Irene Shin

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Irene Shin

| image = Irene Shin, SOTC 2025.jpg

| office = Member of the Virginia House of Delegates

| constituency = 86th district (2022–2024)
8th district (2024–present)

| predecessor = Ibraheem Samirah

| successor =

| term_start = January 12, 2022

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|10|7}}

| birth_place = Glendale, California, U.S.{{Cite web|url=https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0344|title=Delegate Irene Shin}}

| party = Democratic

| residence = Herndon, Virginia, U.S.

| education = University of California, Riverside (BA)

}}

Irene Shin (born October 7, 1987) is an American politician and previous non-profit executive who has served as the delegate of the Virginia House of Delegates since January 2022. A Democrat, she defeated incumbent Ibraheem Samirah in the Democratic primary in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/shin-unseats-samirah-for-democratic-nomination-in-86th-house-district-race-to-face-herndon-teacher/article_c394c2f2-c927-11eb-853c-4345482f48fb.html|title=Shin unseats Samirah for Democratic nomination in 86th House District race; to face Herndon teacher Julie Perry in November|date=June 9, 2021|access-date=December 3, 2021|last=Cline|first=Nathaniel|website=Loudoun Times-Mirror}}

Early life and education

The daughter of Korean immigrants, she was born in Glendale, California and raised in Greater Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/watch-now-meet-the-three-progressive-women-who-unseated-attention-grabbing-men-in-democratic-primaries/article_c448b330-cf2d-56ce-8f06-9bf82e6d718b.html|title=Meet the three progressive women who unseated attention-grabbing men in Democratic primaries|last=Wilson|first=Patrick|date=June 11, 2021|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch}} She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Riverside in 2010.{{Cite web|title=Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings|url=https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0344|access-date=2022-02-07|website=virginiageneralassembly.gov}}

Career

Shin has worked on various Democratic political campaigns, including as finance director for then-Senator Kamala Harris.{{cite web|last=O'Connell|first=Michael|date=October 21, 2021|title=Candidate Profile: Irene Shin For VA House Of Delegates|url=https://patch.com/virginia/herndon/candidate-profile-irene-shin-va-house-delegates-0|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=Patch}} Until 2024, she was the executive director of non-profit Virginia Civic Engagement Table. Shin serves on the Tysons Transportation District Service Advisory Board for Fairfax County.{{cite web|url=https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons/tysons-transportation-service-district-advisory-board|title=Tysons Transportation Service District Advisory Board|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=Fairfax County}}

Virginia House of Delegates

=2021 election=

{{see also|2021 Virginia House of Delegates election#District 86}}

She announced a primary campaign against Delegate Ibraheem Samirah for District 86 in 2021.{{cite web|last=Cline|first=Nathaniel|date=February 23, 2021|title=Herndon community organizer announces candidacy for 86th District House seat|url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/politics/herndon-community-organizer-announces-candidacy-for-86th-district-house-seat/article_2ca37d8c-6ad8-11eb-a9f9-c78e3d037662.html|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=Loudoun Times-Mirror}} Despite challenging an incumbent Democrat, Shin received support from the Virginia Democratic Party establishment including multiple state legislators.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/virginia-house-primary-election-winners/2021/06/08/2d91f7c6-c4b7-11eb-9a8d-f95d7724967c_story.html|title=Four Democratic incumbents, one Republican ousted in Virginia House primaries|date=June 9, 2021|access-date=December 3, 2021|last=Flynn|first=Meagen|newspaper=Washington Post}} She defeated Samirah in the June primary by 230 votes and out-raised him by over $100,000.

She defeated Republican Julie Perry in the general election by a margin of 65–34%.{{cite web|url=https://wtop.com/virginia/2021/11/gop-flips-enough-seats-to-tie-va-house-of-delegates-some-races-remain-too-close-to-call/|title=GOP flips enough seats to tie Va. House of Delegates; some races remain too close to call|last=Moore|first=Jack|date=November 3, 2021|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=WTOP-FM}}

=Electoral history=

{{Election box begin no change

|title = Virginia's 86th House of Delegates district Democratic primary, 2021{{cite web|title=2021 June Democratic Primary|url=https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2021%20June%20Democratic%20Primary/Site/Member_House_of_Delegates_(086).html|website=Virginia Department of Elections|access-date=2021-12-03|archive-date=2021-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610063745/https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2021%20June%20Democratic%20Primary/Site/Member_House_of_Delegates_(086).html|url-status=dead}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate =Irene Shin

| votes = 3,415

| percentage = 51.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Ibraheem Samirah (incumbent)

| votes = 3,185

| percentage = 48.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 6,600

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

|title = Virginia's 86th House of Delegates district, 2021{{cite web |title=Nov. 2, 2021 General Election Statewide Candidates |url=https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/candidate-list/candidate-list-2nov2021/ |website=Virginia Department of Elections |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-date=2021-07-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182542/https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/candidate-list/candidate-list-2nov2021/ |url-status=dead }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Irene Shin

| votes =19,296

| percentage =65.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Julie Perry

| votes =10,116

| percentage =34.3