Joshua G. Cole

Joshua Gregory Cole (born July 25, 1990) is an American politician. A Democrat, he is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 28th district which encompasses Stafford County, Virginia and Fredericksburg, Virginia in Northern Virginia. Cole is also a member of the Democratic National Committee since elected by the Democratic Party of Virginia at the 2020 convention.[2]

Joshua Cole
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 28th district
In office
January 8, 2020 – January 12, 2022
Preceded byRobert Thomas
Succeeded byTara Durant
Personal details
Born (1990-07-25) July 25, 1990
Washington, D.C.[1]
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseTiffany Santora
Residence(s)Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.

Early life

Cole was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Stafford County, Virginia. He graduated from North Stafford High School and attended Liberty University for three years. He currently attends the University of Mary Washington.

Career

He worked for Liberty University and Richmond City Public Schools. He was also a pastor and is the immediate past president of the Stafford County NAACP.[3] Cole has also had many staff positions in the Virginia Assembly. Between the 2017 and 2019 elections, he was chief of staff to delegate Kelly Fowler.

In 2017, Cole ran for the 28th district in the 2017 Virginia House of Delegates election but lost to the Republican Bob Thomas by 73 votes.[4]

Cole with Governor Ralph Northam

In 2019, Cole announced his campaign for the same seat in the 2019 election. He faced the Stafford County Supervisor Paul V. Milde, who had defeated Thomas in the Republican primary. Cole won with 51.8% of the vote.[5] Cole was defeated for re-election in November 2021 by Tara Durant.[6]

in 2023, Cole announced his campaign for the newly drawn 65th district, after redistricting.[7]

Personal

Cole is openly bisexual; his 2021 re-election won the support of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, an organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ candidates.[8]

References
  1. Lance-Star, James Scott Baron The Free. "Milde and Cole clash in high-stakes battle for 28th District House seat". Fredericksburg.com.
  2. "2020 Democratic Party of Virginia State Convention Results". Democratic Party of Virginia. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  3. "Executive Committee". Unit 7118.
  4. "Cole plans another run for 28th District delegate". INSIDENOVA.COM.
  5. "2019 November General".
  6. "Republicans end Democratic control of Virginia House of Delegates". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  7. "Freedom Virginia Announces 2023 Candidate Endorsements". BLUEVIRGINIA.US.
  8. "Joshua Cole, Virginia Delegate for HD-28". LGBTQ Victory Fund. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
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