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Photo of John Chapman "Chap" Petersen

John Chapman "Chap" Petersen

DEMOCRAT

John Chapman "Chap" Petersen is running for Virginia State Senator, District 37, Democratic Primary.

Personal background

Chap is from Fairfax. He attended Fairfax High School. He has a bachelor's degree from Williams College and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He lives with his wife in Fairfax.

Professional background

Chap is a lawyer. He is a partner at Chap Petersen & Associates. He used to be a partner at Surovell Isaacs Petersen & Levy, PLC.

Political background

John Chapman "Chap" Petersen is currently the state senator representing district 34. He was first elected in 2017 and has been in office for two term. He was previously state delegate from 2001 until 2005. He also ran for lieutenant governor in 2005 but did not win.

Energy & the Environment

As a state senator, voted for a bill that will lower energy bills for Virginian’s by $6-$7 per month by changing the way Virginia’s monopoly energy provider, Dominion Energy, can set prices.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that would have given lowand middle-income Virginians loans and funding to install solar panels or make their homes more energy efficient.

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Economy

As a state senator, voted for a bill that lowered taxes on groceries from 2.5% to 1%, except for alcohol, tobacco, and prepared hot foods. Diapers and feminine hygiene products were included in the tax decrease

As a state senator, voted for a bill that limits the amount of THC in hemp products to 0.3% of the product and 2 milligrams total. Possession of marijuana is decriminalized in Virginia but there is no legal market for sales of THC products.

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Healthcare

As a state senator, voted for a bill that would have put a fundamental right to reproductive freedom in Virginia’s constitution, which would have made abortion constitutionally protected in the state.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that prevents pharmacists from refusing to fill prescriptions because they were prescribed via telemedicine.

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Education

As a state senator, voted for a bill that requires schools to improve reading skills in students from kindergarten through third grade to address learning loss from the pandemic.

As a state senator, voted against a bill that lets companies be sued for publishing or distributing online content that is “harmful to minors” without checking the age of the internet users accessing the content.

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Public Safety

As a state senator, voted for a bill that gives people $300 off their taxes if they buy a gun safe or lock box. The credit expires in 2027.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that gets rid of the option for drivers without insurance to pay a $500 fee when registering their car and be allowed to drive without insurance.

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