# David Ramadan

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{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = 
| name = David-Imad Ramadan
| honorific_suffix = 
| image = 
| caption = 
| state_delegate = Virginia
| district = [87th](/source/Virginia's_87th_House_of_Delegates_district)
| term_start = January 11, 2012
| term_end = January 5, 2016
| preceded = [Paula Miller](/source/Paula_Miller)
| succeeded = [John Bell](/source/John_Bell_(Virginia_politician))
| birth_name = David-Iman Ramadan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|5|31}}
| birth_place = [Beirut](/source/Beirut), [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon)
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| resting_place = 
| party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
| spouse = 
| age = 
| education = [George Mason University](/source/George_Mason_University) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts), [MA](/source/Master_of_Arts)) <br> [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford) <br> [Johns Hopkins University](/source/Johns_Hopkins_University) <br> [Georgetown University](/source/Georgetown_University)
| occupation = [Entrepreneur](/source/Entrepreneur), [consultant](/source/consultant), [pundit](/source/Pundit_(expert)), [politician](/source/politician), [educator](/source/educator), [professor](/source/professor)
| website = http://www.davidramadan.com/
}}

'''David-Imad Ramadan''' (born May 31, 1970) is a [Lebanese-born American](/source/Lebanese_Americans) politician and businessman. He is a former [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) member of the [Virginia House of Delegates](/source/Virginia_House_of_Delegates), representing the [87th](/source/Virginia's_87th_House_of_Delegates_district) district in [Loudoun](/source/Loudoun_County%2C_Virginia) and [Prince William](/source/Prince_William_County%2C_Virginia) counties from 2012 to 2016.<ref>{{cite web | title = Virginia House of Delegates 2013; Delegate David I. Ramadan | publisher = Virginia House of Delegates | url = http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/a7b082ef6ed01eac85256c0d00515644/b992dd6f4701ceec85257535005773fd?OpenDocument&Click=85256823005F1997.f0a3d2c6f9f07af1852570bd00646e36/$Body/0.1A96 | accessdate = April 16, 2013}}</ref> He opted not to seek re-election in 2015, and was succeeded by his 2013 opponent, [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) [John J. Bell](/source/John_Bell_(Virginia_politician)).

==Early life and education==
Ramadan grew up in [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon) and completed his high school studies at [International College, Beirut](/source/International_College%2C_Beirut). He emigrated to the United States in 1989 and has resided in Virginia since then. He is a graduate of [George Mason University](/source/George_Mason_University), earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and politics and a Master of Arts degree in international trade and transactions. He completed graduate studies at [Oxford University](/source/Oxford_University), the American Graduate School of Business (Geneva, Switzerland), [Johns Hopkins University](/source/Johns_Hopkins_University), and [Georgetown University](/source/Georgetown_University).

== Career ==
Prior to entering politics, Ramadan worked at [Curves International](/source/Curves_International) and in the government relations sector.<ref>{{cite news|title=D.C.-area businessman expands Curves overseas |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2011/03/local-businessman-expands-curves.html |newspaper=[Washington Business Journal](/source/American_City_Business_Journals) |accessdate=March 8, 2011 |first=Tierney |last=Plumb |date=March 8, 2011}}</ref>

Ramadan is also a frequent commentator on TV and radio news networks such as [ABC's](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) ''[Good Morning America](/source/Good_Morning_America)'', [LBC](/source/LBC), [MSNBC](/source/MSNBC), [France 24](/source/France_24), [Al-Hurra](/source/Al-Hurra), [BBC](/source/BBC), [CNN](/source/CNN), and [NPR](/source/NPR).<ref>{{cite web |title=David Ramadan {{!}} Biography |url=https://www.gmu.edu/profiles/dramada1 |website=George Mason University |access-date=December 16, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

Ramadan served on the Board of Visitors of [George Mason University](/source/George_Mason_University), where he was appointed by Governor [Bob McDonnell](/source/Bob_McDonnell) on July 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Governor McDonnell Announces Board Appointments and Additional Appointments to Administration |url=http://www.governor.virginia.gov/News/viewRelease.cfm?id=222 |publisher=Gov. McDonnell's Press Office |date=July 1, 2010 |accessdate=December 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118072351/http://www.governor.virginia.gov/News/viewRelease.cfm?id=222 |archive-date=November 18, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)'' on July 1, 2010, described the appointment by Governor McDonnell "as a thank you to longtime supporters and friends".<ref>{{cite news |title=McDonnell appoints supporters to universities's boards of visitors |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/07/mcdonnell_appoints_supporters.html?wprss=virginiapolitics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010201805/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/07/mcdonnell_appoints_supporters.html?wprss=virginiapolitics |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |first=Anita |last=Kumar | date=July 1, 2010 |accessdate=December 6, 2010 | newspaper=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)}}</ref>  He is also an adjunct professor at [George Mason University](/source/George_Mason_University), teaching "Global Affairs - Middle East Realities" and "Virginia Government and Politics" courses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chss.gmu.edu/articles/9431|title=The New Realities in the Middle East with David Imad Ramadan|website=gmu.edu|accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>

