Thelma Drake

Thelma Drake
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by Ed Schrock
Succeeded by Glenn Nye
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 87th district
In office
January 10, 1996 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by Howard Copeland
Succeeded by Paula Miller
Personal details
Born (1949-11-20) November 20, 1949
Elyria, Ohio
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Ted Drake
Residence East Ocean View, Norfolk, Virginia
Occupation Real estate agent
Religion United Church of Christ

Thelma D. Drake (born November 20, 1949) is an American politician and former member of Congress of the Republican party from the state of Virginia. She was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in November 2004 to represent Virginia's 2nd congressional district. She was defeated by Democrat Glenn Nye in 2008.

Personal life

Thelma Drake was born in Elyria, Ohio. She grew up in Ohio and attended Elyria High School. She later attended Old Dominion University, but did not graduate. She worked as a real estate agent in Norfolk, Virginia.

Drake is married and has two adult children. She and her husband reside in Norfolk. She was the director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit under the McDonnell administration.

Career in the House of Delegates

In 1995 Drake became the second Republican to be elected from the Norfolk area to the Virginia House of Delegates since Reconstruction. She served in the House of Delegates for nine years representing the 87th District. Drake served as chairman of the Virginia Housing Commission and as a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.

Career in the U.S. Congress

Election history

In 2004, Drake was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives of the 109th United States Congress. She entered the race after incumbent Republican congressman Ed Schrock dropped out on August 30, 2004, after being caught on tape soliciting sex from a gay prostitute. Drake defeated Democrat David Ashe 55%-45% in the general election, becoming the third woman to represent Virginia in Congress after Leslie Byrne and Jo Ann Davis.

In 2006, Drake defeated Democrat Phillip Kellam 51% to 49%. Kellam, a Democratic officeholder in Virginia Beach, Virginia, currently serves as its Commissioner of Revenue. Her former staffers include Carrie Melvin Domnitch, Jordan Davis, Tyler Brown, Mike Cosio, Dena Kozanas, Kate MacGregor and Jeff Scott.

In 2008, Drake's opponent was Democratic nominee Glenn Nye. Nye received the endorsement of The Virginian-Pilot, which endorsed Drake in 2006. The Virginian-Pilot editors stated that Drake had been ineffective in Congress.[1] Nye won the election and took office in January 2009.

Virginia's 2nd congressional district: Results 2004–2008[2][3]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2004 David Ashe 108,180 45% Thelma D. Drake 132,946 55% *
2006 Philip J. Kellam 83,901 48% Thelma D. Drake 88,777 51% *
2008 Glenn Nye 141,857 52% Thelma D. Drake 128,486 47% *

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2004, write-ins received 254 votes. In 2006, write-ins received 481 votes. In 2008, write-ins received 368 votes.

See also

References

  1. ↑ For Congress: Glen Nye, The Virginian-Pilot, October 24, 2008
  2. ↑ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  3. ↑ November 2008 Unofficial Results Virginia State Board of Elections
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