Dave Marsden (politician)

David William Marsden (born April 5, 1948) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. In 2010 he was elected to represent the 37th district, a portion of Fairfax County, in the Senate of Virginia, and later re-elected to the senate.

Dave Marsden
Member of the Virginia Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 13, 2010
Preceded by	Ken Cuccinelli
Constituency	37th district (2010–2024) 35th district (2024–present)
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 41st district
In office January 11, 2006 – January 13, 2010
Preceded by	Jim Dillard
Succeeded by	Eileen Filler-Corn
Personal details
Born	David William Marsden (1948-04-05) April 5, 1948 (age 77) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Julia-Anna Thompson
Children	3
Education	Randolph-Macon College (BA)

Early life and education

Marsden graduated from Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School in 1966 and Randolph–Macon College in 1970.

Political career

Prior to his career in politics, Marsden spent 17 years as head of the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center until 1999. In 2000, Governor Jim Gilmore appointed him Chief Deputy and then Acting Director of the 2,700-person Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice. He then served for 6 months in the administration of Governor Mark Warner. Between 2006 and 2010, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 41st district.

On January 12, 2010, Marsden defeated Steve Hunt in a special Senate election to replace Republican Ken Cuccinelli who was elected Attorney General the previous fall. On January 13, 2010, Marsden was sworn in. An additional special election was held March 2, 2010, to replace Marsden in the Virginia House of Delegates. It was won by Democrat Eileen Filler-Corn.

Senate committee assignments

• Transportation (Chair)
• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
• Commerce and Labor
• Finance and Appropriations
• Rules