Joshua Cole
Photograph of Joshua Cole on the House Floor in 2020.
Joshua Cole on the House Floor in 2020.
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Assumed office
January 10, 2024
Preceded byLee Ware (redistricting)
Constituency65th district
In office
January 8, 2020 – January 12, 2022
Preceded byRobert Thomas
Succeeded byTara Durant
Constituency28th district
Personal details
Born (1990-07-25) July 25, 1990
Washington, D.C.[1]
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseTiffany Santora
ResidenceFredericksburg, Virginia

Joshua Gregory Cole (born July 25, 1990) is an American politician. A Democrat, he served one term as member of the Virginia House of Delegates as the representative of Virginia's 28th district. Elected by the Democratic Party of Virginia, Cole served as a member of the Democratic National Committee at the 2020 convention.[2] Cole was elected to represent Virginia's 65th district in the 2023 Virginia House of Delegates election.[3]

Early life and education

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.[4] 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 Convirs-Fowler.[5]

Virginia House of Delegates

In 2017, Cole ran for the 28th district in the 2017 Virginia House of Delegates election but lost to Bob Thomas by 73 votes.[6]

Cole with Governor Ralph Northam

In 2019, Cole announced his campaign for the same seat in the 2019 election. He faced then Stafford County Supervisor, Paul V. Milde, who had defeated Thomas in the Republican primary.[7] Cole won with 51.8% of the vote.[8] Cole was defeated for re-election in November 2021 by Tara Durant.[9]

In 2023, Cole declared his candidacy for the redrawn 65th district.[10] He won the seat in the general election.[11]

Personal

Cole is openly bisexual; his 2021 re-election won the support of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, an organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ candidates.[12]

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. ↑ "Joshua Cole returning to House of Delegates with victory in 65th District". fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  4. ↑ "Executive Committee". Unit 7118.
  5. ↑ "Joshua Cole Dossier" (PDF). Sister District Project. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  6. ↑ "Cole plans another run for 28th District delegate". INSIDENOVA.COM.
  7. ↑ "Milde edges Thomas to win Republican nomination for 28th District House seat". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  8. ↑ "2019 November General".
  9. ↑ "Republicans end Democratic control of Virginia House of Delegates". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  10. ↑ "Joshua Cole Announces Candidacy for Virginia's New 65th District". myhyperbole.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  11. ↑ "Joshua Cole returning to House of Delegates with victory in 65th District". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  12. ↑ "Joshua Cole, Virginia Delegate for HD-28". LGBTQ Victory Fund. Retrieved 2021-08-02.


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