Luke Torian Explained

Luke Torian
Office:Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Constituency:52nd district (2010–2024)
24th district (2024–present)
Term Start:January 13, 2010
Predecessor:Jeff Frederick
Birth Date:30 May 1958
Birth Place:Roxboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Clarice Jones
Education:Winston-Salem State University (BA)
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Virginia Union University (M.Div.)
Howard University (D.Min.)

Luke E. Torian (born May 30, 1958) is an American politician. Since 2010 he has served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 24th district in the Prince William County suburbs of Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]

In 2019, Torian introduced and passed House bills on a variety of issues, from expediting the screening process for community-based and institutional long-term care services (HB 2474) to extending the benefits of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to the spouse or child of a veteran with at least a 90 percent permanent, service-related disability (HB 2685).[2]

, Torian serves as Chair of the Appropriations Committee and as a member of the General Laws and Rules Committee.[3] He has previously served on the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee and the Counties, Cities and Towns Committee.[2]

Early life and education

Torian was born in Roxboro, North Carolina. He received a B.A. degree in political science from Winston-Salem State University in 1980. Training to become a Baptist minister, he received a master's degree in divinity in 1984 from the School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and a doctorate in ministry from the Howard University School of Divinity in 1987.[1] [4]

Torian worked for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for eight years. He was pastor of Gilfield Baptist Church in Charles City County, Virginia 1990 - 1995. Since then, he has been pastor of First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries.[4]

Community involvement

Torian has been a community leader in Prince William County for decades. He has played a major role in Action in Community Through Service (ACTS), an organization designed to alleviate hunger, homelessness, and domestic violence in the community. He is also one of the founders of Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), an organization dedicated to making change on social justice issues.[5]

Electoral history

In February 2009, Republican Party of Virginia chair Jeff Frederick announced that he would not run for reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates.[6] Torian ran for Frederick's 52nd district seat, winning a Democratic primary with more than two-thirds of the votes cast, then defeating Republican nominee Rafael Lopez.[7]

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 52nd district
Jun 9, 2009[8] Democratic primaryLuke E. Torian1,81268.14
Michael A. Hodge84731.85
Nov 3, 2009[9] GeneralLuke E. TorianDemocratic8,26751.89
Rafael LopezRepublican7,61647.81
Write Ins460.28
Jeff Frederick retired; seat switched from Republican to Democratic
Nov 8, 2011[10] GeneralLuke E. TorianDemocratic5,15660.58
S. Cleveland AndersonRepublican3,32739.09
Write Ins270.31
Nov 5, 2013[11] GeneralLuke TorianDemocratic10,890100.00
Write Ins--
Nov 3, 2015[12] GeneralLuke TorianDemocratic7,688100.00
Write Ins--
Nov 7, 2017[13] GeneralLuke TorianDemocratic14,830100.00
Write Ins--

(Note: Write Ins are not included for results after 2011.)

References

  1. Web site: Bio for Luke E. Torian . Virginia House of Delegates . 2013-06-07.
  2. Web site: LIS Virginia . October 31, 2019.
  3. Web site: Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings. virginiageneralassembly.gov. 2020-05-27.
  4. Web site: Pastor . First Mount Zion Baptist Church . 2013-06-07.
  5. News: About Luke Torian . Delegate Luke Torian . October 31, 2019.
  6. News: Iovino, Jim . Va. GOP Chair Out ... Wife May Be In? . NBC . 2009-02-13 . 2013-06-07.
  7. Web site: 2009 Election Results . WTOP . 2010-01-27 . 2009-12-20.
  8. Web site: 2009 June Democratic Primary Official Results . Virginia State Board of Elections . 2013-06-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120612200542/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/B19D959E-A4DD-4C27-BC08-30C8F2FF2F92/Official/8_s.shtml . 2012-06-12 .
  9. Web site: November 2009 General Election Official Results . Virginia State Board of Elections . 2013-06-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103045820/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/37C2EDEB-FACB-44C1-AF70-05FB616DCD62/Official/8_p3_s.shtml . 2014-01-03 .
  10. Web site: November 2011 General Election Official Results . Virginia State Board of Elections . 2013-06-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103073400/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/EB178FD6-875D-4B0D-A295-900A0482F523/Official/8_p3_s.shtml . 2014-01-03 .
  11. https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_House_of_Delegates_elections,_2013 Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2013
  12. https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_House_of_Delegates_elections,_2015 Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2015
  13. https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_House_of_Delegates_elections,_2017 Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2017

External links