Kelly Convirs-Fowler | |
|---|---|
_Kelly_Convirs-Fowler_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Member of theVirginia House of Delegates | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ron Villanueva |
| Constituency | 21st district (2018–2024) 96th district (2024–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kelly Kristen Convirs Virginia Beach,Virginia, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | William Fowler |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Virginia Wesleyan College Old Dominion University |
Kelly Convirs-Fowler is an American politician from Virginia. Since 2018, she has served in theVirginia House of Delegates, representingDistrict 96. She was first elected inNovember 2017.[1] In the 2023 election, she was elected inDistrict 96.
Fowler serves on the Privileges and Elections Committee and the Science and Technology Committee.[2]
Kelly Convirs-Fowler was born and raised inVirginia Beach. She is ofFilipino andMexican descent. She graduated fromTallwood High School andVirginia Wesleyan College, where she majored inPsychology andCriminal Justice. Both schools are in Virginia Beach.[3] After earning herMaster's degree in Education at theOld Dominion University, she began teaching at Lynnhaven Elementary. She left her job to begin a home renovation business with her husband. They specialize in serving military families.[4]
Fowler ran to be a delegate in Virginia's2017 election against incumbentRon Villanueva (also aFilipino American). She won the election with 52.3% of the vote, and took office in January 2018.[5] She andKathy Tran were the first Asian-American women to be elected toVirginia's House of Delegates.
Fowler ran for reelection in the2019 election. She defeated Republican Shannon D.S. Kane with 54.5% of the vote.[6]
Fowler ran for a third term in the2021 election. In one of the closest races in Virginia that year, she defeated Tanya Gould by 1% of the vote.
During the 2020 special session, Fowler abstained on HB5013 which was intended to end qualified immunity for law enforcement following the 2020 summer Black Lives Matter protests. Her abstention was due to her own husband, David Fowler, being a deputy sheriff, which effectively killed the bill.[7]
In the2023 Virginia House of Delegates election, she was elected inDistrict 96.
She is married to William Fowler, and they have three kids.[8] William Fowler was a deputy sheriff sergeant and was fired after the Virginia Beach sheriff "lost confidence in [his] ability to serve the community". Fowler sued for wrongful termination in 2022.[9]
She came out as bisexual at a Pride event in Virginia Beach on June 26, 2022.[10]
In 2023, Convirs-Fowler has claimed to have the personal laptop of theVirginia Beach mass shooter, which she reportedly received from a victim's family.[11] She expressed concern over Virginia Beach police missing the laptop during their initial investigation before turning the laptop over to her attorney.[12] A copy of the hard drive was provided to the Virginia Attorney General's Office.[13]
| Year | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21st Virginia House of Delegates District | ||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Kelly Convirs-Fowler | Democratic | 12,540 | 52.5 | Ron Villanueva(inc) | Republican | 11,309 | 47.3 | ||||||||
| 2019 | Kelly Convirs-Fowler(inc) | Democratic | 12,402 | 54.5 | Shannon Kane | Republican | 10,300 | 45.3 | ||||||||
| 2021 | Kelly Convirs-Fowler(inc) | Democratic | 15,162 | 50.5% | Tanya Gould | Republican | 14,818 | 49.4% | ||||||||
| 96th Virginia House of Delegates District | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Kelly Convirs-Fowler | Democratic | 11,723 | 55.2% | Mike Karslake | Republican | 8,749 | 43.2% | Nicholas Olenik | Independent | 734 | 3.5% | ||||
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