Lashrecse Aird

Lashrecse D. Aird is a mother of school-age boys, a wife and working families’ champion. Sworn in to the state Senate in 2024, she previously served three terms (2016-2022) in the Virginia House of Delegates where she held the distinction as the youngest woman ever elected to that body. The daughter of young working-class parents, Lashrecse grew up experiencing first hand the harsh reality of income inequality. Her unique perspective and family history has driven her legislative advocacy, earning her a reputation as a courageous and indefatigable champion for social, racial, economic and environmental justice issues. An effective coalition builder, Lashrecse Aird has been recognized by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, repeatedly, for her work to incentivize job creation in distressed communities. She was named Legislator of the Year in 2021 by the Virginia Education Association in recognition of her bold education legislation. Lashrecse Aird helped Virginia make history with the passage of Breonna’s Law, prohibiting the use of no-knock search warrants. Her legislation also led Virginia to become the first southern state to declare racism a public health crisis, to declare access to water a human right, and to make Virginia a leading state in combating maternal and infant mortality. From Virginia State University, she has earned her undergraduate degree and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Political Leadership Program, and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Minority Political Leadership Institute. She has also been a member of cohorts for the Aspen Institute Germany (2025) and the Bertelsman Foundation (2022). A tireless and trusted community leader, Lashrecse Aird is actively engaged in numerous legislative and civic boards and organizations. She is the Vice Chair of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, and Vice Chair of the Fourth Congressional District Committee for the Democratic Party of Virginia. She serves on the boards for the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood, the Responsible Leaders Network for the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and the Presidential Precinct Global Advisory Council. She is the immediate past Virginia State Social Action Coordinator for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a charter member for the Tri-Cities Chapter of Jack and Jill, Incorporated and a member of the Petersburg Links, Inc. Having been recognized with numerous awards and honors; most notably, Lashrecse was named Woman of the Year by USA Today (2021), a recipient of the University of Virginia’s Emerging Leader Award and is the recipient of Virginia State University’s Presidential Medallion. Most recently she was named a top leader under 40 by the Southern Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2025. Professionally, Lashrecse serves as an Executive Director at Virginia State University. Lashrecse resides in Henrico with her husband Blaine Aird and her two boys, Blaine and Blake.