Ralph Northam

Not to be confused with Ralph Norman.

Ralph Northam
Northam in 2018
73rd Governor of Virginia
In office
January 13, 2018 – January 15, 2022
LieutenantJustin Fairfax
Preceded byTerry McAuliffe
Succeeded byGlenn Youngkin
40th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
In office
January 11, 2014 – January 13, 2018
GovernorTerry McAuliffe
Preceded byBill Bolling
Succeeded byJustin Fairfax
Member of the Virginia Senate
from the 6th district
In office
January 9, 2008 – January 11, 2014
Preceded byNick Rerras
Succeeded byLynwood Lewis
Personal details
Born
Ralph Shearer Northam

(1959-09-13) September 13, 1959 (age 65)
Nassawadox, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1986)​
Children2
EducationVirginia Military Institute (BS)
Eastern Virginia Medical School (MD)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1984–1992
Rank Major
UnitArmy Medical Corps

Ralph Shearer Northam (born September 13, 1959) is an American physician and politician who was the 73rd governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022.[1] A pediatric neurologist by occupation, he was an officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1984 to 1992. Northam, a member of the Democratic Party, was the 40th lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018 before winning the governorship against the Republican nominee Ed Gillespie in the 2017 election.[2] Prohibited by the Virginia Constitution from running for a consecutive term, Northam left office in January 2022 and was succeeded by the Republican Glenn Youngkin.[3]

As governor, Northam's most notable accomplishments included expanding Medicaid coverage as allowed under the Affordable Care Act, abolishing the death penalty, legalizing marijuana, and raising the minimum wage.[4] While Governor, Virginia was named CNBC's "best state for business" twice, the only state to be awarded the title two years in a row.[5] Northam also led the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he was the only governor in the United States who was a licensed doctor.

Northam is currently a neurologist at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk, VA where his clinical interests are epilepsy and neuromuscular disorders.[6]

  1. ^ "Dr. Ralph Northam MD". U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report L.P. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  2. ^ Martin, Johnathan; Burns, Alexander (November 8, 2017). "Ralph Northam Wins the Virginia Governor's Race". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  3. ^ "Constitution of Virginia, Article V. Executive, Section 1. Executive power; Governor's term of office". Legislative Information System. Archived from the original on July 31, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
    - Paviour, Ben; Pope, Michael (January 15, 2022). "Republican Glenn Youngkin is sworn in as the governor of Virginia". NPR. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "Northam signs Medicaid expansion into law on steps of Virginia Capitol". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
    - "Virginia Governor Signs Law Abolishing The Death Penalty, A 1st In The South". NPR. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
    - Oliver, Ned (April 7, 2021). "Marijuana will be legal in Virginia on July 1. Here's what is and isn't permitted under the new law". Virginia Mercury. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
    - "2020 session". Virginia. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Cohn, Scott (July 13, 2021). "Virginia is back as America's Top State for Business in 2021". CNBC. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "Dr. Ralph Northam | Pediatric Neurologist | Health & Medicine | CHKD". www.chkd.org. Retrieved July 7, 2024.