Matthew James (politician)

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Matthew James

|image =Matthew James 2010.jpg

|image_size=175px

|state_delegate=Virginia

|district=80th

|term_start=January 13, 2010

|term_end=January 8, 2020

|preceded= Kenneth R. Melvin

|succeeded= Don Scott

|party=Democrat

|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1955|9|11}}

|birth_place=Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.

|death_date=

|death_place=

|alma_mater= Hampton University,
Northwestern University

|spouse=Karen Scott

|residence=

|profession= Chief Executive Officer

|committees= Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources,
General Laws,
Militia Police and Public Safety

}}

Matthew James (born September 11, 1955 in Norfolk, Virginia) is a former Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 80th district, comprising parts of the cities Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake.{{cite web |title=Bio for Matthew James |url=http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/014f2f536999a31885256c0d005171db/35c6f2a6d3a43eee85257535005773f6?OpenDocument&Click=85256823005F1997.f0a3d2c6f9f07af1852570bd00646e36/$Body/0.5174 |publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525043759/http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/014f2f536999a31885256c0d005171db/35c6f2a6d3a43eee85257535005773f6?OpenDocument&Click=85256823005F1997.f0a3d2c6f9f07af1852570bd00646e36/$Body/0.5174 |archive-date=May 25, 2012}}

He won his seat in the 2009 election after defeating Republican Jennifer Lee in the general election by nearly forty points. He succeeded incumbent Kenneth Melvin, who resigned in May 2009 to become a judge.{{cite web| url = http://hamptonroads.com/newsdata/election/2009/results/race/house-of-delegates-80th-district| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091230170822/http://hamptonroads.com/newsdata/election/2009/results/race/house-of-delegates-80th-district| archive-date = 2009-12-30| title = 2009 Virginia Election Results: House of Delegates - 80th District {{!}} HamptonRoads.com {{!}} PilotOnline.com}}