Michael P. Mullin Explained

Michael Mullin
State Delegate:Virginia
District:93rd
Term Start:November 22, 2016
Term End:November 7, 2023
Preceded:Monty Mason
Succeeded:Jackie Glass (redistricting)
Birth Date:18 October 1981
Birth Place:Falls Church, Virginia, U.S.
Party:Democrat
Alma Mater:Christopher Newport University, Catholic University of America
Occupation:Politician
Committees:Courts of Justice
Counties Cities and Towns
Commerce and Labor
Office1:Virginia House Democratic Whip
Termstart1:January 2020
Termend1:November 2023
Alongside1:Alfonso H. Lopez

Michael P. Mullin (born October 18, 1981),[1] known as Mike Mullin, is a former assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Hampton and an American politician of the Democratic Party. From 2016 to 2023 he represented (part-time) the 93rd district in the Virginia House of Delegates.[2] He resigned on November 7, 2023.[3]

Early life and education

Mullin graduated from Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia where he was active in theatre and speech and debate. He traveled to Virginia's Hampton Roads region for his college education, graduating from Christopher Newport University in 2004. He then studied law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., graduating with a J.D. from the Columbus School of Law. He has three sons and is active in the Christopher Newport University alumni association.[2]

Career

After admission to the Virginia bar, Mullin worked as an assistant prosecutor in Hampton, Virginia. He became active in the Virginia Bar Association and the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys.[2] The Virginia Gang Investigator's association has also named him a Certified Gang Investigator.[4]

In November 2016, Mullin defeated Republican Heather Cordasco in a special election to fill the seat once held by Democrat Monty Mason, who won election to the Virginia Senate in another special election occasioned by the death of John Miller. Mullin also defeated Cordasco in the general elections in November 2017 and November 2019.[5] The 93rd district covers parts of James City County, York County, Williamsburg, and Newport News.[6]

In the Virginia House, Mullin serves as vice chair of the Rules Committee, as well as the Labor and Commerce Committee and the Courts of Justice Committee.[2] Mullin shortly after his election sponsored "Heaven's law" to protect children from child abuse; on December 30, 2019 he introduced two bills for the upcoming session concerning protocols for referring schoolchildren to criminal justice authorities.[7] Mullin served as the chair of a key subcommittee that can conduct hearings for rewriting Virginia's criminal code.[8] On March 12, 2020, he noted progressive reforms passed in that Virginia legislative session, which passed legislation offering additional protections for 14 and 15 year old defendants, as well as ending drivers license suspensions for unpaid fees and fines, raising the felony threshold to $1,000, decriminalizing some marijuana offenses, reforming criminal discovery effective in the summer, expanding deferral options for certain misdemeanors, opening parole opportunities for certain "Fishback" defendants, and allowing jurors to be told about criminal punishment ranges.[9]

In June 2024, Mullin became the Chair of the Board for State Navigate, an organization who is working to improve awareness of state legislatures.[10]

Electoral history

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 93rd district
Nov 8, 2016[11] SpecialElectionMichael P. MullinDemocratic20,41753.5
Heather L. CordascoRepublican17,63446.2
Write Ins970.3
Nov 7, 2017[12] GeneralMichael P. MullinDemocratic15,98860.0
Heather L. CordascoRepublican10,62539.9
Write Ins420.2
Nov 5, 2019[13] GeneralMichael P. MullinDemocratic14,34455.67
Heather L. CordascoRepublican11,39644.23
Write Ins280.11
Nov 2, 2021[14] GeneralMichael P. MullinDemocratic17,04851.6
Jordan GrayRepublican15,96848.3
Write Ins400.1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings - Mike Mullin. virginiageneralassembly.gov. 2019-07-30.
  2. Web site: Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings.
  3. Web site: Mullin stepping down as delegate. 2023-10-30. WAVY.com. en. 2023-11-12.
  4. Web site: Meet Mike. Mike Mullin for Virginia. en. 2019-11-09.
  5. Web site: Michael Mullin.
  6. News: Jefferson. Troy. Mullin wins 93rd District House of Delegates seat. 12 March 2017. vagazette.com. 8 November 2016.
  7. Web site: Del. Mike Mullin files several progressive criminal justice reform bills. 31 December 2019.
  8. "Some disappointed by criminal justice reform push", Virginia Lawyers' Weekly February 24, 2020, p. 5
  9. "Reformers disappointed with criminal justice legislation", Virginia Lawyers' Weekly March 16, 2020 (online)
  10. Web site: 2023-05-10 . About Us . 2024-06-24 . State Navigate . en-US.
  11. Web site: Virginia Elections Database » 2016 House of Delegates General Election District 93. Virginia Elections Database. en-US. 2019-11-09.
  12. Web site: Virginia Elections Database » 2017 House of Delegates General Election District 93. Virginia Elections Database. en-US. 2019-11-09.
  13. Web site: Virginia Election Results: November 5, 2019. The Virginia Public Access Project. en. 2019-11-09.
  14. Web site: 2021 November General. 2021-11-16. results.elections.virginia.gov.