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Sam Rasoul

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Sam Rasoul
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2014
Preceded byOnzlee Ware
Constituency11th district (2014–2024)
38th district (2024–present)
Personal details
Born
Salam Rasoul

(1981-06-30) June 30, 1981 (age 43)
Warren, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLayaly Rasoul
Children3
EducationRoanoke College (BBA)
Hawaii Pacific University (MBA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Salam "Sam" Rasoul (born June 30, 1981) is an American politician serving as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 38th district.[1] He is one of the two Muslim members of the Virginia General Assembly.[1] In November 2020, Rasoul announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2021.[2] Despite a significant fundraising advantage,[3] Rasoul placed 2nd in the Democratic primary losing to Hala Ayala by a 64,352 votes.[4]

Early life and education

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Rasoul was born in Warren, Ohio in 1981, the son of Palestinian immigrants.[5] He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Roanoke College and a Master of Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University.[6]

Career

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Rasoul first ran for elected office in 2008 when he challenged incumbent Republican Bob Goodlatte for Virginia's 6th Congressional seat. He lost to Goodlatte by 25 percentage points in the heavily Republican district.[7]

Rasoul was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in a special election held on January 7, 2014. The special election was held to fill the vacancy created by the November 2013 resignation of Delegate Onzlee Ware.[8] After winning the Democratic primary by 44 votes, Rasoul received nearly 70% of the vote over his Republican opponent Octavia Johnson in the general election.[9] He was inducted into office on January 8, 2014.[10]

Rasoul is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus and Rural Caucus in the House of Delegates.[11]

He was a candidate in the 2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election.[11] Rasoul lost to Hala Ayala. If nominated, he would've been the first Muslim candidate to run statewide anywhere in the South and the first Virginia statewide nominee from Roanoke since Ray Garland, who ran for U.S. Senate in 1971.[12]

Personal life

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Rasoul and his wife, Layaly, have three children.[13]

Electoral history

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Virginia's 6th congressional district election, 2008 [14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Goodlatte 192,350 61.6%
Democratic Sam Rasoul 114,367 36.6%
Independent Janice Lee Allen 5,413 1.7%
Write-in 262 0.1%
Total votes 312,392 100.00%
Republican hold
House of Delegates 11th District Special Election, 2014 [15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Rasoul 5,129 70.2%
Republican Octavia Lyvonne Johnson 2,166 29.6%
Write-in 14 0.2%
Total votes 7,309 100.00%
Democratic hold
House of Delegates 11th District Election, 2015[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Rasoul (inc.) 11,216 96.2%
Write-in 447 3.8%
Total votes 11,663 100.00%
Democratic hold
House of Delegates 11th District Election, 2017 [16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Rasoul (inc.) 15,667 96.93%
write-ins 496 3.07%
Total votes 16,163 100%
Democratic hold
House of Delegates 11th District Election, 2019 [17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Rasoul (inc.) 10,269 94.38%
write-ins 611 5.62%
Total votes 10,880 100%
Democratic hold
House of Delegates 11th District Election, 2021[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sam Rasoul (inc.) 14,532 64.5%
Republican Charlie Nave 7,963 35.3%
write-ins 37 0.2%
Total votes 22,532 100%
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ a b "Richmond Sunlight » Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke)". www.richmondsunlight.com. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  2. ^ WDBJ, Sarah Irby |. "Delegate Sam Rasoul announces run for lieutenant governor". www.nbc12.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  3. ^ Times-Dispatch, ANDREW CAIN Richmond. "Rasoul tops fundraising for lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  4. ^ "DDHQ Election Results". results.decisiondeskhq.com. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  5. ^ "ColorsVA". colorsva.pub. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  6. ^ "VA Del. Sam Rasoul". Millennial Action Project. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  7. ^ "House clerks's office" (PDF).
  8. ^ Yoon, Erica (January 8, 2014). "Sam Rasoul easily takes Roanoke House of Delegates seat". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  9. ^ Ballhous, Rebecca (January 8, 2014). "Special Election in Virginia: Another Cliffhanger". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  10. ^ Sluss, Michael (January 8, 2014). "Rasoul goes to work in Richmond". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  11. ^ a b Vozzella, Laura. "Virginia's crowded race for lieutenant governor draws its 10th candidate". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  12. ^ "Editorial: Rasoul could make history in more ways than one". Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  13. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  14. ^ "2008 U.S. House General Election". Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Candidate Profile - Sam Rasoul". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  16. ^ "2017 November General". Retrieved Jul 31, 2019.
  17. ^ "Virginia Election Results: November 5, 2019".
  18. ^ "2021 November General". results.elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
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