About Us

Leader Don Scott was elected to serve as House Democratic Leader in 2022 after first joining the House of Delegates in 2019 to represent the people of Portsmouth. He has been a champion for reproductive freedom and uplifting working families by ensuring a strong, equitable economy. Leader Scott’s legislative priorities also include strengthening Virginia’s public schools, improving healthcare quality and affordability, and criminal justice reform. As the House Democratic Leader, he is committed to building a stronger Democratic caucus and winning back the majority.

Leader Scott has lived in Portsmouth for 17 years. He is a member of the Portsmouth Bar Association, the Old Dominion Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar Association, the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He served as the Immediate Past President of the Southeastern Employment and Training Association, Chair of the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority, Chair of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, on the Board of the California Workforce Association, and as a member and Board Member of 200+ Men of Hampton Roads. He is a member of the Eureka Club and a lifetime member of the NAACP, VFW, Post #993 Craddock, and the American Legion.

Charniele Herring has represented the 46th District since 2009, during which time she’s fought to restore funding for homeless services, passed a bill to give small businesses competitive advantages, and worked to make the Commonwealth safer. Her environmental protection efforts were recognized by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters with the “Legislative Hero” award. The Virginia Education Association recognized her with the “Rookie of the Year” award in 2009 and with the “Solid as a Rock” award in 2013 and 2015. As chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, she helped sweep statewide offices in 2013. She was elected chair of the House Democratic Caucus in 2015.

Charniele has lived in Northern Virginia for more than 30 years, mostly in Alexandria, where she’s been a member of the Rotary, chair of the West End Business Association, and chair of the Alexandria Commission for Women. She currently serves on the board of the Parent Teacher Leadership Institute of Alexandria and as a trustee of Hopkins House, where she advocates for pre-K education.

Amy Friedman joined the House Democratic Caucus as Executive Director in November 2022 after working on races at every level of the ballot since 2014. A native Roanoker, she is eager to be back home in Virginia, helping work with candidates and teams across the Commonwealth.

Prior to joining the caucus, she worked at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee for three years, including working as the Virginia State Advisor to House and Senate candidates in 2019 and as the National Field Director in 2020. In addition to her state legislative work, she served as Elizabeth Warren’s Virginia State Director and worked on campaign teams in Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, and Georgia. She now resides in Richmond with her beloved dog, Buffy.

Erin Monaghan joined the House Democratic Caucus staff as legislative director in January 2020 after working for former House Democratic Leader and Delegate David J. Toscano (57th District) as a session aide, communications aide, fundraising and events manager, and legislative aide between 2016 and 2019.  

She spent 15 years practicing law in Washington, D.C., including nearly 10 years as a litigation attorney for the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Once freed from Hatch Act restrictions, Erin became involved with her local Democratic party and campaigns and is a member of the Fifth Congressional District Democratic Committee and a former co-chair of the Charlottesville Democratic Committee. She has been involved with DPVA voter protection efforts since 2008.

Erin returned to Charlottesville in 2007 for the third time to work for the Jefferson Scholars Foundation (after being born there and then earning her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Virginia). She subsequently worked as a seasonal reader for UVA’s undergraduate and School of Law admissions offices for several years. She has also worked as an application consultant for students applying to college or law school.  She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Prior to joining the House Democratic Caucus to serve as Finance Director, Cece Forson has served on several campaigns, utilizing her expertise in finance, messaging, voter outreach, and grassroots organizing to win Democratic majorities in Maryland, Minnesota, Washington D.C, and  California as a political strategist. Recently, Cece managed a red-to-blue house seat in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, helping to flip the chamber blue.

Cece earned her education at Coppin State University, an HBCU in Baltimore, MD where she studied political science and gained valuable experience working on political campaigns. Outside of her demanding work in politics, Cece also finds time to pursue her interests in supporting the children’s ministry at her local church and sitting on NGO boards to bring resources to rural communities in her homeland, Ghana.