Jennifer Boysko


Jennifer Barton Boysko is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia. She represents the 38th district in the Virginia Senate. Previously, she represented the Virginia's 86th [House of Delegates district|86th district] in the Virginia House of Delegates, which is located in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and career

Boysko was reared in Alabama and Arkansas. In 1989, she graduated from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. Since 1996, Boysko has been a resident of downtown Herndon, Virginia, where she and her husband, Glenn, have raised two daughters.

Virginia House of Delegates

In 2013 [Virginia House of Delegates election|2013], Boysko was narrowly defeated for the House of Delegates 86th district seat, losing to the incumbent Republican Tom Rust 50.08 percent to 49.92 percent, a difference of 32 votes.
The 2015 [Virginia House of Delegates election|2015 election], held November 3, featured an open seat after Rust announced his retirement on February 25, 2015. For the primary election, held June 9, Boysko ran unopposed. For the general election, Boysko received 54 percent of the vote; Republican Danny Vargas—who ran unopposed in his primary—received 42 percent; and Independent Paul Brubaker received 5 percent. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Vargas outspent Boysko $654,725 to $476,322. Brubaker spent $9,100.
In 2017, Boysko was re-elected 69%-31%.

Virginia Senate

Following Jennifer Wexton's election to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 [United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia|2018 elections], Boysko announced her candidacy for the special election to succeed her in the Virginia Senate. She won the Democratic Party's nomination on November 17, and won against former Republican Delegate Joe T. May in the election on January 8, 2019.
Boysko was elected to a full term during the 2019 general election, defeating Leesburg Vice Mayor Suzanne Fox 65%-35%.

Policy positions

Animal welfare

In 2018, as a member of the House of Delegates, Boysko sponsored legislation that would require companies to avoid using animals while testing cosmetics or household cleaners.

Labor

Boysko introduced a paid family leave proposal during the 2020 session of the Virginia State Senate. The bill would provide up to 12 weeks of paid time off for family or medical leave. The leave would be paid for by an insurance fund administered by the state and funded by a 0.5% payroll tax contribution by both workers and employers. Workers eligible for leave would receive 80% of their wages for up to 12 weeks.