House Democratic leader says he will step down in the “near future”

By: Mechelle Hankerson - November 16, 2018 11:24 am

Del. David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, plans to leave his post as leader of the House Democratic Caucus sometime “in the near future,” party staff said.

Toscano has been House Democratic Caucus Leader for seven years and served as delegate for the 57th District, which includes Charlottesville and part of Albemarle County, since 2006.

Virginia House of Degates Minority Leader Del. David Toscano, D-Charlottesville. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

He led the party to its largest victory in Virginia in at least a century, Trevor Southerland, deputy executive director of the House Democratic Caucus, wrote in a statement, and helped raise more than $2.5 million for House Democrats.

“On behalf of the entire caucus, we are grateful for his service and leadership,” Southerland wrote. “He will continue as a member of the House of Delegates and looks forward to being re-elected in 2019 and will continue working to win a Democratic Majority in the House.”

Southerland also said that who will be the future Democratic leader of the caucus is an “internal matter” and will be handled as such.

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Mechelle Hankerson

Mechelle, born and raised in Virginia Beach, is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in mass communications and a concentration in print journalism. She covered the General Assembly for the university’s Capital News Service and was among 12 student journalists in swing states selected by the Washington Post to cover the 2012 presidential election. For the past five years, she has covered local government, crime, housing, infrastructure and other issues at the Raleigh News & Observer and The Virginian-Pilot, where she most recently covered the state’s biggest city, Virginia Beach. Mechelle was with the Virginia Mercury until January 3rd, 2019.