Leslie Byrne

Leslie Larkin Byrne (born October 27, 1946) is an American businesswoman and politician. In 1992, she became the first woman elected to the United States House of Representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia. A member of the Democratic Party, she served for one term (1993–1995) in the 103rd Congress.

Leslie Byrne
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 34th district
In office
January 12, 2000 – January 14, 2004
Preceded byJane Woods
Succeeded byJeannemarie Devolites Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 11th district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byDistrict re-created after the United States Census of 1990
Succeeded byTom Davis
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 38th district
In office
January 8, 1986 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byGwendalyn F. Cody
Succeeded byRobert D. Hull
Personal details
Born
Leslie Larkin Beck

(1946-10-27) October 27, 1946
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Larry Byrne
Alma materUniversity of Utah

Early life and career

Byrne grew up in Salt Lake City and attended both the University of Utah and Mount Vernon College in Ohio.[1] After her family moved to Northern Virginia in 1971, she became active with several community organizations, including the Parent Teacher Association for her children's schools, the Fairfax Area League of Women Voters and the Fairfax County Commission on Fair Campaign Practices.

In 1985, Byrne co-founded Quintech Associates, Inc., a human resources consulting firm. She served as president of Quintech until her election to Congress in 1992.

Virginia House

Byrne served in the Virginia House of Delegates for six years, having defeating two-term Republican incumbent Gwen Cody in 1985. In this role, she supported public/private partnerships for transportation, including the Dulles Greenway project.

Tenure in Congress

In 1992, Virginia was awarded an additional House seat as a result of the 1990 U.S. Census. Byrne ran for Congress that year in the newly created 11th congressional district. When she won that race, she became the first woman elected to Congress from Virginia.[2] The election year 1992 was known as the "Year of the Woman" for the large number of women elected to Congress in that election.

Representative Leslie Byrne gives her keynote address at the Pentagon, March 31, 1993, during the Women's History Month observance.

While a member of the 103rd Congress, Byrne served on the Public Works and Transportation Committee. She was also a member of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee.

The freshman Democratic members of the 103rd Congress elected her to the leadership position of freshman caucus whip. She introduced and passed more legislation than any other freshman representative, including two of her measures on childhood immunization that were passed into law. She helped obtain funds for rail from Tysons Corner to Dulles Airport.

Thomas M. Davis, then chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, defeated her for re-election in 1994's "Republican Revolution." His campaign charged that Byrne was too liberal for the swing district she represented and that her voting record was too supportive of President Bill Clinton.[3]

Political career after Congress

In 1996, Byrne sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate to challenge incumbent Senator John Warner. Future Virginia Governor Mark Warner (no relation) won the nomination at the 1996 Virginia Democratic Convention, garnering 1,889 delegates to Byrne's 231. He lost to Senator Warner in the general election.

In 1998, Byrne began work at the United States Information Agency, advising its director on the au pair program.[4]

Byrne returned to elected office in 1999 when she was elected to the Senate of Virginia, winning a very close election against two-term incumbent Republican Jane Woods (45.52% to Wood's 45.39%). She left the Senate after one term, choosing not to seek reelection after she was drawn into the same district as another Democratic incumbent during redistricting. In the Virginia Senate, she sponsored legislation to prohibit people from sleeping in rooms except bedrooms, a response to complaints of students and poor immigrants crowded into residential houses.[5][6]

Byrne was the 2005 Democratic Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Republican Party candidate Bill Bolling defeated her in the November 8, 2005 general election by 1.2%.

2008 congressional race

In 2008, Byrne ran for the Democratic nomination for Virginia's 11th congressional district, the seat she held from 1992 to 1994. The incumbent Republican, Thomas M. Davis, had announced he would not seek reelection. In the primary election on June 10, 2008, she faced Gerald Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and others in a multi- candidate field. Connolly defeated Byrne 58% to 33%[7][8] and went on to defeat Republican Keith Fimian in the general election.

Personal life

She is married to Larry Byrne, who is president of an international consulting firm. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

Election results
Democratic Primary for Virginia's 11th District, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Gerry Connolly 14,233 57.9
Democratic Leslie Byrne 8,196 33.4
Democratic Doug Denneny 1,508 6.1
Democratic Lori Alexander 638 2.6
General election for Virginia Lt. Governor, 2005
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Bolling 979,265 50.5
Democratic Leslie Byrne 956,906 49.3
Write-ins 4,065 0.2
Democratic Primary for Virginia Lt. Governor, 2005
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Leslie Byrne 37,904 32.8
Democratic Viola Baskerville 30,083 26.1
Democratic Chapman Petersen 24,992 21.7
Democratic Phillip Puckett 22,400 19.4
Virginia Senate election for the 34th District, 1999
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Leslie Byrne 13,719 45.5
Republican Jane Woods (Incumbent) 13,682 45.4
Independent Virginia Dobey 2,726 9.0
U.S. House election for Virginia's 11th District, 1994
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Thomas M. Davis 98,216 52.9 +7.7
Democratic Leslie Byrne (Incumbent) 84,104 45.3 -4.7
Independent Gordon Cruickshank 3,246 1.8
U.S. House election for Virginia's 11th District, 1992
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Leslie Byrne 114,172 50.0
Republican Henry N. Butler 103,119 45.2
Independent Arthur T. Narro 6,681 2.9
Independent Perry Mitchell 4,155 1.8
Virginia House of Delegates election for the 38th District, 1991
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Leslie Byrne (Incumbent) 8,017 60.5 +3.8
Republican Norman Caron 5,226 39.5 -3.8
Virginia House of Delegates election for the 38th District, 1989
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Leslie Byrne (Incumbent) 10,485 56.7 +4.3
Republican A. Strode Brent Jr. 8,018 43.3 -4.3
Virginia House of Delegates election for the 38th District, 1987
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Leslie Byrne (Incumbent) 8,172 52.4 -2.6
Republican A. Strode Brent Jr. 7,434 47.6 +2.6
Virginia House of Delegates election for the 38th District, 1985
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Leslie Byrne 8,497 55.0
Republican Gwendalyn Cody (Incumbent) 6,941 45.0

See also

References
  1. United States Congress. "Leslie Byrne (id: B001213)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  2. "THE 1992 ELECTIONS: STATE BY STATE; South". The New York Times. 1992-11-04. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
  3. Eric Liption, "Byrne, Davis Backers Mix It Up," The Washington Post, 13 October 1994, P. V1.
  4. Walker, Jimmye (1998-02-13). "Press Release". Release No. 02-98. United States Information Agency. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  5. "Bill Would Let Fairfax Limit Sleep to Bedrooms; Va. Senate Passes Legislation That Critics Say Unfairly Targets Crowded Immigrant Homes." The Washington Post. January 27, 2001. P. A1.
  6. Timberg, Craig (1999-10-27). "Statehouse Battle Puts Focus on Key N. Va. Races". The Washington Post. pp. A1. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  7. "Connolly Wins Dem Nomination For Davis' Seat", CBS News, 2008-06-10.
  8. 2008 June Democratic Primary Unofficial Results Archived 2008-06-11 at the Wayback Machine, State Board of Elections.
U.S. House of Representatives
New district Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 11th congressional district
1993–1995		 Succeeded by
Tom Davis
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