Aird named vice chair of Senate Democratic Caucus

Petersburg’s state senator has added another political leadership title to her resume.

In a statement April 23, the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus announced that Sen. Lashrecse Aird has been elected the caucus’ vice chair. In that role, Aird will “help guide legislative strategy going into the campaign season” and lead outreach efforts to find Democratic candidates for the state Senate in the November 2027 election, the statement said.

“Senator Aird understands how to connect with voters and communicate our work, and she will be instrumental in our outreach and campaign efforts,” Sen. Mamie Locke of Hampton, the caucus chair, said in the statement.

Aird was already the caucus’ policy chair.

Also elected to caucus leadership was Sen. Kannan Srinivasan of Loudoun County as treasurer.

In her own statement, Aird said she was “focused on building on the strong foundation” already present in the caucus.

“What I’ve seen firsthand is that voters respond to progress they can feel in their everyday lives: lower costs, stronger schools, safer communities, and access to real economic opportunity,” she said in her statement. “Those are the priorities that will continue to guide us.”

Aird served from 2016 to 2022 in the House of Delegates representing the Petersburg area. In 2023, she was elected to the state Senate representing the 13th District. The district stretches from eastern Dinwiddie County to eastern Henrico County; and includes all of Petersburg, Hopewell, Prince George County, Charles City County, Surry County and Sussex County.

She is chair of the Senate Local Government Committee; and also serves on Senate Finance & Appropriations; Education & Health, Rules and Transportation committees.

Reporting by Bill Atkinson, Petersburg Progress-Index