Ramadan is a political activist with active roles in the [Republican Party of Virginia](/source/Republican_Party_of_Virginia), the Loudoun County Republican Committee,<ref>{{cite web|title=Loudoun GOP|url=http://www.loudoungop.com/|work=Loudoun County (VA) Republican Party|accessdate=December 1, 2010}}</ref> and the Arab-American Republican community. He has served on presidential political campaigns as well as on gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns, and was appointed by RPV Chair in 2008 to ethnic outreach leadership.<ref>{{cite web|title=Republicans name ethnic outreach leadership |url=http://www.rpv.org/news_media/detail/republicans-name-ethnic-outreach-leadership/ |work=Republican Party of Virginia |accessdate=December 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704200331/https://www.rpv.org/news_media/detail/republicans-name-ethnic-outreach-leadership |archivedate=July 4, 2010 }}</ref>

In November 2018, when Republican Congresswoman [Barbara Comstock](/source/Barbara_Comstock) was ousted by Democratic nominee [Jennifer Wexton](/source/Jennifer_Wexton), Ramadan told ''The Washington Post'' that her loss is to be blamed on factors at the national level, not the district level.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/comstock-vs-wexton-virginias-10th-congressional-district-race/2018/11/06/f3d406ca-deb6-11e8-85df-7a6b4d25cfbb_story.html?noredirect=on Portnoy, Jenna. "Democrat Jennifer T. Wexton defeats Rep. Barbara Comstock, turning a GOP stronghold district in Virginia blue" ''The Washington Post'' November 6, 2018]</ref> He has been outspoken about his belief that the Virginia Republican party needs to pay more attention to the needs and opinions of [Northern Virginia](/source/Northern_Virginia), and not just to rural voters in the rest of the Commonwealth.<ref>[https://www.roanoke.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-ramadan-says-rural-republicans-need-to-be-educated-about/article_23bf0c20-ecd8-531b-9d9f-eedb6338eb36.html "Editorial: Ramadan says rural Republicans need to be educated about political reality" ''Roanoke Times'' October 24, 2018]</ref> In November 2024, Ramadan joined Comstock and Democratic officials [state senator](/source/Virginia_Senate) [Suhas Subramanyam](/source/Suhas_Subramanyam), Wexton, and state senator [Russet Perry](/source/Russet_Perry) to help elect Democratic candidates including [Kamala Harris](/source/Kamala_Harris).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudounnow.com/news/former-republican-lawmakers-join-democratic-candidates-in-loudoun-for-final-voter-push/article_3d98d166-9ab1-11ef-b680-a3368277d2b8.html|title=Former Republican Lawmakers Join Democratic Candidates in Loudoun for Final Voter Push|last=Pampolani|first=Hanna|date=November 3, 2024|access-date=May 4, 2025|website=Loudoun Now}}</ref>

===Legislative history===
Ramadan served on the several committees in the [Virginia House of Delegates](/source/Virginia_House_of_Delegates), specifically Privileges & Elections (P&E), Science & Technology (S&T), and the General Laws Committee. He served as the chairman of the P&E Constitutional Amendments Subcommittee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vpap.org/legislators/155416/committees/|title=Legislator: David Ramadan|website=www.vpap.org|accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>

Ramadan was the co-founder and co-chairman of the "Business Development Caucus,"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/ramadan_among_founders_of_statehouse_business_development_caucus423|title=Ramadan among founders of statehouse Business Development Caucus|first=Trevor|last=Baratko|website=loudountimes.com|date=April 30, 2012 |accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref> and the co-founded and co-chairman of the "Redskins Pride Caucus".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/n-va-legislators-announce-redskins-pride-caucus/article_345f61c0-fae7-11e3-8ebf-0017a43b2370.html|title=3 N.Va. legislators announce Redskins Pride Caucus|first=RICHMOND|last=TIMES-DISPATCH|website=richmond.com|date=June 23, 2014 |accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>

Ramadan authored several pieces of legislation which became law during his four years in the Virginia House:

* Constitutional Amendment in support of military families<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wamu.org/story/14/10/29/va_amendment_would_erase_property_taxes_for_families_of_slain_soldiers/|title=Virginia Amendment Would Erase Property Taxes For Families Of Slain Soldiers|website=wamu.org|accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref> 
* Online Voter Registration<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginiabusiness.com/news/article/online-voter-registration-takes-effect-in-virginia|website=www.virginiabusiness.com|title=Online voter registration takes effect in Virginia Industries|date=July 23, 2013 |accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>
* High School to Work Partnerships<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+sum+HB2101 | title=LIS > Bill Tracking > HB2101 > 2013 session }}</ref>
* Diwali Day<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?131+sum+HJ550|title=LIS > Bill Tracking > HJ550 > 2013 session|website=lis.virginia.gov|accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>
* Securing the State Corporation Commission electronic system<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+sum+HB168S | title=LIS > Bill Tracking > HB168 > 2014 session }}</ref>
* High School Biliteracy Diploma Seal<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?151+sum+HB1351 | title=LIS > Bill Tracking > HB1351 > 2015 session }}</ref>
* Sex Offenders and Crimes Against Minors Supplement to Registry<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2015/hb1353/|title=HB1353: Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry; Supplement to Registry.|website=Richmond Sunlight|accessdate=September 15, 2018}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! Election !! Candidate !! Party !! Votes !! %
|-
! colspan="6" | Virginia House of Delegates, 87th district
|-
! rowspan="2" align="center" | August 23, 2011<ref name="sbe2011p">{{cite web | title = August 2011 Republican Primary Official Results | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/FC2CC80F-A84D-4058-BF5F-BCA25094CDA9/Official/8_s.shtml | accessdate = April 16, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130723105141/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/FC2CC80F-A84D-4058-BF5F-BCA25094CDA9/Official/8_s.shtml | archive-date = July 23, 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| rowspan="2" {{party shading/Republican}} align="center" | [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) primary
| colspan="2" | '''David I. Ramadan'''
| align="right" | '''1,368'''
| align="right" |  '''55.76'''
|-
| colspan="2" | Jo-Ann Chase
| align="right" | 1,085
| align="right" |  44.23
|-
! rowspan="4" align="center" | November 8, 2011<ref name="sbe2011">{{cite web | title = November 2011 General Election Official Results | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/EB178FD6-875D-4B0D-A295-900A0482F523/Official/8_p5_s.shtml | accessdate = April 16, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234158/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/EB178FD6-875D-4B0D-A295-900A0482F523/Official/8_p5_s.shtml | archive-date = March 3, 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| rowspan="4" align="center" | General
| '''David I. Ramadan'''
| {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican'''
| align="right" | '''5,435'''
| align="right" |  '''49.92'''
|-
| Mike D. Kondratick
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
| align="right" | 5,384
| align="right" |  49.45
|-
| colspan="2" | Write Ins
| align="right" | 67
| align="right" |  0.61
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:Beige" | ''[Paula Miller](/source/Paula_Miller) was redistricted out; seat changed from Democratic to Republican''
|
|-
! rowspan="4" align="center" | November 5, 2013<ref name="sbe2013">{{cite web | title = November 2013 General Election Official Results | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = http://elections.virginia.gov/Files/Electionresults/2013/November-5/electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsSW829a.html?eid=7&type=HOD&map=CTY | access-date = April 24, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150406053902/http://elections.virginia.gov/Files/Electionresults/2013/November-5/electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsSW829a.html?eid=7&type=HOD&map=CTY | archive-date = April 6, 2015 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| rowspan="4" align="center" | General
| '''David I. Ramadan'''
| {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican'''
| align="right" | '''10,274'''
| align="right" |  '''50.26'''
|-
| [John J. Bell](/source/John_Bell_(Virginia_politician))
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
| align="right" | 10,087
| align="right" |  49.35
|-
| colspan="2" | Write Ins
| align="right" | 52
| align="right" |  0.24
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:Beige" | 
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20181031035929/http://www.davidramadan.com/ Official website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramadan, David}}
Category:1970 births
Category:20th-century American businesspeople
Category:21st-century American businesspeople
Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford
Category:American political commentators
Category:American politicians of Lebanese descent
Category:Businesspeople from Virginia
Category:George Mason University alumni
Category:Georgetown University alumni
Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni
Category:Lebanese emigrants to the United States
Category:Living people
Category:Republican Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates
Category:Politicians from Beirut
Category:People from Loudoun County, Virginia
Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Ramadan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ramadan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ramadan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.