Charniele Herring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charniele Herring
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Herring in 2010
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| Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Terry Kilgore |
| In office January 8, 2020 – January 12, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Todd Gilbert |
| Succeeded by | Terry Kilgore |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates | |
| Assumed office January 26, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Brian Moran |
| Constituency | 46th district (2009–2024) 4th district (2024–present) |
| Chair of the Virginia Democratic Party | |
| In office December 8, 2012 – March 15, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Brian Moran |
| Succeeded by | Dwight Jones |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charniele LeRhonda Herring
September 25, 1969 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | George Mason University (BA) Catholic University (JD) |
Charniele LeRhonda Herring (/ʃɑːrˈnɛl ˈhɛrɪŋ/ shar-NEL-_-HERR-ing; born September 25, 1969) is an American politician. She has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2009. She represents the 4th district. This area includes parts of Alexandria and Fairfax County. These places are close to Washington, D.C..
Charniele Herring is a member of the Democratic Party. She is currently the Majority Leader in the Virginia House of Delegates. This means she helps lead her party in the House. In 2012, she became the first African-American person to lead the Democratic Party of Virginia. In 2020, she made history again. She was elected Majority Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates. This made her the first woman and first African-American to hold this important role.
Contents
About Charniele Herring
Her Early Life and Education
Charniele Herring was born in the Dominican Republic. Her father was in the United States Army. Because of this, her family moved around a lot when she was a child. When she was 16, her mother lost her job. For six months, they lived in a homeless shelter.
Charniele loved to dance. She studied ballet for three years. Later, she went to college. In 1993, she earned a degree in economics from George Mason University. Then, in 1997, she earned a law degree from The Catholic University of America. She also volunteered with AmeriCorps VISTA. This program helps communities in need.
Her Political Journey
Charniele Herring started her political journey early. When she was only 13, she spoke to a government group. She talked about health care for children of military families.
Later, the Governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine, chose her for a special council. This group focused on the status of women in the state. She also attended a program at the University of Virginia. It helped people learn how to be political leaders.
Serving in the Virginia House of Delegates
In 2008, a delegate named Brian Moran left his seat. Charniele Herring decided to run for the open position. She won the Democratic nomination. In January 2009, she won the special election. She became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
This was a big moment. Charniele Herring was the first African-American woman. She was also the first woman from Northern Virginia elected to the General Assembly. From 2012 to 2014, she led the Democratic Party in Virginia. In 2015, she became the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. This means she led the meetings for her party's members in the House.
When the Democratic Party gained control of the House in 2019, Herring was elected Majority Leader. She was the first woman and African-American to hold this position. She served in this role until 2021.
Today, she leads the Courts of Justice Committee. This committee works on laws about courts and justice. She is the first woman and African-American to lead this committee too. She also helps make rules for the House. Charniele Herring has worked for many years to make laws fairer in Virginia. In 2020, she became the Chair of the Crime Commission.
See also
- 2009 Virginia House of Delegates election
- 2011 Virginia House of Delegates election
