Ralph Northam
Encyclopedia
Ralph S. Northam is an American politician and physician
from Virginia
. A Democrat
, he currently serves in the Senate of Virginia
, representing the 6th district. He was first elected in November 2007.
and Circuit Court
judge
in Accomack County, Virginia
, and Nancy B. Shearer, a nurse. He grew up in Onancock, Virginia
.
Northam attended Virginia Military Institute
, where he was President of the Honor Court. He went on to Eastern Virginia Medical School
, obtaining his M.D. degree in 1984. From 1984 to 1992 he served as a United States Army
physician, attaining the rank of major. During his army service, he completed a pediatric residency at Brooke Army Medical Center
in San Antonio, Texas
, followed by a child neurology
fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
in Washington, D.C.
. During Operation Desert Storm, he treated evacuated casualties at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
in Germany
.
In 1992 Northam established a pediatric neurology practice at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
in Norfolk, Virginia
.
Northam currently lives in Norfolk. His wife, Pam (married c. 1987) teaches at Cape Henry Collegiate School
in Virginia Beach, Virginia
. They have two children, Wes (born May 27, 1988) and Aubrey (born March 8, 1991). His brother, Thomas Northam, is the law partner of Virginia House of Delegates
member Lynwood Lewis
.
; Mathews County
, on the Middle Peninsula
; and parts of the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. He was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. On November 6, 2007, he defeated Nick Rerras, a two-term Republican
incumbent, 17,307 votes to 14,499.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he currently serves in the Senate of Virginia
Senate of Virginia
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 Senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia...
, representing the 6th district. He was first elected in November 2007.
Early life
Northam is the son of Wescott B. Northam, a former Commonwealth's AttorneyCommonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky and Virginia. Other states refer to similar prosecutors as District Attorney or State's Attorney....
and Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
in Accomack County, Virginia
Accomack County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
, and Nancy B. Shearer, a nurse. He grew up in Onancock, Virginia
Onancock, Virginia
Onancock is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,525 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Onancock is located at ....
.
Northam attended Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
, where he was President of the Honor Court. He went on to Eastern Virginia Medical School
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Eastern Virginia Medical School commonly referred to as EVMS, in Norfolk, Virginia is a public-private medical school founded by the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia...
, obtaining his M.D. degree in 1984. From 1984 to 1992 he served as a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
physician, attaining the rank of major. During his army service, he completed a pediatric residency at Brooke Army Medical Center
Brooke Army Medical Center
Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio is part of the United States Army Medical Command. It is a University of Texas Health Science Center and USUHS teaching hospital and contains the Army Burn Center....
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, followed by a child neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was the United States Army's flagship medical center until 2011. Located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. During Operation Desert Storm, he treated evacuated casualties at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is an overseas military hospital operated by the United States Army and the Department of Defense. LRMC is the largest military hospital outside of the continental United States. It is located near Landstuhl, Germany, and serves as the nearest treatment center...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 1992 Northam established a pediatric neurology practice at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters , located in Norfolk, Virginia, is the only freestanding children's hospital in Virginia and the home to one of the nation's top pediatric residency programs....
in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
Northam currently lives in Norfolk. His wife, Pam (married c. 1987) teaches at Cape Henry Collegiate School
Cape Henry Collegiate School
Cape Henry Collegiate School is an independent coeducational school in Virginia Beach, Virginia....
in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. They have two children, Wes (born May 27, 1988) and Aubrey (born March 8, 1991). His brother, Thomas Northam, is the law partner of Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
member Lynwood Lewis
Lynwood Lewis
Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr. is an American politician. A Democrat, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November 2003. He the 100th district, which consists of the Eastern Shore counties of Accomack and Northampton, and parts of the cities of Norfolk and Hampton.-External links:...
.
Political career
Northam first ran for office in 2007 in the Virginia 6th Senate district, which includes the Eastern Shore of VirginiaEastern Shore of Virginia
The Eastern Shore of Virginia consists of two counties on the Atlantic coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The region is part of the Delmarva Peninsula and is separated from the rest of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay. Its population was 45,553 as of 2010...
; Mathews County
Mathews County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,978 people, 3,932 households, and 2,823 families residing in the county. The population density was 108 people per square mile . There were 5,333 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
, on the Middle Peninsula
Middle Peninsula
The Middle Peninsula is the second of three large peninsulas on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, in the United States. It lies between the Northern Neck and the Virginia Peninsula. This peninsula is bounded by the Rappahannock River on the north and the York River on the south...
; and parts of the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. He was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. On November 6, 2007, he defeated Nick Rerras, a two-term Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, 17,307 votes to 14,499.
External links
- Ralph Northam for State Senate official campaign website
- Project Vote Smart - Ralph S. Northam (VA) profile
- Washington Post - Senate District 6 Race