Stephen Newman

For other people named Steve Newman, see Steve Newman (disambiguation).
Stephen Newman
President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate
In office
January 13, 2016 – January 8, 2020
Preceded byWalter Stosch
Succeeded byLouise Lucas
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
January 10, 1996 – January 10, 2024
Preceded byElliot Schewel
Succeeded byMark Peake (Redistricting)
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 23rd district
In office
January 8, 1992 – January 10, 1996
Preceded byEdward Harris
Succeeded byPreston Bryant
Personal details
Born
Stephen Dwayne Newman

(1964-10-15) October 15, 1964 (age 60)
Stuart, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKim
Children2
EducationCentral Virginia Community College
Lynchburg College
WebsiteOfficial website

Stephen Dwayne Newman (born October 15, 1964) is an American politician of the Republican Party. He served in the Virginia General Assembly from 1991 to 2024, first in the House (1991-1996) and then in the Senate of Virginia (1996–2024). In 2016, Newman became president pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia. However, in the 2019 Virginia Senate election, although Newman won re-election from his district, Democrats won the majority. On January 8, 2020, Louise Lucas, a senior Democratic senator succeeded Newman as president pro tempore.

Early life and education

Newman was born on October 15, 1964,[1] in Stuart, Virginia.[2] His family later moved to Rustburg, Virginia, where he attended Liberty Christian Academy.[2] Newman then attended Central Virginia Community College and Lynchburg College.[1]

Career

Newman spent four years as a member of the Lynchburg City Council before being elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.[2] He was a member of the House of Delegates from 1992 to 1996, and was elected to the Virginia Senate in 1995. He represents Senate District 23, which includes all of Botetourt and Craig counties and parts of Campbell County, Bedford County, Roanoke County, and Lynchburg City.[1] His district is a safe Republican seat.[2]

Newman is chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health.[1][2] Over his decades in the state legislature, Newman gained a reputation as a staunch conservative and a member with a talent for consensus-seeking and negotiation.[2] In 2006, he was a sponsor of the Marshall-Newman Amendment, which banned same-sex marriage in Virginia.[2][3] He opposed Medicaid expansion in Virginia.[4] He opposed 2014 legislation to decriminalize marijuana in Virginia.[5]

In January 2016, Newman was elected president pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia[2][6]and held that position until the 2020 General Assembly session began. The main duty of the pro tem is to preside over the state Senate when the lieutenant governor of Virginia (who is the president of the Senate) is unable to do so.

Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by
Edward Harris
 Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 23rd district
1992–1996 		Succeeded by
Senate of Virginia
Preceded by Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 23rd district
1996–2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate
2016–2020 		Succeeded by

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Stephen D. Newman, Senate of Virginia.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Alex Rohr, Steve Newman's quiet rise to legislative leadership, News & Advance (March 12, 2016).
  3. ^ Ray Reed, [Local delegation dislikes AG's same-sex marriage decision], News & Advance (January 24, 2014).
  4. ^ Alicia Petska, Lynchburg legislators remain critical of Medicaid expansion, News & Advance (July 10, 2014).
  5. ^ Alicia Petska, Lynchburg area legislators oppose bill to decriminalize marijuana, News & Advance (December 14, 2014).
  6. ^ Alex Rohr, Newman named Va. Senate president pro tem, News & Advance (January 13, 2016).
  • Official campaign website
  • "Stephen D. Newman". Virginia Public Access Project.
  • Appearances on C-SPAN