{{Short description|American politician (born 1956)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Dave LaRock | state_delegate = Virginia | district = 33rd | term_start = January 8, 2014 | term_end = January 10, 2024 | predecessor = Joe T. May | successor = Todd Gilbert (redistricted) | birth_name = David Alfred LaRock | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|5|30}} | birth_place = Oswego, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | spouse = Joanne Gilbert | education = State University of New York, Canton (attended) | website = {{url|votelarock.us|Campaign website}} }} '''Dave Alfred LaRock''' (born May 30, 1956) is an American politician from Virginia. A member of the Republican Party, LaRock is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates for the 33rd district.<ref name="leesburg">{{cite news |url=http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/larock-defeats-daniel-in-rd/article_ea78104e-46ae-11e3-a34f-001a4bcf887a.html |title=LaRock Defeats Daniel In 33rd |newspaper=Leesburg Today |date=November 6, 2013 |first=Danielle |last=Nadler |access-date=November 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131106151945/http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/larock-defeats-daniel-in-rd/article_ea78104e-46ae-11e3-a34f-001a4bcf887a.html |archive-date=November 6, 2013}}</ref>
==Political career== LaRock defeated incumbent Delegate Joe T. May in the June 11, 2013, Republican primary.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pershing |first1=Ben |first2=Errin |last2=Whack |title=Democrats give nod to Northam, Herring in statewide races |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 11, 2013 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/voter-turnout-sparse-for-down-ticket-races-in-virginia/2013/06/11/dc9c4364-d2a0-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html |access-date=June 12, 2013}}</ref> He then defeated Democrat Mary L. Costello Daniel and Libertarian Patrick Hagerty in the November 5, 2013, general election.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/43944/ |title=Virginia Elections Database » 2013 House of Delegates General Election District 33 |website=Virginia Elections Database |publisher=Virginia Department of Elections |language=en-US |access-date=August 14, 2018}}</ref> He was reelected on November 3, 2015, defeating Democrat Chuck Hedges and Libertarian Mark Anderson, winning 60% of the vote, including every precinct in the district.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/66132/ |title=Virginia Elections Database » 2015 House of Delegates General Election District 33 |website=Virginia Elections Database |publisher=Virginia Department of Elections |language=en-US |access-date=August 14, 2018}}</ref> In 2017, he was again reelected, defeating Democrat Tia Walbridge 55%-45%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/87828/ |title=Virginia Elections Database » 2017 House of Delegates General Election District 33 |website=Virginia Elections Database |publisher=Virginia Department of Elections |language=en-US |access-date=August 14, 2018}}</ref> He again won reelection in 2019, 57%-43% over Mavis Taintor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=House of Delegates District 33 » Elections Held » 2019 |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-33/district-history/dist-76/2019regular/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=The Virginia Public Access Project |language=en}}</ref> and in 2021, 58%-42% over Paul Siker.<ref>{{Cite web |title=House of Delegates District 33 » Elections Held » 2021 |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/house-of-delegates-33/district-history/dist-76/2021regular/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=The Virginia Public Access Project |language=en}}</ref>
Following the 2020 census and legislative redistricting, LaRock announced that he would run in 2023 to serve in the Virginia Senate's new 1st District, an open seat. He moved his legal residence from Hamilton, Virginia, to Berryville, Virginia, in order to be within the district boundaries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=State Board of Elections - Campaign Finance Reporting |url=https://cfreports.elections.virginia.gov/?CommitteeName=LaRock&CommitteeType= |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=cfreports.elections.virginia.gov |publisher=Virginia Department of Elections}}</ref> Seven other citizens and local elected officials including James Bergida, a conservative Christendom College professor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://jamesbergida.com/ |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=Bergida |language=en-US |archive-date=June 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619171309/https://jamesbergida.