Jill Kendrick Holtzman Vogel (née Holtzman, July 6, 1970) is an American attorney and politician who served as the Virginia State Senator from the 27th district from 2008 to 2024. A Republican, her district was located in exurban and rural parts of Northern Virginia, and it included all of Clarke, Fauquier, and Frederick counties, Winchester city, as well as pieces of Culpeper, Loudoun, and Stafford counties.[1]

Jill Holtzman Vogel
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 27th district
In office
January 9, 2008 – January 10, 2024
Preceded byRuss Potts
Succeeded byRusset Perry (Redistricting)
Personal details
Born
Jill Kendrick Holtzman

(1970-07-06) July 6, 1970 (age 54)
Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAlex Vogel
EducationCollege of William and Mary (BA)
DePaul University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Early and family life

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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.[2] She then attended DePaul University's Law School in Chicago, Illinois, and received a J.D. degree.[1][2]

Political career

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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.[2] Vogel served as Deputy General Counsel in the Department of Energy, before starting her own law firm, Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky.[2] 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.[3]

She was elected to the Senate of Virginia as a Republican in 2007, after long-term state senator Russ Potts retired.[4] 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,[5] Vogel became the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2017.[6] She lost to Democrat Justin Fairfax in the general election on November 7, 2017.

In 2019 Vogel was reelected to the Virginia State Senate.[7] Also in 2019, Vogel was presented with the Legislator of the Year award from the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters organization.[8]

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.[9]

Policy positions

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Abortion

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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.[10]

Gun rights

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In 2016, she introduced legislation to allow victims of domestic violence to more easily and quickly obtain concealed weapons permits.[11]

Child marriage

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In 2016, she also gained nationwide media attention for helping repeal laws that allowed "child marriage" involving pregnant minors.[12]

Redistricting reform

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In 2017, she sought to curb gerrymandering by introducing a bill establishing more specific criteria for redistricting in Virginia.[13] She also introduced legislation to legalize medicinal use of non-psychoactive cannabis oils for a range of conditions.[14]

LGBT rights

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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.[15] 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

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Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia Senate, 27th district
June 12, 2007[16] Primary Jill H. Vogel Republican 3,778 54.0%
Mark D. Tate Republican 2,022 28.9%
Terrence L. Nyhous Republican 654 9.3%
Richard W. Robinson Republican 548 7.8%
Nov 6, 2007[17] General Jill H. Vogel Republican 24,960 48.4%
Karen K. Schultz Democratic 24,301 47.2%
Donald C. Marro Independent 2,170 4.2%
Write Ins 90 0.2
Nov 8, 2011[18] General Jill H. Vogel Republican 24,555 74.6%
Shaun D. Broy Democratic 7,616 23.2%
Donald C. Marro Independent 681 2.1%
Write Ins 12 0.1
Nov 3, 2015[19] General Jill H. Vogel Republican 34,203 100.0%
Write Ins 964 2.7
Nov 5, 2019[20] General Jill H. Vogel Republican 43,406 64.21
Ronnie Ross Democratic 24,128 35.69
Write Ins 65 0.10
Virginia Lieutenant Governor
June 13, 2017[21] Primary Jill H. Vogel Republican 151,880 42.8%
Bryce Reeves Republican 141,888 40.0%
Glenn Davis Republican 60,998 17.2%
Nov 7, 2017[22] General Justin E. Fairfax Democratic 1,368,261 52.7%
Jill H. Vogel Republican 1,224,519 47.2%
Write Ins 2,446 0.1%

References

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  1. ^ a b Jill Holtzman Vogel at Virginia Senate site
  2. ^ a b c d Vozzella, Laura (2017-10-09). "Jill Vogel embraces the Trump agenda in her Virginia race". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  3. ^ Jill Holtzman Vogel at Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky law firm site
  4. ^ 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". Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  6. ^ "GOP's Vogel running for lieutenant governor", Richmond Times Dispatch, March 11, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  7. ^ "Virginia Election Results: November 5, 2019". The Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  8. ^ Brehm, Brian (3 September 2019). "Association selects Vogel as its Legislator of the Year". The Winchester Star. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  9. ^ Sollenberger, Roger; Bredderman, William (December 17, 2021). "Kanye West's 'Independent' Campaign Was Secretly Run by GOP Elites". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  10. ^ Baratko, Trevor (23 February 2012). "Vogel's ultrasound bill sparks media firestorm". LoudounTimes.com. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  11. ^ "Domestic violence survivor says proposed bill to protect victims, could do more harm than good". wtvr.com. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  12. ^ Portnoy, Jenna (3 July 2016). "Why 13-year-olds can no longer marry in Virginia". Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  13. ^ Advance, Alex Rohr The (Lynchburg) News & (28 January 2017). "Redistricting reformers lobby for a permanent fix". roanoke.com. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  14. ^ Fain, Travis. "Small committee shoots down medical marijuana oil expansion". dailypress.com. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  15. ^ Vozzella, Laura (2020-01-23). "LGBT bills clear Virginia Senate and head to a friendly House of Delegates". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  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". The Virginia Public Access Project. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  21. ^ "June 2017 Republican Primary Official Results". VPAP.
  22. ^ "2017 Candidates List for Statewide Office" (PDF). Virginia State Board of Elections.

Sources

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Senate of Virginia
Preceded by Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 27th district

2008–2024
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
2017
Succeeded by