Barbara Favola

Senator Favola was elected to the State Senate in 2011. She represents parts of Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun. Senator Favola chairs the Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services and serves on the Local Government, Transportation, and Rules Committee. She is a leader in the Women's Healthcare Caucus, member and former chair of the Virignia Commisison on Youth, and a member and  former chair of the Virginia Advisory Committee on Sexual Assault. 

Starting her career at the local level, Sen. Favola was a member of the Arlington County Board between 1997 and 2012, where she served three times as its chairperson in 2000, 2004 and 2009 and as vice chairperson in 1999, 2003, and 2008. While active on the Board, she was also successful in passing policies that preserved and created affordable housing.  Beginning her career in public service as a presidential management intern with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Sen. Favola acquired expertise in policy and planning, completed projects for the Office of the Secretary and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health and served on the U.S. House of Representatives house budget committee.  Shortly thereafter, she was hired by the Department and served for 15 years as a policy advisor and civil servant.

A dedicated civic advocate, Sen. Favola knew that she could utilize her skills in order to steer policy and create positive change. In 2019, she notably sponsored a bill to protect people with severe mental illness from receiving the death penalty. She remains an advocate on matters regarding children and families, access to reproductive care, wage-earners and the environment. In 2020, Sen. Favola passed landmark legislation to prevent surprise medical bills, among other accomplishments. Sen. Favola's has passed legislation addressing such issues as gun safety, affordable health care, education, equality, and criminal justice reform

In light of her numerous contributions as a civic leader, Sen. Favola has been the recipient of multiple accolades to date, she was bestowed with a National Public Service Award in 2019 from the American Society for Public Administration and National Academy of Public Administration, a Legislator of the Year Award in 2019 from Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, and an Energy Freedom Award in 2018 from the Virginia Sierra Club.  Moreover, Sen. Favola received a Senate Star Award from the Virginia Equal Rights Coalition, a Child Advocate Award from the United Methodist Family Services, a Legislator award of Excellence from the Fairfax County Domestic Violence Community, a builder of the Year Award form the Autism Society of Northern Virginia, and a Community and Health Equity Award from Neighborhood Health.