Amy Laufer

Laufer, one of eight children, grew up on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin. She became the first in her family to attend college, and she graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, earning a bachelor's degree in geology. She then joined the Peace Corps, teaching elementary school in a rural town in Jamaica. Following the Peace Corps, she attended Teachers College at Columbia University in New York City, graduating with a master's degree in secondary science education.{{Cite web |last=Curtis |first=Andrew |date=2022-06-27 |title=Amy Laufer |url=https://lauferfordelegate.com/meet-amy/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601161732/https://lauferfordelegate.com/meet-amy/ |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=lauferfordelegate.com |language=en-US}}

Laufer is a former school teacher, having taught at Louisa County Middle School and Tandem Friends School in Charlottesville.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} In 2011, she was elected to the Charlottesville School Board, and was re-elected in 2015.{{Cite web |title=Virginia Elections Database » 2011 School Board General Election Charlottesville City |url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/46834/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601160049/https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/46834 |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Virginia Elections Database |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Virginia Elections Database » 2015 School Board General Election Charlottesville City |url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/67259/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002185222/https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/67259 |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Virginia Elections Database |language=en-US}} Laufer served as board chair from 2015 until 2016.{{Cite web |date=2015-08-08 |title=Board Members - Charlottesville City Schools |url=http://charlottesvilleschools.org/home/school-board/board-members |access-date=2023-06-01 |archive-date=2015-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808232825/http://charlottesvilleschools.org/home/school-board/board-members |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=2016-05-04 |title=Board Members - Charlottesville City Schools |url=http://charlottesvilleschools.org/home/school-board/board-members |access-date=2023-06-01 |archive-date=2016-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504032008/http://charlottesvilleschools.org/home/school-board/board-members |url-status=dead }} In January 2019, Laufer resigned from the school board due to purchasing a home outside of Charlottesville City.{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2019 |title=MINUTES SCHOOL BOARD MEETING CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS |url=https://charlottesvillepublic.ic-board.com/Reference_Library/ESB_Minutes/MINUTES%20-%20January%2010,%202019%20School%20Board%20Meeting.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601162637/https://charlottesvillepublic.ic-board.com/Reference_Library/ESB_Minutes/MINUTES%20-%20January%2010,%202019%20School%20Board%20Meeting.pdf |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=charlottesvillepublic.ic-board.com}}{{Cite web |date=2019-02-16 |title=Board Members {{!}} Charlottesville City Schools |url=http://charlottesvilleschools.org/home/school-board/board-members |access-date=2023-06-01 |archive-date=2019-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216211236/http://charlottesvilleschools.org/home/school-board/board-members |url-status=dead }} Laufer ran for the Charlottesville City Council in 2017, but was defeated in the general election.{{Cite web |title=vpap.org |url=https://www.vpap.org/candidates/227111/elections/www.vpap.org/candidates/227111/elections/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601160513/https://www.vpap.org/candidates/227111/elections/ |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=The Virginia Public Access Project |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2017 |title=Amy Laufer running for City Council |url=http://wina.com/news/064460-amy-laufer-running-for-city-council/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602140952/https://wina.com/news/064460-amy-laufer-running-for-city-council/ |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=NewsRadio WINA |language=en-US}} During 2022, Laufer briefly served as the chair of the Albemarle County Democrats until June.

In 2014, she founded Virginia's List, a political group supporting Democratic women running for office.

