Luke Torian

Luke E. Torian (born May 30, 1958) is an American politician. Since 2010 he has served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 52nd district in the Prince William County suburbs of Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

Luke Torian
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 52nd district
Assumed office
January 13, 2010
Preceded byJeff Frederick
Personal details
Born (1958-05-30) May 30, 1958
Roxboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseClarice Jones
EducationWinston-Salem State University (BA)
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Virginia Union University (M.Div.)
Howard University (D.Min.)
WebsiteOfficial website

In 2019, Torian has introduced and passed House bills on a variety of issues, from expediting the screening process for community-based and institutional long-term care services (HB 2474) to extending the benefits of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to the spouse or child of a veteran with at least a 90 percent permanent, service-related disability (HB 2685).[2]

As of May 2020, Torian serves as Chair of the Appropriations Committee and as a member of the General Laws and Rules Committee.[3] He has previously served on the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee and the Counties, Cities and Towns Committee.[2]

Early life and education

Torian was born in Roxboro, North Carolina. He received a B.A. degree in political science from Winston-Salem State University in 1980. Training to become a Baptist minister, he received a master's degree in divinity in 1984 from the School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and a doctorate in ministry from the Howard University School of Divinity in 1987.[1][4]

Torian worked for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for eight years. He was pastor of Gilfield Baptist Church in Charles City County, Virginia 1990–1995. Since then, he has been pastor of First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries.[4]

Community involvement

Torian has been a community leader in Prince William County for decades. He has played a major role in Action in Community Through Service (ACTS), an organization designed to alleviate hunger, homelessness, and domestic violence in the community. He is also one of the founders of Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), an organization dedicated to making change on social justice issues.[5]

Electoral history

In February 2009, Republican Party of Virginia chair Jeff Frederick announced that he would not run for reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates.[6] Torian ran for Frederick's 52nd district seat, winning a Democratic primary with more than two-thirds of the votes cast,[7] then defeating Republican nominee Rafael Lopez.[8]

DateElectionCandidatePartyVotes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 52nd district
Jun 9, 2009[7] Democratic primary Luke E. Torian 1,812 68.14
Michael A. Hodge 847 31.85
Nov 3, 2009[9] General Luke E. Torian Democratic 8,267 51.89
Rafael Lopez Republican 7,616 47.81
Write Ins 46 0.28
Jeff Frederick retired; seat switched from Republican to Democratic
Nov 8, 2011[10] General Luke E. Torian Democratic 5,156 60.58
S. Cleveland Anderson Republican 3,327 39.09
Write Ins 27 0.31
Nov 5, 2013[11] General Luke Torian Democratic 10,890 100.00
Write Ins - -
Nov 3, 2015[12] General Luke Torian Democratic 7,688 100.00
Write Ins - -
Nov 7, 2017[13] General Luke Torian Democratic 14,830 100.00
Write Ins - -

(Note: Write Ins are not included for results after 2011.)

References
  1. "Bio for Luke E. Torian". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  2. "LIS Virginia". Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  3. "Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  4. "Pastor". First Mount Zion Baptist Church. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  5. "About Luke Torian". Delegate Luke Torian. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  6. Iovino, Jim (2009-02-13). "Va. GOP Chair Out ... Wife May Be In?". NBC. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  7. "2009 June Democratic Primary Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  8. "2009 Election Results". WTOP. 2009-12-20. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  9. "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  10. "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  11. Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2013. Ballotpedia.
  12. Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2015. Ballotpedia.
  13. Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2017. Ballotpedia.
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