Brandon Bell (Virginia politician)

John Brandon Bell II (born December 20, 1958)^[1] is an American former Virginia state senator and small businessman from Charlottesville. Bell was state senator for two non-consecutive terms, replacing Republican State Senator Malfourd W. Trumbo in an open race over Democratic Party Candidate Stephen H. Emick (a relative of Malfourd's predecessor Dudley J. Emick Jr.) when Trumbo retired after 3 terms, having first been elected in 1991.

Brandon Bell
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 22nd district
In office January 14, 2004 – January 9, 2008
Preceded by	Bo Trumbo
Succeeded by	Ralph K. Smith
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 21st district
In office January 11, 1992 – January 10, 1996
Preceded by	Granger Macfarlane
Succeeded by	John Edwards
Personal details
Born	John Brandon Bell II (1958-12-20) December 20, 1958 (age 66) Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Republican (formerly)
Spouse	Debbie Hurley Bell[1]
Residence	Roanoke County, Virginia
Alma mater	BA, Business Administration, Mississippi State University, 1980[2]
Occupation	Small Businessman, Financial Consultant

Bell did not continue on to the General Election four years later in 2007, having lost the Republican Party Primary by 75 votes to the former one term Roanoke Mayor Ralph K. Smith, largely due to his proposal of a bill seeking to ban smoking in private businesses throughout the state, a bill which failed, however a similar bill, sponsored by Senator Ralph Northam, a Democrat from Norfolk, succeeded in banning smoking in private businesses in 2009.^[3]

Electoral history

Virginia State Senate election in the 21st District, 1991

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	J. Brandon Bell II		53.49%	+16.84%
	Democratic	John G. Macfarlane (inc.)		46.45%	−16.89%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing	N/A

Virginia State Senate election in the 21st District, 1995

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	J. Brandon Bell II (inc.)		45.43%	−8.06%
	Democratic	John S. Edwards		54.56%	+8.11%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing	N/A

Virginia State Senate election in the 22nd District, 2003

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	J. Brandon Bell II		53.49%	+16.84%
	Democratic	John G. Macfarlane		46.45%	−16.89%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing	N/A

Virginia State Senate election in the 22nd District, 2007

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	J. Brandon Bell, II		53.49%	+16.84%
	Democratic	John G. Macfarlane (inc.)		46.45%	−16.89%
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing	N/A