Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, former speaker of Virginia House of Delegates, not seeking reelection
Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, former speaker of the House of Delegates, has added her name to the long list of legislators who won’t return to Virginia’s statehouse next year.
“It is clear I can have the greatest impact outside of the confines of the House,” she said in a Tuesday statement. “As for my next chapter, there are many exciting options ahead and I look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks and months.”
Filler-Corn, who served as speaker in 2020 and 2021, was the first woman and first Jewish legislator to serve in the role.
The Fairfax Democrat said she was proud of many “transformative actions” taken during her 13 year-tenure, including investments in public education and transportation and work to protect voting rights and reproductive health. She said she also strove to promote diversity.
“I proudly appointed more women and diverse individuals to leadership positions than in our entire Commonwealth’s history,” she said.
Filler-Corn further thanked her colleagues and supporters and said she would continue working for Virginia’s communities.
Del. Mike Mullin, a Newport News Democrat who has also announced he won’t seek reelection, thanked Filler-Corn for her work.
“The tremendous positive achievements of Eileen Filler-Corn’s Speakership will be felt by Virginians for decades to come,” he wrote on Twitter. “Congratulations Eileen on your retirement, and thank you for all that you have done for so many.”
The General Assembly is in the midst of a serious shakeup.
This year’s fall elections will be the first for state lawmakers under new district boundaries, and more than a dozen legislators recently announced they will not seek reelection.
Among those who aren’t running: Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, a long-serving James City County Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, a Fairfax Democrat who’s served for 48 years.
Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com
