Laura Jane Cohen - Ballotpedia

Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings

Laura Jane Cohen is from Atlanta, Georgia. She has a degree in political science and government from North Carolina State University and a bachelor's degree in political science and government from the University of Georgia She lives with her husband, Seth, and their 2 children, in Fairfax County, Virginia. She is Jewish. 

Laura is a small business owner and educator. She previously worked for the lieutenant governor and secretary of state of Georgia and as a teacher at a preschool and as a substitute teacher in elementary schools.

Laura currently serves as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 15. She assumed office in 2024 and is currently serving her first term. Laura previously served on the Fairfax County School Board from 2020 to 2024.

Supports expanding paid sick leave, applying prevailing wage laws more broadly, and increasing safeguards for unpaid wage complaints.

- Supports expanding paid sick leave, applying prevailing wage laws more broadly, and increasing safeguards for unpaid wage complaints.

Economy

Supports transitioning to 100% carbon-free electricity and electric school buses.

- Supports transitioning to 100% carbon-free electricity and electric school buses.

Energy & the Environment

Public Safety

Supports empowering librarians and teachers to decide which books are best for students.

Supports increasing teacher and staff pay, addressing staffing shortages, and funding universal pre-kindergarten and workforce development.

Supports repealing the ban on same-sex marriages from Virginia’s constitution, implementing LGBTQIA+ protections in schools, and enacting gender identity-affirming policies in Virginia Medicaid.

Plans to support workers by repealing right-to-work laws, expanding paid sick leave, applying prevailing wage laws more broadly, and increasing safeguards for filing unpaid wage complaints.

Supports preserving and expanding Medicaid.

- Supports empowering librarians and teachers to decide which books are best for students.
- Supports increasing teacher and staff pay, addressing staffing shortages, and funding universal pre-kindergarten and workforce development.
- Supports repealing the ban on same-sex marriages from Virginia’s constitution, implementing LGBTQIA+ protections in schools, and enacting gender identity-affirming policies in Virginia Medicaid.
- Plans to support workers by repealing right-to-work laws, expanding paid sick leave, applying prevailing wage laws more broadly, and increasing safeguards for filing unpaid wage complaints.
- Supports preserving and expanding Medicaid.

Education

Supports abortion access and wants Virginia's constitution to protect reproductive freedom. 

Supports preserving Medicaid expansion, lowering prescription drug costs, and increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

Supports comprehensive insurance coverage for reproductive health services, including family planning, abortion care, and prenatal and postpartum care.

- Supports abortion access. 
- Supports preserving Medicaid expansion, lowering prescription drug costs, and increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
- Supports comprehensive insurance coverage for reproductive health services, including family planning, abortion care, and prenatal and postpartum care.

Healthcare

Supports restoring voting rights, enhancing open records laws, and enacting campaign finance reform.

Supports protecting voting rights and strengthening democratic institutions.

- Supports restoring voting rights, enhancing open records laws, and enacting campaign finance reform.
- Supports protecting voting rights and strengthening democratic institutions.

Voting & Elections

Laura Jane H. Cohen

Laura Jane Cohen is from Atlanta, Georgia. She has a bachelor's degree in political science and government from the University of Georgia. She lives with her husband, Seth I. Cohen, and their two children, Finn and Lucas, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Laura Jane is a small business owner and educator. She opened a vintage furniture shop in Clifton in 2015. Before moving to Fairfax County, she worked for the lieutenant governor and secretary of state of Georgia. After relocating, she taught preschool and served as a substitute teacher in elementary schools.

Laura is currently a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 15. She assumed office in 2024 and is currently serving her first term. Laura previously served on the Fairfax County School Board from 2020 to 2024.

- The Virginia General Assembly, made up of the House of Delegates and the State Senate, is responsible for creating state laws.  
- Your state delegate serves your local district in the Virginia House of Delegates, advocating for your community's needs and interests.  
- Delegates have the power to write, sponsor, and vote on proposed legislation, including all bills related to the state budget, which begin in the House of Delegates.  
- The House of Delegates consists of 100 members, each elected to represent one district.  
- Delegates serve two-year terms and receive an annual salary of $17,640.