Del. David Bulova Running For VA House Of Delegates: Candidate Questionnaire

FAIRFAX, VA — Del. David Bulova (D-Fairfax), who has been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2006, says haphazard cuts to the federal workforce and essential services are the most pressing issues facing voters.

Bulova is one of three candidates running in the Nov. 4 general election to represent District 11 in the House of Delegates. He faces Republican Adam Wise and Brandon Norman Givens of the Forward Party. Early voting begins on Friday, Sept. 19.

As part of its coverage of the 2025 election, Patch has asked each of the candidates in the District 11 race to fill out a questionnaire to describe why they think they're the best person to fill the job for which they're running. The following are Bulova's responses.

Name

David Bulova

Position Sought

Virginia House of Delegates - 11th District

Age (as of Election Day)

56

Family

Married to Gretchen for 32 years. Three great children, Alex, Josette, and Grayson. Alex and Josette are graduates from Fairfax County Public Schools and Grayson is a Senior at Robinson Secondary.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're a candidate in.

My wife is the Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, which is part of the City of Alexandria government.

Education

BA, Government, College of William and Mary; Master of Public Administration, Virginia Tech.

Occupation

Senior Environmental Planner, WSP USA. Total of 34 years in the environmental and water resources planning profession.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office

Member, House of Delegates (2006-Present); Director, Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (2003-2005).

Why are you seeking elective office?

Virginia is a wonderful place. It is where I grew up and it is where my wife and I have raised our own family. I deeply care about the people in my community and believe it is important to make decisions that take the long-view so that future generations will enjoy an even better quality of life. This includes investing in education, workforce development, housing affordability, transportation, and our environment. I enjoy working with others to solve problems and seek common ground. But even when that it not possible, everyone should have an opportunity to be heard during the decision-making process. Finally, I want to create an economy that rewards hard work and unleashes everyone's creative potential.

The single most pressing issue facing voters is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Haphazard cuts to our federal workforce and essential services put Virginia's economy at risk and disproportionately affect lower income and vulnerable families. I am grateful that the Speaker asked me to chair the Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce Reductions. Over the past seven months, we have engaged with individuals across the Commonwealth and formulated strategies to assist impacted Virginians. You can find our final report at rga.lis.virginia.gov/Published/2025/RD506. My priority is to support those who have experienced unforeseen unemployment. I will advocate for legislation to strengthen unemployment insurance and to prevent evictions due to temporary income loss. Additionally, it is essential to expand workforce development initiatives, including those offered by NOVA and George Mason University, as well as make targeted investments to diversify our economy. Finally, we need to do this in a way that keeps our budget structurally balanced and protects our AAA bond rating.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have a record of success working in the community to solve problems and enhance our quality of life. This is reflected in legislation and budget amendments I have passed in the General Assembly and have been signed into law by the Governor. In 2020, I helped expand access to early childhood education by passing the Virginia Early Childhood Care and Education Act (HB1012). During the 2025 session I sponsored successful budget amendments that invested an additional $223 million for K-12 education and expanded the Virginia Housing Opportunity Tax Credit (HOTC) program. I also worked with Fairfax Water to pass legislation to reduce chemical PFAS contamination in our drinking water (HB2050) and partnered with Fairfax County and law enforcement to increase penalties for dangerous exhibition driving on our streets (HB2036).

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

No response.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As a parent, I understand that educating our children is our most important investment. A recent Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) study highlighted the extent to which Virginia underfunds our public schools. As a result, our residents make up the difference in the form of higher property taxes. I am proud to have passed several budget amendments that have significantly increased investment in public education.

A healthy environment is fundamental to our quality of life and a robust economy. I will continue to lead efforts to keep our drinking water safe and restore the Chesapeake Bay.

Workforce development is critical to keeping Virginia competitive, especially as automation increases. I have prioritized making our economy more resilient by investing in high-speed internet, securing funding for Virginia's International Trade Plan, and providing funding for site readiness initiatives to attract advanced manufacturing.

Finally, we must address our housing affordability crisis - which is particularly acute in our region. As a budget conferee, I led the charge to secure millions in new resources for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. However, much more needs to be done to increase the supply of affordable housing.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have loved representing my community in the House since 2006 and have successfully passed over 155 pieces of legislation. I am grateful that the Speaker has appointed me to several leadership positions in the House. These include the General Laws committee, where I serve as chair, the Appropriations Committee, where I chair the Commerce, Agriculture, and Natural Resources subcommittee, and the Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Natural Resources committee. I have also served on the budget conference committee, which is responsible for budget negotiations between the House and the Senate. In addition, I serve on a range of commissions that meet outside of session, including the Chesapeake Bay Commission, State Water Commission, Virginia Housing Commission, Early Childhood Care and Education Commission, and Major Employment and Investment Commission.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The most important thing is your family. Even when things are hectic, make the time to share the adventure of life and do fun things together.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love public service! Gretchen and I served as co-chairs of our National Night Out crime prevention program for seven years and are active in Scouts. I currently serve on the board of Brain Injury Services, coached youth sports, and previously chaired the Fairfax County Consumer Protection Commission.

Finally, my most important job is to actively listen and make it easy for constituents to share their thoughts and ideas. I work to make this possible through my annual town hall event and many hours spent with constituents at our fantastic coffee shops!

Also See ...

• Walkinshaw Claims VA’s 11th Congressional District, Keeping Seat Blue
• Stopping DOGE Job Cuts, Public Safety Top Priorities In Congressional Race
• Immigration, Climate Change, School Funding Debated During Reston Forum
• 11th District GOP Candidates Spent Half Of Money Raised For Primary