Chap Petersen

Chap Petersen
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 34th district
In office
January 9, 2008 – January 10, 2024
Preceded byJeannemarie Devolites Davis
Succeeded bySaddam Azlan Salim (Redistricting)
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 37th district
In office
January 9, 2002 – January 11, 2006
Preceded byJack Rust
Succeeded byDavid Bulova
Member of the Fairfax, Virginia city council
In office
1998–2001
Personal details
Born
John Chapman Petersen

(1968-03-27) March 27, 1968 (age 56)
Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSharon Kim
Children4
Residence(s)Fairfax, Virginia
Alma materWilliams College (B.A.)
University of Virginia (J.D.)
ProfessionAttorney
CommitteesAgriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Chair)
Education and Health
Finance and Appropriations
Judiciary
Rules
Chap Petersen and family during 2015 Fairfax City 4th of July parade.

John Chapman "Chap" Petersen (born March 27, 1968) is an American politician. A Democrat, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates 2002–06, was elected to the Virginia State Senate in November 2007, and was reelected in 2011. He represented the state's 34th district, made up of the city of Fairfax and large parts of Fairfax County.[1] In June 2023, Petersen lost the Democratic primary for District 37 to Saddam Azlan Salim.[2] Salim won the general election, and assumed office on January 10, 2024.[3]

Petersen was regarded in office as a political moderate, and broke with his party on several issues.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Senator Chap Petersen; Democrat - District 34". Senate of Virginia. Archived from the original on 2009-01-15.
  2. ^ Rankin, Sarah (2023-06-21). "Virginians oust Democrat who sought abortion limits and Republican who denied 2020 results". Washington Post. Associated Press. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  3. ^ "Saddam Salim". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  4. ^ Barakat, Matthew (2021-12-24). "Middle man: Petersen poised to play key role in Va. Senate". AP News. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  5. ^ Santhanam, Laura (2023-06-21). "Virginia voters oust two controversial state politicians in primary election". PBS News. Retrieved 2024-10-17.