Steve Martin (Virginia politician)

Stephen Holliday Martin (born June 15, 1956) is an American politician of the Republican Party. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1988–1994 and the Senate of Virginia from 1994–2016.

Steve Martin
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 11th district
In office
February 17, 1994 – January 13, 2016
Preceded byRobert E. Russell
Succeeded byAmanda Chase
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 27th district
In office
January 8, 1992 – February 17, 1994
Preceded byPhoebe Orebaugh
Succeeded bySamuel A. Nixon
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 67th district
In office
January 13, 1988 – January 8, 1992
Preceded byLeslie Saunders
Succeeded byRoger McClure
Personal details
Born
Stephen Holliday Martin

(1956-06-15) June 15, 1956
Chesterfield, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Chesterfield County, Virginia
Alma materLynchburg Christian Academy
OccupationInsurance

Electoral history

In 1987, Martin defeated incumbent Democrat Leslie Saunders for the 67th District House of Delegates seat, 51%-49%.[1] In 1989, Saunders challenged Martin for the seat, but Martin won 55%-45%.[2] Due to redistricting, Martin was redrawn into the 27th District in 1991, and won the House of Delegates seat unopposed,[3] and was re-elected in 1993.[4] In February 1994, Martin won a special election to the state Senate in the 11th District after Robert Russell resigned after being convicted of embezzlement.[5][6] He received 75% of the vote in a four-way race.[6] Martin was easily re-elected to the seat in 1995 (he was unopposed),[7] 1999 (won 65%-35%),[8] 2003 (unopposed),[9] 2007 (received 63% of the vote in a four-way race),[10] and 2011 (unopposed).[11]

Senator Martin announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2013 in June 2012.[12] He was defeated at the 2013 state convention.

On June 9, 2015, in the Republican Primary for the District 11 State Senate Seat, Martin lost to Amanda Chase in a three-way race, with Barry Moore coming in last.[13]

Election results
Virginia Senate 11th District General Election, 2011[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 25,269 94.70
Independent Write-in candidates 1,414 5.30
Total votes 255,826 100
Virginia Senate 11th District General Election, 2007[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 16,481 62.75
Democratic Alexander McMurtrie 4,764 18.14
Independent Hank Cook 3,878 14.77
Independent Roger Habeck 1,135 4.32
Independent Write-in candidates 6 0.02
Total votes 26,264 100
Virginia Senate 11th District General Election, 2003[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 18,702 97.27
Independent Write-in candidates 524 2.73
Total votes 19,226 100
Virginia Senate 11th District General Election, 1999[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 17,716 64.54
Democratic William Hastings 9,689 35.30
Independent Write-in candidates 45 0.16
Total votes 27,450 100
Virginia Senate 11th District General Election, 1995[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 28,693 99.41
Independent Write-in candidates 170 0.59
Total votes 28,863 100
Virginia Senate 11th District Special Election, 1994[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 14,305 74.76
Democratic Alexander McMurtrie 4,219 22.05
Independent Thomas Jamerson 452 2.36
Independent Bradley Evans 148 0.77
Independent Write-in candidates 10 0.06
Total votes 19,134 100
Virginia House of Delegates 27th District Election, 1993[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 14,243 79.53
Independent Bradley Evans 3,655 20.41
Independent Write-in candidates 11 0.06
Total votes 17,909 100
Virginia House of Delegates 27th District Election, 1991[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 8,465 99.28
Independent Write-in candidates 61 0.72
Total votes 8,526 100
Virginia House of Delegates 67th District Election, 1989[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 11,178 55.27
Democratic Leslie Saunders 9,034 44.67
Independent Write-in candidates 12 0.06
Total votes 20,224 100
Virginia House of Delegates 67th District Election, 1987[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Martin 8,271 51.14
Democratic Leslie Saunders 6,872 48.82
Independent Write-in candidates 7 0.04
Total votes 15,150 100

Memberships

Senator Martin serves as one of two Virginia state chairmen for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).[14][15]

Facebook comments on abortion

Martin made news in 2014 when he wrote a lengthy post on Facebook claiming that pregnant women are "hosts" who have no right to end their pregnancies via abortion. "Martin said that his words were taken out of context and that he was trying to describe the way abortion advocates see women."[16] He later edited the post to replace "host" with "bearer of the child."[17]

References
  1. Candidate Data for 1987RVAHH67
  2. Candidate Data for 1989RVAHH67
  3. Candidate Data for 1991RVAHH27
  4. Candidate Data for 1993RVAHH27
  5. Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project – Election Dates, 1789-2007
  6. Candidate Data for 1994SVASS11
  7. Candidate Data for 1995RVASS11
  8. Candidate Data for 1999RVASS11
  9. Senate of Virginia District #011
  10. Candidate Data for 2007RVASS11
  11. November 2011 General Election Official Results Archived 2013-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Virginia Sen. Stephen Martin plans run for lt. governor – Virginia Politics – The Washington Post
  13. "Virginia Election Returns: Primary Night 2015". Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2015-06-10.
  14. "Progress|VA". Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
  15. State Chairs – ALEC – American Legislative Exchange Council
  16. "Va. state Sen. Stephen H. Martin criticized for 'host' comment in antiabortion Facebook post".
  17. Bassett, Laura (2014-02-24). "Virginia Republican Says A Pregnant Woman Is Just A 'Host,' Though 'Some Refer To Them As Mothers'". The Huffington Post.
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