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lance Allen, a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lance Allen (Virginia) |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Lance_Allen_(Virginia) |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> Timmy French, a farmer,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Katherine Morrison |url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0cfwFTJqw77KuXXUbVskB2XpDcDy4P3BvyhGvi2LnrEqSbgMasH1NrzqEa9B2qxF7l&id=751088348 |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref> John Massoud, a former House of Delegates candidate,<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 8, 2020 |title=United Republicans of Shenandoah County: John Massoud, Reinvented |url=https://bearingdrift.com/2020/07/08/united-republicans-of-shenandoah-county-john-massoud-reinvented/ |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=bearingdrift.com |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> and several others also ran in the Republican Primary, which was held on June 20, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virginia State Senate District 1 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_State_Senate_District_1 |access-date=June 14, 2023 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> LaRock came in second behind French, who became the Republican nominee in the general election.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vpap.org/electionresults/20230620/senate/ |title=Primary Election Results: June 20, 2023 |date=June 29, 2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=The Virginia Public Access Project |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Bob |last=Leweke |url=https://www.wmra.org/2023-06-21/primary-results-some-incumbents-lose-but-creigh-deeds-survives-a-challenge |title=Primary results: Some incumbents lose, but Creigh Deeds survives a challenge |date=June 21, 2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |work=WMRA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/strong-support-in-shenandoah-county-delivers-french-win-in-gop-state-senate-primary/article_baa43cf3-dac5-5d2f-ada9-9667570ddba6.html |title=Strong support in Shenandoah County delivers French win in GOP state Senate primary |first=Cormac |last=Dodd |date=June 21, 2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |newspaper=The Winchester Star}}</ref> After losing the primary, LaRock launched a write-in campaign for the seat, describing French as "a Democrat."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Star |first=CORMAC DODD The Winchester |date=2023-09-28 |title=LaRock launches write-in campaign for Senate seat, calls GOP nominee 'a Democrat' |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/larock-launches-write-in-campaign-for-senate-seat-calls-gop-nominee-a-democrat/article_10f795be-5e3c-11ee-9a0e-cb3fadfece12.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Loudoun Times-Mirror |language=en}}</ref> Ultimately, LaRock came in a distant third behind French and Democratic nominee Emily Scott.<ref>{{Cite web |title=vpap.org |url=https://www.vpap.org/offices/state-senate-1/elections/www.vpap.org/offices/state-senate-1/elections/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=The Virginia Public Access Project |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
=== 2025 gubernatorial election === {{See also|2025 Virginia gubernatorial election#Republican primary}}
On February 19, 2025, LaRock announced he was considering a bid for governor.<ref name="LaRock Governor">{{Cite web |last=Jarvis |first=Brandon |date=February 19, 2025 |title=LaRock is considering a run for governor after grassroots push to get him on the ballot |url=https://www.virginiascope.com/larock-is-considering-a-run-for-governor-after-grassroots-push/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219204104/https://www.virginiascope.com/larock-is-considering-a-run-for-governor-after-grassroots-push/ |archive-date=February 19, 2025 |access-date=February 21, 2025 |website=Virginia Scope}}</ref> On February 27, LaRock announced a candidacy for the Republican nomination. His campaign supported President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency{{Efn|Abbreviated as DOGE.}} initiative to be implemented in the state. LaRock criticized Winsome Earle-Sears—a candidate for the nomination—for not being "sufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Seltzer |first1=Kate |date=February 27, 2025 |title=Republicans Amanda Chase and Dave LaRock enter Virginia governor’s race |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/02/27/amanda-chase-dave-larock-virginia/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306143136/https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/02/27/amanda-chase-dave-larock-virginia/ |archive-date=March 6, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2026 |website=Virginia Pilot}}</ref>
