VIRGINIA BEACH — City Councilmember Aaron Rouse, who is serving in his first term on the council, announced this month that he will run for the Virginia State Senate in the newly created 22nd District.
Rouse, a Virginia Beach native who is known for his time as a professional football player and as the founder of a nonprofit organization, began his political career in 2018 by winning an at-large seat on the City Council.
Within two years, the Virginia Tech graduate who hails from the Seatack community had announced a run for mayor, though he left the race citing restrictions on campaigning during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
He announced his plan to seek the Democratic nomination for the State Senate seat in a statement released on Monday, March 14. The new district, which resulted from the recent redistricting process, leans Democratic, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project.
Rouse, who will complete his council term which ends in December, said he wanted to announce early, in part, to allow candidates to step forward for the new local District 10 seat under the city’s new elections system.
“This race won’t be easy, but I am committed to listening to your voices, building an agenda that moves our community forward and fighting every day to improve your lives and livelihoods in the General Assembly,” Rouse wrote in the statement announcing his decision.
“Virginia Beach has always been my number one priority,” Rouse said in the statement, “It’s time to elect a new generation of leadership at the state level who will be your champion every single day.”
The new District 10 City Council seat is on the ballot this year, and the State Senate race in the new 22nd District, a result of the redistricting process that follows each Census, is scheduled to be on the 2023 ballot.
During an interview, Rouse said he hoped to clear the way for candidates for the city position – and for them to be elected by the voters under the new system.
“It was part of our discussion from not seeking reelection,” Rouse said of the new local system. “I’m not a fan of our appointment process. I think the people should select someone to reelect them. We are in this to serve our community. I never wanted to use City Council as a stepping stone.”
Rouse said that it was important to help maintain the Democratic majority in the Senate, but it was more important to serve the community on important issues such as flooding.
“I think its so important that we value our environment,” Rouse said. “I think it’s a focus the state should have, not only for our region but our city, is to provide more resources for flooding.”
Rouse said priorities also include resources for small businesses, including regional approaches toward keeping people here to work – stopping “the brain drain.”
He said he has worked to inspire other people, especially young people, to become involved in their communities and government, and he said he is proud of the work he has accomplished on the City Council.
Rouse listed council accomplishments such as getting the beaches reopened following the pandemic-related shutdowns and helping businesses recover, as well as passage of the flood mitigation referendum.
He said he has demonstrated that he can speak to issues while working with colleagues over the past few years.
“All those accomplishments aren’t done by one council person alone,” Rouse said. “I think my ability to get things done shows.”
Though Rouse may face competition for the nomination, his announcement came with a number of endorsements. Among them was School Board Member Jessica Owens, who, via text message, wrote that Rouse will bring perspective earned from different experiences to the Senate and find solutions.
“I ran for School Board because I didn’t see my voice and life experience represented on our board,” Owens wrote in the text message while traveling recently. “Aaron fulfilled that for me on City Council as a parent of a younger child, a person of color, a person who has experienced and overcome low income life in our city.”
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