John Viola

{{Short description|American politician (1950–2026)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = John Viola | image = John_Viola.png | state_house = Delaware | district = 26th | term_start = November 4, 1998 | term_end = November 4, 2020 | predecessor = Richard F. