Jill Vogel

Early and family life

Born in Roanoke, Virginia, Vogel's family started a small business, Holtzman Oil Company, which eventually grew into an enterprise employing over 600 people in Virginia. Vogel attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and received a B.A. degree in government and religion. She then attended DePaul University's Law School in Chicago, Illinois, and received a J.D. degree.

Political career

A member of the Virginia and Washington D.C. bars, Vogel did legal work for charitable and nonprofit organizations, as well as campaign finance and ethics. Vogel served as Deputy General Counsel in the Department of Energy, before starting her own law firm, Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky. Vogel became the Chief Counsel of the Republican National Committee in February 2004. Previously, she had been Deputy Chief Counsel, and was involved in the 2000 Florida recount and as a staff counsel at the 1996 Republican National Convention.

She was elected to the Senate of Virginia as a Republican in 2007, after long-term state senator Russ Potts retired. She represents much of the territory that was once represented by former Governor and U. S. Senator Harry F. Byrd Sr. and former U. S. Senator Harry F. Byrd Jr. It was one of the first areas of Virginia to turn Republican; the GOP has held the seat without interruption since Harry Jr.'s appointment to the U. S. Senate in 1965.

Vogel faced a contentious race in 2007, winning by only 661 votes over Winchester School Board Trustee Karen Schultz as the Democrats regained control of the Senate. She was re-elected by a wider margin in 2011.

In 2015, Vogel's candidacy for reelection was unopposed. She became the Caucus Whip for the Republican party in the state Senate.

In 2017, after an unusually bitter primary battle, Vogel became the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2017. She lost to Democrat Justin Fairfax in the general election on November 7, 2017.

In 2019 Vogel was reelected to the Virginia State Senate. Also in 2019, Vogel was presented with the Legislator of the Year award from the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters organization.

In December 2021, The Daily Beast reported that Vogel had done substantial work for Kanye West's 2020 presidential campaign as part of a larger astroturfing effort by the Republican Party on behalf of West's candidacy.

Policy positions

Abortion

In 2012, Vogel attracted nationwide media attention for a bill she introduced requiring abortion clinics to administer transvaginal ultrasounds, which she described as necessary for fully informed consent.

Gun rights

In 2016, she introduced legislation to allow victims of domestic violence to more easily and quickly obtain concealed weapons permits.

Child marriage

In 2016, she also gained nationwide media attention for helping repeal laws that allowed "child marriage" involving pregnant minors.

Redistricting reform

In 2017, she sought to curb gerrymandering by introducing a bill establishing more specific criteria for redistricting in Virginia. She also introduced legislation to legalize medicinal use of non-psychoactive cannabis oils for a range of conditions.

LGBT rights

In the January 2020 session of the legislature, Vogel was the only Republican in the Senate who voted in favor of a ban on conversion therapy. In the same session, Vogel also voted in favor of a bill which would make it easier for transgender Virginians to change the sex listed on their birth certificates and a bill which would repeal Virginia's defunct ban on same-sex marriage.

Electoral history

References

Sources

References

1. Vozzella, Laura. (2017-10-09). "Jill Vogel embraces the Trump agenda in her Virginia race". Washington Post.
2. [http://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S79 Jill Holtzman Vogel] at Virginia Senate site
3. [http://www.hvjt.law/?professional=holtzman Jill Holtzman Vogel] at Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky law firm site
4. [http://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/search/year_from:1987/year_to:2011/office_id:9/district_id:27290 Senate district 27 elections] at Virginia Department of Elections site
5. Vozzella, Laura. (8 June 2017). "Republicans rebuke 'gay bashing' fliers in race for Va. lt. governor".
6. "[http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/gop-s-vogel-running-for-lieutenant-governor/article_edc58ecd-f09e-585e-a8eb-9956e0db740d.html GOP's Vogel running for lieutenant governor]", ''[[Richmond Times Dispatch]]'', March 11, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
7. "Virginia Election Results: November 5, 2019".
8. Brehm, Brian. (3 September 2019). "Association selects Vogel as its Legislator of the Year".
9. (December 17, 2021). "Kanye West's 'Independent' Campaign Was Secretly Run by GOP Elites". [[The Daily Beast]].
10. Baratko, Trevor. (23 February 2012). "Vogel's ultrasound bill sparks media firestorm".
11. (10 February 2016). "Domestic violence survivor says proposed bill to protect victims, could do more harm than good".
12. Portnoy, Jenna. (3 July 2016). "Why 13-year-olds can no longer marry in Virginia".
13. Advance, Alex Rohr The (Lynchburg) News &. (28 January 2017). "Redistricting reformers lobby for a permanent fix".
14. Fain, Travis. "Small committee shoots down medical marijuana oil expansion".
15. Vozzella, Laura. (2020-01-23). "LGBT bills clear Virginia Senate and head to a friendly House of Delegates". The Washington Post.
16. "June 2007 Republican Primary Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections.
17. "November 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections.
18. "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections.
19. "November 2015 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections.
20. "Virginia Election Results: November 5, 2019".
21. "June 2017 Republican Primary Official Results". VPAP.
22. "2017 Candidates List for Statewide Office". Virginia State Board of Elections.