endorsed by NARAL Virginia and by Planned Parenthood of the Greater Metropolitan Washington Area.

Dick Saslaw caught the move and thwarted it, thus allowing the bill to proceed and eventually become law in Virginia in 2018.

Dick Saslaw has been described as a reliable ally of Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest electrical utility which is notable for its influence on Virginia politics.

Dick Saslaw helped push Dominion-backed legislation that would allow the firm to charge customers rates that regulators considered to be excessive.

Dick Saslaw responded by apologizing to Dominion and criticized his own party for failing to do its "homework" on "how generous Dominion has been to me" and the party.

Dick Saslaw was the ranking member of the Senate Education and Health Committee, and Chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee.

Dick Saslaw later clarified in an official statement that the pictures could only be described "as racist, as unacceptable, and as painful," and along with the Senate Democratic Caucus, issued a statement calling for Northam's resignation.

Dick Saslaw moved to the district "within the past year to be closer to the immigrant communities with whom she works," moving from nearby Arlington County, where she previously ran for a House of Delegates seat in 2014, finishing in last place.