John Joseph Bell (born January 29, 1963) is an American politician and a retired United States Air Force officer. A Democrat, he served in the Virginia Senate, representing the 13th district from 2020 to 2024. From 2016 to 2020 he served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 87th District. Both districts are located in Loudoun County and Prince William County.
John Bell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 13th district | |
| In office January 8, 2020 – January 10, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Dick Black |
| Succeeded by | Suhas Subramanyam (Redistricting) |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 87th district | |
| In office January 13, 2016 – January 8, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | David Ramadan |
| Succeeded by | Suhas Subramanyam |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Joseph Bell January 29, 1963 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Margaret Bell |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Regis University (BA) Western New England University (MBA) George Washington University (MA) |
| Website | senatorbell.com |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1981–2007 |
| Rank | Major |
Career
editBell served in the United States Air Force from 1981 to 2007, working as a finance officer and retiring as a Major.[1][2]
From 2016 to 2020, Bell represented the 87th District in the Virginia House of Delegates.[1]
In August 2018, Bell announced he would run in 2019 for Virginia State Senate District 13, then represented by Republican Dick Black.[3] Bell's announcement came with endorsements from 14 elected Democrats in Virginia, including state Attorney General Mark Herring, House of Delegates Minority Leader David Toscano, and state senator Jennifer Wexton, who was subsequently elected to U.S. Congress.[3]
Bell won the election in November 2019, defeating Republican Loudoun County supervisor Geary Higgins in the general election.[4]
Bell declined to run for a second 4-year term in 2023, citing a cancer diagnosis.[5]
Personal life
editBell is married to wife Margaret, who is a local realtor.[6] They have five children and three grandchildren.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Delegate John J. Bell". Virginia General Assembly. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "MEET THE CANDIDATE: John Bell, Democrat for House of Delegates, 87th District". Ashburn Rising. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "Herring endorses Del. John Bell's state Senate candidacy". Loudoun Times. August 30, 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ^ Valerio, Mike (November 6, 2019). "Democrat John Bell wins Virginia Senate race in Loudoun, Prince William counties". WUSA. Washington, DC. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ Ferrell, Coy (March 2, 2023). "Updated: Bell will not seek reelection to state senate after cancer diagnosis". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- ^ Greene, Renss (2018-08-27). "Del. Bell Joins Race to Unseat Black in Senate". Loudoun Now. Archived from the original on 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2018-12-31.