Complex sentence: A Democrat, Bird began his public career as a member of the Byrd Organization, and was first elected to the Virginia Senate in 1944, representing Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico, James City, and New Kent counties as well as the city of Williamsburg.
Split into simpler sentences: A Democrat, Bird began his public career as a member of the Byrd Organization. Voters first elected him to the Virginia Senate in 1944, and he represented Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico, James City, and New Kent counties as well as the city of Williamsburg.