Les Adams (politician)

Last updated

Les Adams
LRA Headshot-Color.2020-2021.jpg
Adams in 2020
Member of the VirginiaHouseofDelegates
from the 16th district
In office
January 8, 2014 –January 10, 2024
CommitteesCourts of Justice
Privileges and Elections
Science and Technology
Transportation
Commerce and Energy
Website lesadams.org

Leslie Ray Adams (born 1974) is an American politician and judge. A Republican, Adams was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 16th district in 2014, until his resignation in 2023. He currently serves as a district judge.

Contents

Early life

Adams was born in 1974 in Montgomery County, Virginia. [1] He graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in 1996 and from the University of Richmond School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1999. [1]

Career

Adams was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2013, representing the 16th district. [2] Unopposed, he was elected to represent the newly-drawn 48th district in the state's 2023 Virginia House of Delegates elections. He was a member of the Privileges and Elections Committee and the Commerce and Energy Committee. [1] While serving, he opposed a gun control law in 2020, citing the people of Virginia for his opinion. [3] Apart from the House of Delegates, he served as vice-chair of the Virginia State Crime Commission and a board member of the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. [4]

On December 12, 2023, in a letter to a House clerk, Adams announced his resignation from the House of Delegates, effective at the end of his current term. He refused to take the oath of office, and stated he resigned to "make [himself] available for another position of service". [5] [6] In January 9, 2024, in the special election of his district, he was succeeded by Republican Eric Phillips. [4]

Adams is an attorney. [6] Following his resignation from the House of Delegates, he was appointed as a general district court judge for the 22nd Judicial District. His six-year term started on February 1, 2024. [7] [8]

Personal life

Adams married Melanie Evonne Schiefer, and they have two sons. He lives in Chatham, Virginia. [6] [1] He is a Baptist. [1]

Electoral history

2013 Virginia House of Delegates election, 16th district [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Leslie Ray Adams 13,292 63.1
Democratic Elizabeth Jackson Jones7,74036.7
Total votes21,075 100.0
2015 Virginia House of Delegates election, 16th district [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Leslie Ray Adams 12,538 98.1
Total votes12,775 100.0
2017 Virginia House of Delegates election, 16th district [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Leslie Ray Adams 16,513 96.1
Total votes17,181 100.0
2019 Virginia House of Delegates election, 16th district [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Leslie Ray Adams 13,146 74.6
Libertarian Dustin Wilson Evans4,40225.0
Total votes17,631 100.0
2021 Virginia House of Delegates election, 16th district [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Leslie Ray Adams 19,412 69.9
Democratic Chance Brian Trevillian8,30829.9
Total votes27,755 100.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings - Delegate Leslie R. (Les) Adams". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ Rosenbaum, Heather (October 24, 2013). "Les Adams Wins 16th District Seat – WSET.com – ABC13". WSET.com. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Virginia's Democratically controlled House passes seven gun control measures". Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Schmidt, Markus (December 12, 2023). "Del. Adams announces he'll resign from House; Youngkin sets special election for Jan. 9". Cardinal News. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Delegate Les Adams resigns from Virginia's House of Delegates". WRIC-TV . December 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Les Adams resigns from Virginia House of Delegates". Star-Tribune. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  7. ↑ Hoffman, Cherisse (January 26, 2024). "Former Delegate Les Adams Appointed as Judge for the 22nd Judicial District". ABC13 News. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Former Delegate Les Adams appointed as judge for the 22nd Judicial District". WSET. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ "2013 House of Delegates General Election District 16". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ "2015 House of Delegates General Election District 16". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  11. ↑ "2017 House of Delegates General Election District 16". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  12. ↑ "2019 House of Delegates General Election District 16". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  13. ↑ "2021 House of Delegates General Election District 16". Virginia Department of Elections. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
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