The list narrows — The Virginia Star has selected its top five finalists for Person of the Year. This list is focused on people who influenced the discourse and politics across Virginia in 2020, and these people had an ongoing impact on Virginia’s headlines. Please keep sending in picks and nominations, and we will announce our finalist later this week.
Here’s the updated list:
Virginia Beach Lawyer Tim Anderson
Anderson’s Facebook videos analyzing the summer 2020 Portsmouth Confederate monument controversy drew attention from Virginia conservatives and a defamation lawsuit from State Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth.) Since then, Anderson has been a reliable source of easy-to-understand conservative political analysis on Facebook. He is now seeking the Republican nomination for Virginia’s 83rd House of Delegates seat.
State Senator Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield)
Despite being estranged from the official GOP apparatus in 2019, in 2020 Chase established herself as the leading voice of Virginia Republicans. In early 2020, Chase announced her campaign for governor in 2021, and began touring the state, where she was a constant presence at rallies and protests across the state. Calling herself “Trump in heels,” she endeared herself to conservative Virginians with a hard-line, pro-gun and pro-monument stance. When Trump was ostensibly defeated in the November election, Chase was the loudest voice warning of fraud and calling for a new election, as other Virginia Republicans stayed quiet. She continues to be the thorn in the Virginia GOP’s side – with over 104,000 followers on Facebook, she has a ready audience for her weekly “State of the Commonwealth” videos. It was rumored that the Virginia GOP chose a convention for the 2021 nomination due to fears that Chase would win in a primary. Other Republican candidates for governor may be more electable, but Chase is easily dominating the Virginia GOP narrative.
Speaker of the House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax)
In 2020, Filler-Corn became Virginia’s first female Speaker of the House, and first Jewish Speaker of the House, according to NPR. She oversaw an unconventional special legislative session held virtually. She also removed the Virginia Capitol’s Confederate monuments in the middle of the night, before the Republican caucus got wind of the plan. Under her leadership, the General Assembly fulfilled key Democratic wishes including legalizing local gun control, decriminalizing marijuana, enacting some criminal justice reforms, and passing the pro-LGBTQ Virginia Values Act.
Governor Ralph Northam (D)
Northam’s 2020 declarations of emergency over a gun rally, a pandemic, and riots enabled him to exercise major power in 2020 through executive orders and regular announcements of CARES Act allocations. He has shut down businesses, mandated business closing times, and instituted a mask mandate. In addition, the two sessions of the General Assembly enabled Northam to sign key bills supporting progressive policy.
State Senator Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax)
In 2020 when the Democrats took control of the General Assembly, Surovell emerged as the most significant power broker in the state Senate. With Democrats barely holding a majority in the Senate, party unity was critical, and Surovell acted as a bridge between the progressive and moderate wings of the party. Surovell is trusted by Majority Leader Richard Saslaw (D-Fairfax). As a result, Surovell’s approval is critical for any bill Democrats bring to the floor.
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
