Mamie Locke

Contents

Mamie Evelyn Locke (born March 19, 1954) is an American politician and educator. A Democrat, she was a member of the Hampton, Virginia city council 1996–2004, and mayor 2000–2004. Since 2004, she has been a member of the Senate of Virginia, serving initially from the 2nd district; since 2024 she has served from the 23rd district. She currently represents parts of the cities of Hampton, Newport News and Portsmouth, plus part of York County. She is also a Professor of Political Science and was Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Hampton University.[1]

Education

Locke received a B.A. degree in history and political science from Tougaloo College in 1976. She then attended Atlanta University for advanced political science studies, receiving an M.A. in 1978 and a Ph.D. in 1984. She also completed a program in Middle Eastern studies at the American University in Cairo in 1986.[2]

Political career

Locke was first elected to Hampton City Council in 1996. The council chose her as Vice Mayor in 1998 and Mayor in 2000.[1][2] She was the first African American mayor of Hampton.[3]

In 2003, she won a three-way Democratic primary for the 2nd Senate district nomination with 48.11% of the vote.[4] She then won the general election over Republican P. K. Bomersheim and independent J. B. Hobson with 64.75%.[5]

In 2007, Locke was unopposed in her re-election bid.[6] In 2011, she defeated Republican Tom E. Harmon IV with 65.39% of the vote.[7]

Personal life

Locke is Catholic.[8]

References

  1. 1.[1.2]"Senator Mamie E. Locke; Democrat-District 2". Senate of Virginia. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  2. 2.[2.2]"Mamie Locke; Virginia State Senate - District 2". Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  3. 3."Changemakers: Mamie Evelyn Locke (1954 - )". edu.lva.virginia.gov.
  4. 4."Commonwealth of Virginia; June 10, 2003 election - primaries". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  5. 5."General Election - November 4, 2003". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  6. 6."November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  7. 7."November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  8. 8."Senate Members - Virginia Senate". apps.senate.virginia.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2026.