However, LaRock failed to secure 10,000 signatures to qualify for the primary ballot by April 5. LaRock criticized Governor Glenn Youngkin's endorsement for his inability to win enough signatures to be on the ballot: "The current Governor jumping in early to designate his successor did not make it easy for us to give the Republican voters a real choice in the primary — but we came close."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jarvis |first1=Bradon |date=April 5, 2025 |title=Sears is the Republican nominee for governor |url=https://www.virginiascope.com/sears-is-the-republican-nominee-for-governor/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251206041053/https://www.virginiascope.com/sears-is-the-republican-nominee-for-governor/ |archive-date=December 6, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2026 |website=Virginia Scope}}</ref>
== Political positions == LaRock's legislative efforts<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legislation |url=https://www.votelarock.us/legislation |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=Delegate Dave LaRock, Virginia House of Delegates, 33rd District |publisher=Dave LaRock for Delegate |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411224218/https://www.votelarock.us/legislation |archive-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref> have focused on transportation, educational choice, anti-abortion advocacy, religious liberty, and Second Amendment issues. LaRock opposed efforts in Virginia to provide employment and housing protections to LGBT people, saying that the state should not provide special rights or protections for "chosen sexual habits."<ref>{{cite news |last=Janney |first=Josh |date=August 16, 2019 |title=Frederick supervisors rescind LGBT protections for staff |work=The Winchester Star |url=https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/frederick-supervisors-rescind-lgbt-protections-for-staff/article_72fc175d-d48d-5877-ae37-6c24813c9815.html |access-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref> In another 2018 interview, LaRock said he would find it "very disturbing" if a transgender person was able to teach a kindergarten class, believing that transgender people have a mental disorder and that they should not be put into "role-model positions" in schools.<ref>{{cite news |last=Janney |first=Josh |date=February 18, 2018 |title=LGBT Virginians dealt major setback as bills die in House |work=The Winchester Star |url=https://www.winchesterstar.com/news/clarke/lgbt-virginians-dealt-major-setback-as-bills-die-in-house/article_bff47c01-8c93-5d93-8ea5-9e3f6db9906f.html |access-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref>
=== 2020–21 United States election protests === {{main|2020–21 United States election protests}} LaRock was one of three GOP delegates in Virginia that sent a letter to Vice President Pence asking him to postpone the final counting of electoral votes, which gave Joe Biden the win including Virginia's 13 electoral votes.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2021/01/06/virginia-delegates-ask-pence-to-nullify-virginias-certified-election-results-n2582623 |title=Virginia Delegates Explain Why They're Asking Pence to Nullify State's Certified Election Results |first=Cortney |last=O'Brien |work=Townhall |date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref> The letter included two co-signers, Del. Mark Cole (R-Fauquier) and Del. Ronnie Campbell (R-Lexington), requesting "a stay of any designation of Presidential Electors from our state until such time as a comprehensive forensic audit of the November 3, 2020, election has taken place to determine the actual winner."<ref>{{Cite news |first=Ben |last=Dennis |url=https://www.wric.com/news/politics/three-gop-virginia-delegates-sign-letter-asking-vp-pence-to-nullify-the-states-certified-election-results/ |title=Three Virginia GOP delegates sign letter asking VP Pence to nullify the state's certified election results |work=WRIC-TV |date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref>
In the months after the 2020 Election, LaRock encouraged attendance at various freedom rallies, including one in Washington, D.C., on January 6, and raised concerns about the 2020 presidential election.<ref name="dozen">{{Cite news |last=Dil |first=Cuneyt |title=Over a dozen lawmakers joined crowds on day of Capitol riot |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/over-a-dozen-lawmakers-joined-crowds-on-day-of-capitol-riot/2021/01/11/c540c836-5473-11eb-acc5-92d2819a1ccb_story.html |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=January 11, 2021 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112015447/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/over-a-dozen-lawmakers-joined-crowds-on-day-of-capitol-riot/2021/01/11/c540c836-5473-11eb-acc5-92d2819a1ccb_story.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
====January 6, 2021==== LaRock participated in the rally at the White House Ellipse and another "Freedom Rally" on January 6, 2021, calling the protest "an outstanding exercise of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. There was no vandalism, trash was picked up, and many times the masses sang the National Anthem together."<ref name="calls">{{Cite news |last=Greene |first=Renss |date=January 11, 2021 |title=LaRock Faces Calls for Resignation after Capitol Riot |url=https://loudounnow.com/2021/01/11/larock-faces-calls-for-resignation-after-capitol-riot/ |access-date=January 11, 2021 |work=Loudoun Now |language=en-US}}</ref>
He condemned the violence,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement on the Events in Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.votelarock.us/news/statement-on-the-events-in-washington-dc |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=Delegate Dave LaRock, Virginia House of Delegates, 33rd District |publisher=Dave LaRock for Delegate |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410141559/https://www.votelarock.us/news/statement-on-the-events-in-washington-dc |archive-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref> but posted on social media that the Trump-supporting mob had been infiltrated by "paid provocateurs," and that there was credible doubt around the validity of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.<ref name="calls" /> Days later, LaRock said, "I think some antifa people were there. It also seems clear that there were people there who were Trump supporters but were behaving in a manner that is unbecoming to the great majority of people who support Donald Trump."<ref name="error">{{Cite news |first=Elizabeth |last=Stinnette |title=Del. LaRock stripped of committee, realizes 'error' of using 'colored community' |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/del-larock-stripped-of-committee-realizes-error-of-using-colored-community/article_e55dab72-5692-11eb-b3d2-b7a781f6c3d4.html |access-date=January 15, 2021 |date=January 14, 2021 |newspaper=Loudoun Times-Mirror |language=en}}</ref>
LaRock faced calls to resign from the Loudoun NAACP, Winchester Area NAACP, fellow lawmakers, and at least two Loudoun County county supervisors.<ref name="calls" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Janney |first=Josh |title=Gooditis calls for LaRock to resign |work=The Winchester Star |date=January 20, 2021 |url=https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/gooditis-calls-for-larock-to-resign/article_dca96905-03fa-5c3a-bfa3-417f33b79e9a.html |access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name="dozen" /> On January 12, 2021, Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D) stripped LaRock and the two other Republican delegates—Mark Cole and Ronnie Campbell—of one committee assignment each.<ref name="error" />
====Support for constituent charged with criminal conspiracy==== LaRock expressed his support for his constituent Thomas Caldwell, who was charged with conspiracy for his role in allegedly conspiring to forcibly storm the U.S. Capitol. Prior to learning of Caldwell's arrest, LaRock said, "Tom is a wonderful man. He and Sharon have been very supportive of me. Tom has served our country in a long and distinguished career in the U.S. military. I think very highly of Tom and Sharon."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/insurrectionist-suspect-from-clarke-county-active-in-local-republican-politics/article_b314c974-5b43-11eb-8982-abaa4a24a230.html |title=Insurrectionist suspect from Clarke County active in local Republican politics |first=Evan |last=Goodenow |newspaper=Loudoun Times-Mirror |date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>
== Personal life == LaRock is a general contractor,<ref name="leesburg" /> and resides in Berryville, Virginia, with his wife Joanne and the youngest of their seven children.
===Trespassing=== A complaint was filed against David LaRock in Loudoun County General District Court on four misdemeanor charges, including trespassing and destroying a posted sign. The offenses occurred between September 8, 2020, and October 12, 2020, on an easement held by LaRock in Hamilton, Virginia.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/del-larock-slated-to-appear-in-loudoun-court-on-trespassing-charges/article_c63ec569-bfbd-5381-adb3-2dbd63802fca.html |title=Del. LaRock slated to appear in Loudoun court on trespassing charges |first=Nathaniel |last=Cline |newspaper=The Winchester Star |access-date=January 12, 2021 |date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> A no trespass order was provided on September 4, 2020, according to the complaint.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Cline |title=Del. LaRock faces 4 misdemeanor charges in Loudoun court |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/del-larock-faces-4-misdemeanor-charges-in-loudoun-court/article_7ba9de8a-51d3-11eb-9acd-f3f120583c64.html |access-date=January 12, 2021 |orig-date=January 8, 2021 |date=April 1, 2021 |newspaper=Loudoun Times-Mirror |language=en}}</ref> The charges for trespassing and destroying a posted sign were dismissed by the trial judge, who found LaRock guilty on two counts of pulling down a fence.<ref name="LaRockConviction">{{cite news |author=<!--staff writer--> |date=May 27, 2021 |title=Judge Finds LaRock Guilty of Fence Removal in Dispute with Neighbor |url=https://loudounnow.com/2021/05/27/judge-finds-larock-guilty-of-fence-removal-in-dispute-with-neighbor/ |work=Loudoun Now |access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> LaRock was ordered to pay a $25 fine for each conviction.<ref name="LaRockConviction" /> The "pulling down a fence" charges against LaRock were dismissed on March 29, 2022, when Judge Daniel R. Bouton said "This is simply not a criminal case." LaRock said that the charges were "...a drawn-out and expensive attack on me personally and as an elected office holder," LaRock said in a prepared statement. "Judge Daniel R. Bouton dropped the last of four charges brought against me by Buta Biberaj. I'm grateful to Judge Bouton and my attorney Caleb Kershner."<ref>{{Cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Cline |title=Judge dismisses criminal case against Del. LaRock |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/judge-dismisses-criminal-case-against-del-larock/article_02141cd8-af84-11ec-a897-97cf5280879f.html |access-date=May 11, 2023 |date=March 29, 2022 |newspaper=Loudoun Times-Mirror |language=en}}</ref>
Over the weekend of July 30–31, 2022, LaRock was again accused of damaging that same neighbor's property on LaRock's easement.<ref>{{cite news |first=Julie |last=Carey |date=August 1, 2022 |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/virginia-delegate-accused-of-damaging-neighbors-property/3121974/ |title=Virginia Delegate Accused of Damaging Neighbors' Property |work=WRC-TV}}</ref>
LaRock had previously been charged with trespassing and destruction of property in 2012 related to an illegal sign.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dusty |last=Smith |url=https://patch.com/virginia/leesburg/ltes-larock-arrest-raises-questions |title=LaRock Arrest Raises Questions |access-date=January 14, 2021 |website=Leesburg, VA Patch |date=June 5, 2013 |language=en}}</ref>
===Social media language=== LaRock drew condemnations on social media and from local officials for use of the term "colored" in a January 2021 letter on his campaign website.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Nathaniel |last=Cline |title=Del. LaRock lashes out at critics amid growing calls to resign |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/del-larock-lashes-out-at-critics-amid-growing-calls-to-resign/article_71860ed6-55b3-11eb-80e5-cf6a96e138fb.html |access-date=January 14, 2021 |date=January 13, 2021 |newspaper=Loudoun Times-Mirror |language=en}}</ref> In the letter, LaRock said of Loudoun Supervisors and NAACP leaders that "rather than focusing on the business of Loudoun County and the needs of the colored community, they are wasting their time and taxpayer resources to attack me."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dems Want Me Out – NAACP Says RESIGN! What Say You? |url=https://www.votelarock.us/news/dems-want-me-out--naacp-says-resign-what-say-you |access-date=January 14, 2021 |website=Delegate Dave LaRock, Virginia House of Delegates, 33rd District |publisher=Dave LaRock for Delegate |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114121947/https://www.votelarock.us/news/dems-want-me-out--naacp-says-resign-what-say-you |archive-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> The letter was updated immediately to replace "colored" with minorities.<ref name="error" /> LaRock said he did not realize that using "colored people" was racist until after he issued the statement.<ref name="error" />
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=144509 | fec= | congress= }} * [http://www.votelarock.us/ Campaign Website] * [http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0261 Official Profile on Virginia General Assembly website] * [http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+mbr+H261C 2018 session legislation] * [http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?171+mbr+H261C 2017 session legislation] * [http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?161+mbr+H261C 2016 session legislation] * [http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?151+mbr+H261 2015 session legislation] * [http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+mbr+H261 2014 session legislation]
{{DEFAULTSORT:LaRock, Dave}} Category:1956 births Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly Category:American businesspeople in construction Category:Candidates in the 2025 United States elections Category:Living people Category:People from Hamilton, Virginia Category:Protesters in or near the January 6 United States Capitol attack Category:Republican Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates Category:State University of New York at Canton alumni