Laufer has been praised as an active and vocal member of the Virginia Legislature.{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Jay |date=2025-03-14 |title=Laufer Set to Announce 55th House District Re-election Bid - Cville Right Now |url=https://cvillerightnow.com/news/208802-laufer-set-to-announce-55th-house-district-re-election-bid/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |language=en-US}} Laufer introduced [https://legacylis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB1277 HB1277] on her first day in office, aimed at facilitating a safe and efficient hiring process for early education and childcare workers; the bill was signed into law in March 2024. In April 2024, her proposal to remove personal property tax on indoor agricultural equipment ([https://legacylis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?241+sum+HB1429 HB1429]) was also signed into law. On social issues, Laufer has remained a vocal advocate of women's reproductive rights, calling on Governor Glenn Youngkin to enshrine protections for contraception into Virginia law.{{Cite web |last=Virginia |first=Blue |date=2025-03-19 |title=Video: In Charlottesville, Senator Hashmi and Local Leaders Urge Governor Youngkin to Sign the Virginia Right to Contraception Act |url=https://bluevirginia.us/2025/03/video-in-charlottesville-senator-hashmi-and-local-leaders-urge-governor-youngkin-to-sign-the-virginia-right-to-contraception-act |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Blue Virginia |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Progress |first=EMILY HEMPHILL The Daily |date=2025-01-13 |title=Amy Laufer thinks this will be the year Virginia enshrines abortion rights |url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/article_6af825d6-cf76-11ef-94af-ebb8002ff578.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=The Daily Progress |language=en}}

In February 2025, the House of Delegates passed [https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2002 HB2002], a bill proposed by Laufer, that prevents state officials from removing active-duty military from voter rolls while overseas.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-10 |title=Bill would protect overseas service members from Virginia voter roll removal |url=https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-02-10/amy-laufer-general-assembly-overseas-military-voter-roll-removal |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=VPM |language=en}} As of June 2025, Laufer serves on the Finance, Education, and Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committees in the Virginia General Assembly.{{Cite web |title=Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings |url=https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0371 |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=virginiageneralassembly.gov}} Laufer is also a part of the House Select Committees on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care, on Block Grants, and on Maintaining Campus Safety and First Amendment Expression, as well as the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.{{Cite web |last=caitlin |date=2024-07-15 |title=Amy Laufer - Legislative Work |url=https://lauferfordelegate.com/legislative-work/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=lauferfordelegate.com |language=en-US}}

As of June 2025, Laufer is a member of the Appalachian Region Interstate Compact Commission, the Virginia Women’s Monument Commission, the State Water Commission, and is the current Chair of the Disability Commission. She is a trustee of the Center for Rural Virginia and the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia.

Laufer ran in Virginia's 17th Senate district, which stretched from Fredericksburg to the suburbs of Charlottesville in Albemarle County, and included all of Orange County and portions of Culpepper, Louisa and Spotsylvania counties.[https://wtvr.com/2019/06/11/democratic-primary-in-state-senate-district-17/ WTVR News, Richmond, Virginia, June 11, 2019, retrieved October 6, 2019] Laufer's primary opponent was Ben Hixon, former chairman of the Democratic Party of Culpeper, whom she defeated handily. She narrowly lost the general election to Republican incumbent Bryce Reeves, by three percentage points.[https://ballotpedia.org/Amy_Laufer Ballotpedia. retrieved November 23, 2021][[File:2019_election_in_Virginia's_17th_senate_district_by_county.svg|thumb|224x224px|County and independent city results{{Collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#e55751|Reeves}}|{{legend|#ed8883|50–60%}}|{{legend|#e55751|60–70%}}

}}{{Collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#678cd7|Laufer}}|{{legend|#678cd7|60–70%}}

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{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2019 Virginia Senate election, District 17{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_State_Senate_District_17|title=Virginia State Senate District 17|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=November 12, 2019}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bryce Reeves (incumbent)|votes=6,325|percentage=82.3|change=}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Rich Breeden|votes=1,359|percentage=17.7|change=}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=7,685|percentage=100|change=}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Amy Laufer|votes=6,042|percentage=78.2|change=}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Ben Hixon|votes=1,679|percentage=21.7|change=}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=7,722|percentage=100|change=}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Bryce Reeves (incumbent)|votes=34,494|percentage=51.6|change=}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Amy Laufer|votes=32,176|percentage=48.1|change=}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=66,878|percentage=100|change=}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)|swing=}}

