# Lamont Bagby

Lamont Bagby (born December 21, 1976) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. On November 3, 2015, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 74th district, which includes Charles City County, parts of Henrico County and the city of Richmond. Bagby serves as Chair of the bicameral Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. He is a former member of the Henrico County School Board.
Bagby was the Democratic nominee in a special election to Virginia's 9th Senate district, which was vacated by Jennifer McClellan following her election to Congress. He won the election on March 28, 2023. He was sworn in on April 11, 2023. He will be eligible to run for re-election in the newly re-drawn 14th Senate district.

## Political career

Lamont Bagby was a member of the Henrico County School Board (2008–2015), serving as chair in 2011. Bagby was then elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in a special election on July 21, 2015, and took the oath of office July 23, replacing Joe Morrissey, who resigned in April. He defeated David Lambert, son of longtime Virginia State Senator Benjamin Lambert. Bagby also defeated Lambert in the general election on November 3, 2015.
In 2014, Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed Bagby to the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors.
As a member of the Virginia General Assembly and chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Bagby has worked across the aisle and championed legislation focused on stopping the school-to-prison pipeline, creating affordable housing, criminal justice reforms, voting rights, environmental justice, and consumer protections.
He is a member of the Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor, Courts of Justice, Education and Health, Local Government, and Transportation. Additionally, Senator Bagby serves on legislative studies and commissions including: the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, Criminal Justice Services Board, Task Force to Assist in Identification of the History of Formerly Enslaved African Americans in Virginia, Health Insurance Reform Commission, Small Business Commission, Commission to Study the History of the Uprooting of Black Communities by Public Institutions of Higher Education in the Commonwealth, VCU Health System Board of Visitors, and Virginia Minority Business Commission.

## Other recognition

Bagby was named to the top 40 Extraordinary leaders under 40 list in Richmond alternative newspaper Style Weekly in 2009.
Currently, Bagby is the chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, an organization dedicated to improving the economic, educational, political and social conditions of African Americans and other underrepresented groups in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

## Personal life

Senator Bagby is a graduate of Henrico High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Norfolk State University as well as a master's degree in Education Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a recipient of honorary doctorates from Norfolk State University and Virginia Union University.
Prior to his political career, Senator Bagby was a teacher and administrator at his alma mater, Henrico High School.

## Electoral history

Special election for Virginia House of Delegates, July 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lamont Bagby | 2,192 | 84.5 |
| | Independent | David Lambert | 398 | 15.34 |
General election for Virginia House of Delegates, Nov. 2015 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lamont Bagby | 11,452 | 77.9 |
| | Independent | David Lambert | 3,107 | 21.13 |
General election for Virginia House of Delegates, Nov. 2017 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lamont Bagby | 20,041 | 76.0 |
| | Independent | Preston T. Brown | 6,146 | 23.31 |
General election for Virginia House of Delegates, Nov. 2021 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lamont Bagby | 22,913 | 72.6 |
| | Republican | Jimmy Brooks | 8,539 | 27.0 |
2023 Virginia Senate special election, District 9 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lamont Bagby | 13,552 | 89.84 |
| | Republican | Stephen J. Imholt | 1,495 | 9.91 |
| | Write-In | Write In | 37 | 0.25 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,084 | 100 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |