Kathy J. Byron (born September 5, 1953) is an American politician. She was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1997 as a Republican, representing the 22nd district in the Virginia Piedmont, consisting of parts of Bedford, Campbell and Franklin Counties and the city of Lynchburg.[1] In September 2023, Byron resigned from the Virginia House after being appointed as Deputy Director for External Affairs at the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.[2]

Kathy Byron
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 22nd district
In office
January 14, 1998 – September 30, 2023
Preceded byJoyce Crouch
Succeeded byIan Lovejoy (redistricting)
Personal details
Born (1953-09-05) September 5, 1953 (age 70)
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJohn T. Byron
Children3
CommitteesCommerce and Energy (Chairman)
Communications, Technology and Innovation
Finance
Rules
Websitewww.kathybyron.com

Virginia House of Delegates edit

In February 2012, Byron sponsored HB462,[3] a bill that would require that Virginia women seeking an abortion would have to undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, without her written consent and even if it is against the wishes of her doctor.[4]

After the controversy caused by passing of this bill by Virginia representatives,[5] Governor Bob McDonnell amended the bill to include language that would require the written consent of the woman seeking an abortion, and would also require only a transabdominal ultrasound.[6] However, Byron urged rejection of the amendment on its grounds that a transvaginal ultrasound is an invasive procedure because, "[i]f we want to talk about invasiveness, there's nothing more invasive than the procedure that she is about to have," she said,[7] referring to her belief that abortions harm viable persons within the womb.

In January 2017, she proposed HB2108, a bill that would prevent municipalities from expanding beyond their current footprint and from building and offering broadband to those within the municipalities.[8]

Byron and her husband received a tax break designated for a person’s primary residence in Florida, she says her husband is a resident but she is not.[9]

Electoral history edit

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 22nd district
Nov 4, 1997[10] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 10,232 59.04
Kaye Sweeney Lipscomb Democratic 7,082 40.87
Write Ins 16 0.92
Joyce Crouch retired; seat stayed Republican
Nov 2, 1999[11] General K J Byron Republican 7,880 63.86
J P Campbell Democratic 4,440 35.98
Write Ins 19 0.15
Nov 6, 2001[12] General K J Byron Republican 11,564 56.32
W S Miles III 8,968 43.68
Nov 4, 2003[13] General K J Byron Republican 12,946 99.95
Write Ins 6 0.05
Nov 8, 2005[14] General K J Byron Republican 15,343 99.03
Write Ins 151 0.97
Nov 6, 2007[15] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 8,783 98.98
Write Ins 90 1.01
Nov 3, 2009[16] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 18,107 98.99
Write Ins 183 1.00
Nov 8, 2011[17] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 12,922 97.69
Write Ins 305 2.30
Nov 5, 2013[18] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 15,025 66.3
Katie Cyphert Democratic 7,612 33.6
Write Ins 38 0.20
Nov 3, 2015[19] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 9,228 96
Write Ins 384 4
Nov 7, 2017[20] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 19,014 96.2
Write Ins 756 3.8
Nov 5, 2019[21] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 14,390 69
Jennifer Kay Woofter Democratic 6,452 30.9
Write Ins 25 0.1
Jun 8, 2021[22] Republican primary Kathy J. Byron 3,200 81.2
Isaiah J. Knight 739 18.8
Nov 2, 2021[23] General Kathy J. Byron Republican 23,922 72.65
Gregory K. Eaton Democratic 8,415 25.56
Sarah R. Jerose Libertarian 537 1.63
Write Ins 52 0.16

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Bio for Kathy J. Byron". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  2. ^ "Youngkin appoints Byron, Roth to workforce posts". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  3. ^ "2012 » Abortion; informed consent, shall undergo ultrasound imaging, exceptions. (HB462)". Richmond Sunlight. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
  4. ^ "HB462: Abortion; informed consent, shall undergo ultrasound imaging, exceptions". Richmond Sunlight. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
  5. ^ "Women Rally: Women Rally at Capitol over Personhood". wdbj7.com. 2012-02-20. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
  6. ^ David Badash (2012-02-22). "Abortion: Virginia Governor Backpedals On Transvaginal Ultrasound Bill". The New Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
  7. ^ "'Personhood,' ultrasound bills advance in House | Richmond Times-Dispatch". .timesdispatch.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
  8. ^ Google, Ting, Netflix Dare To Suggest That Maybe Giant, Anti-Competitive ISPs Shouldn't Be Writing State Telecom Laws | TechDirt
  9. ^ "Virginia Del. Kathy Byron's Florida home received a tax break for residents; Byron says she's not a Florida resident". WFXR. WFXR. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  10. ^ "1997 Election Results - HOD". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-07-24. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  11. ^ "Election Results - House of Delegates - Nov 1999 Gen Election". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  12. ^ "General Election- November 6, 2001". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  13. ^ "General Election- November 4, 2003". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2013-05-28.[dead link]
  14. ^ "General Election- November 8, 2005". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
  15. ^ "November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  16. ^ "November 2009 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  17. ^ "November 2011 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  18. ^ "November 2013 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  19. ^ "November 2015 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  20. ^ "November 2017 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  21. ^ "November 2019 General Election Official Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  22. ^ "June 2021 Republican Primary Official Results". Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  23. ^ "November 2021 General Election Official Results". Archived from the original on 2022-02-05. Retrieved 2022-03-07.

External links edit