{{Election box end}}

In July 2022, Laufer announced her candidacy for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in the newly formed 55th District.{{Cite web |last=Knott |first=Katherine |date=2022-07-17 |title=Laufer formally announces run, leads Dems in fundraising for state's 55th House district |url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/laufer-formally-announces-run-leads-dems-in-fundraising-for-states-55th-house-district/article_3ad20be6-05f3-11ed-844f-fbb2f83b4e51.html |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=The Daily Progress |language=en}} The 55th was created in the 2021 redistricting process and has no previous incumbent.{{Cite web |title=2021 Redistricting - 55th District |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-55/redistricting/www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-55/redistricting/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=The Virginia Public Access Project |language=en}} Her opponent in the Democratic race was Kellen Squire, an ER nurse at the University of Virginia Hospital. On June 21, Laufer won her primary against Squire by a nearly 70-30% margin.{{Cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://enr.elections.virginia.gov/results/public/Virginia/elections/2023DEMPRI/ballot-items/c07ff33b-0075-40f1-81b0-b8ed4ba0f2d6 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=enr.elections.virginia.gov}} In the November 2023 General Election, she defeated Republican Steve Harvey with 61.4% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=Virginia House of Delegates District 55 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_House_of_Delegates_District_55 |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}} Laufer assumed office on January 10, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings |url=https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0371 |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=virginiageneralassembly.gov}}

In January 2025, Laufer announced her re-election bid for Virginia's 55th District.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Olivia |date=2025-01-03 |title=Amy Laufer Announces Re-Election Campaign and Highlights Achievements - Cville Right Now |url=https://cvillerightnow.com/news/208802-amy-laufer-announces-re-election-campaign-and-highlights-achievements/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |language=en-US}}

Laufer criticized her opponent in the Democratic primary, Kellen Squire, for his past statements on abortion when he ran against Rob Bell in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Shuler |first=Sydney |date=2023-05-30 |title='You can't trust him': Laufer campaign hits Squire for 'pro-life' comments |url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/government-politics/you-cant-trust-him-laufer-campaign-hits-squire-for-pro-life-comments/article_1879f954-ff1d-11ed-8e12-3f45796088e7.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601154812/https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/government-politics/you-cant-trust-him-laufer-campaign-hits-squire-for-pro-life-comments/article_1879f954-ff1d-11ed-8e12-3f45796088e7.html |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=The Daily Progress |language=en}} In late May 2023, Laufer sent out campaign mailers quoting Squire as being "fervently and unabashedly pro-life". Squire responded that his statements were taken out of context, and that Laufer's use of his statements did not reflect the full intent.{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Folks, hope everyone is having an amazing Memorial Day weekend. As I was knocking doors today, I heard some lies had been circulating about our campaign, so I wanted to take a moment to address them directly. |url=https://twitter.com/SquireForYou/status/1662554133407178754 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601163545/https://twitter.com/SquireForYou/status/1662554133407178754 |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Twitter |language=en}} Laufer's campaign stood by their usage of Squire's statement.{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Felicity |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Democratic candidates in HD-55 address weekend flyers |url=http://www.cbs19news.com/story/49004983/democratic-candidates-in-hd55-address-weekend-flyers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531000859/https://www.cbs19news.com/story/49004983/democratic-candidates-in-hd55-address-weekend-flyers |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=www.cbs19news.com |language=en}}

Laufer lives in Albemarle County with her husband Aaron and their three children, Hannah, Adam, and Henry. One of Laufer's children attended Clark Elementary School in Charlottesville.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2012 |title=MINUTES MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS |url=https://charlottesvillepublic.ic-board.com/Reference_Library/ESB_Minutes/January%205,%202012%20School%20Board%20Meeting.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601163543/https://charlottesvillepublic.ic-board.com/Reference_Library/ESB_Minutes/January%205,%202012%20School%20Board%20Meeting.pdf |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=charlottesvillepublic.ic-board.com}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://lauferfordelegate.com Official campaign website (Va. House of Delegates 2023)]
• [https://votesmart.org/candidate/186381/amy-laufer#.XZpur2cm600 VoteSmart.org, Amy Laufer]

{{Virginia House of Delegates}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laufer, Amy}}

Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly

Category:Living people

Category:Virginia Democrats

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)