Jennifer Boysko

Jennifer Barton Boysko (born November 16, 1966) is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia. She represents the 38th district in the Virginia Senate. Previously, she represented the 86th district in the Virginia House of Delegates, which is located in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. She is a member of the Democratic Party.^[1][2]

Jennifer Boysko
Member of the Virginia Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 11, 2019
Preceded by	Jennifer Wexton
Constituency	33rd District (2019–2024) 38th District (since 2024)
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 86th district
In office January 13, 2016 – January 11, 2019
Preceded by	Tom Rust
Succeeded by	Ibraheem Samirah
Personal details
Born	Jennifer Barton (1966-11-16) November 16, 1966 (age 57) Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Glenn Boysko
Education	Hollins University (BA)
Website	Official website

Early life and career

Boysko was reared in Alabama and Arkansas. In 1989, she graduated from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. Since 1996, Boysko has been a resident of downtown Herndon, Virginia, where she and her husband, Glenn, have raised two daughters.^{[3][better source needed]}

Virginia House of Delegates

In 2013, Boysko was narrowly defeated for the House of Delegates 86th district seat, losing to the incumbent Republican Tom Rust 50.08 percent to 49.92 percent, a difference of 32 votes.^[1][4]

The 2015 election, held November 3, featured an open seat after Rust announced his retirement on February 25, 2015.^[5] For the primary election, held June 9, Boysko ran unopposed. For the general election, Boysko received 54 percent of the vote; Republican Danny Vargas—who ran unopposed in his primary—received 42 percent; and Independent Paul Brubaker received 5 percent.^[6] According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Vargas outspent Boysko $654,725 to $476,322. Brubaker spent $9,100.^[4]

In 2017, Boysko was re-elected 69%-31%.^[4]

Virginia Senate

Following Jennifer Wexton's election to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 elections, Boysko announced her candidacy for the special election to succeed her in the Virginia Senate.^[7] She won the Democratic Party's nomination on November 17,^[8][9] and won against former Republican Delegate Joe T. May in the election on January 8, 2019.^[10]

Boysko was elected to a full term during the 2019 general election, defeating Leesburg Vice Mayor Suzanne Fox 65%-35%.^[4]

Policy positions

Animal welfare

In 2018, as a member of the House of Delegates, Boysko sponsored legislation that would require companies to avoid using animals while testing cosmetics or household cleaners.^[11]

Labor

Boysko introduced a paid family leave proposal during the 2020 session of the Virginia State Senate. The bill would provide up to 12 weeks of paid time off for family or medical leave. The leave would be paid for by an insurance fund administered by the state and funded by a 0.5% payroll tax contribution by both workers and employers. Workers eligible for leave would receive 80% of their wages for up to 12 weeks.^[12]

Electoral history

Virginia House of Delegates district 86 Democratic primary results, 2013^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Boysko	1,215	77.33
	Democratic	Herb Kemp	368	22.67
Total votes			1,583	100.0

Virginia House of Delegates district 86 general election results, 2013^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tom Rust (incumbent)	10,410	50.01
	Democratic	Jennifer Boysko	10,378	49.75
	n/a	Write-ins	51	0.25
Total votes			20,775	100.0
	Republican hold

Virginia House of Delegates district 86 general election, 2015^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Boysko	8,283	54.46
	Republican	Danny Vargas	6,390	42.01
	Independent	Paul Brubaker	526	3.46
	n/a	Write-ins	11	0.07
Total votes			15,210	100.0
	Democratic gain from Republican

Virginia House of Delegates district 86 general election, 2017^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Boysko	16,865	68.52
	Republican	Linda Schulz	7,707	31.31
	n/a	Write-ins	40	0.16
Total votes			24,612	100.0
	Democratic hold

Virginia Senate district 33 special Democratic primary, 2019^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Boysko	2,174	82.22
	Democratic	Charlotte McConnell	322	12.18
	Democratic	Sharafat Hussain	148	5.60
Total votes			2,644	100.0

2019 Virginia's 33rd Senate district special election results, 2018^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Boysko	14,779	69.77
	Republican	Joe T. May	6,377	30.10
	n/a	Write-ins	27	0.13
Total votes			21,183	100.0
	Democratic hold

Virginia Senate district 33 Democratic primary results, 2019^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Boysko	8,268	84.27
	Democratic	Sharafat Hussain	1,540	15.70
	n/a	Write-ins	3	0.03
Total votes			9,811	100.0

Virginia Senate district 33 general election, 2019^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer Boysko	34,517	64.89
	Republican	Suzanne Fox	18,615	34.99
	n/a	Write-ins	63	0.12
Total votes			53,195	100.0
	Democratic hold

References

1. Moore, Ken (October 29, 2015). "Every Vote Matters in District 86, Herndon". Connectionnewspapers.com. Connection Newspapers. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
2. Dunn, Ryan (November 5, 2015). "Election Day in Herndon and Reston". Connectionnewspapers.com. Connection Newspapers. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
3. "Biography, official campaign website". Jenniferboysko.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
4. "Elections for Boysko, Jennifer". Virginia Public Access Project.
5. Baratko, Trevor (February 25, 2015). "Delegate Tom Rust retiring". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015.
6. Iacone, Amanda (November 4, 2015). "Election brings few changes to Va. legislature; huge shifts to Loudoun Co". WTOP-FM. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
7. Moomaw, Graham (November 7, 2018). "After Wexton's congressional win, Boysko announces run for Northern Virginia state Senate seat | Virginia Politics". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
8. Baratko, Trevor (November 17, 2018). "Del. Boysko wins Democratic nomination for 33rd Senate District special election | News". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
9. Cline, Nathaniel (November 20, 2018). "Boysko, May to face-off in special election | News". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
10. Baratko, Trevor (January 8, 2019). "Boysko wins 33rd Senate District special election". Loudoun Times-Mirror. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
11. Sullivan, Patricia (January 8, 2019). "Democrat wins Northern Va. state Senate seat vacated by Jennifer Wexton". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
12. Vozzella, Laura (January 28, 2020). "Virginia Democrats push to raise minimum wage, require paid leave". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
13. "2013 Virginia's 86th district primary election results". Retrieved October 13, 2022.
14. "2013 Virginia's 86th district general election results". Retrieved October 13, 2022.
15. "2017 Virginia's 86th district general election results". Retrieved October 13, 2022.
16. "2015 Virginia's 86th district general election results". Retrieved October 13, 2022.
17. "Virginia Senate district 33 special Democratic primary". Retrieved October 13, 2022.
18. "2018 Virginia's 33rd Senate district special Democratic primary election results". Retrieved October 7, 2023.
19. "2019 Virginia's 33rd Senate district primary election results". Retrieved October 13, 2022.
20. "2019 Virginia's 33rd Senate district general election results". Retrieved October 13, 2022.

External links

• Official House of Delegates website
• Official campaign website

Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by Tom Rust	Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 86th district 2016–2019	Succeeded by Ibraheem Samirah
Senate of Virginia
Preceded by Jennifer Wexton	Member of the Virginia Senate from the 33rd district 2019–2024	Succeeded by Jennifer Carroll Foy
Preceded by Travis Hackworth	Member of the Virginia Senate from the 38th district 2024–Present	Incumbent