John McGuire (Virginia politician)

In 2017, McGuire ran for the Virginia House of Delegates for the 56th district, then held by retiring Republican incumbent Peter Farrell. He told the ‘’Richmond Times-Dispatch’’ that his main motivation for running was “interested in growing businesses in Virginia and wants to continue providing support for veterans and law enforcement officers.” [6]

McGuire won a hotly contested June 2017 Republican primary with 31% of the vote, defeating five other candidates.[7] McGuire won the endorsement of Virginia Right! Blog, which noted he “came back from a horrible accident to walk and live a decent life again,” as well as his Navy service and conservative views.[8] McGuire was attacked for allegedly moving into the 56th district for the race,[9] although this was disputed by McGuire and supporters.[10] McGuire nevertheless prevailed.

In the general election, McGuire defeated health care consultant Melissa Dart by a 59% to 40% margin.,[2] despite a fundraising disadvantage, the Democrats’ huge 2017 statewide gains, and Hillary Clinton's 2016 victory among district voters.[11]

In October 2019, while seeking re-election to the Virginia House, McGuire refused to commit to completing his second term in office if re-elected.[12]

In November 2019, after winning re-election in the 56th, McGuire announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress for Virginia's 7th congressional district.[13][14]

McGuire spent his first two years with Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House of Delegates. His bill to put veterans’ ID on Virginia drivers’ licenses won approval and was signed into law.[15] Running for re-election in 2019, McGuire cited “giving teachers a 5% pay raise without raising your taxes while balancing the budget” as the key legislative achievement of his first two years, and “Jobs, the opioid crisis, and education” as the three top issues facing the next general Assembly.[16]

McGuire's second term saw Democrats in control of the House of Delegates for the first time since 1999. He voted against Medicaid expansion, HB5001, in the 2018 legislative session. The bill passed 68–30 in the House of Delegates with bipartisan support.[17][13]

McGuire voted against the Equal Rights Amendment in the 2020 legislative session. The constitutional amendment passed 59–41 in the House of Delegates with bipartisan support.[18][19] McGuire spoke against the ratification on the House floor pointing out that the resolution has missed its deadline for ratification.[20] McGuire voted against a bill to eliminate a law banning sexual intercourse before marriage in the 2020 legislative session. The bill passed 91–5 with bipartisan support in the house.[21]

In the 2019 session, McGuire sponsored:

-- HB 2043 Child care providers; require background checks, provide portability of those checks.[22]—HB 2299 Commercial sex trafficking, prostitution, etc.; increases penalties.[23]

In the 2020 session, McGuire sponsored:

-- HB 424 School resource officers; required in every school.[24]—HJ 39 Kratom; require the VA Board of Pharmacy to study whether it should be classified as a controlled substance.[25]—HB 1474 Short-term rentals; require local regulations to comply with state rental and state / local zoning laws.[26]—HB 1475 Assault and battery against a family or household member; require a mandatory minimum term if there's a prior conviction for similar offense within past 10 years.[27]

• 2020 VCDL Lobby Day

• John McGuire at the Virginia Public Access Project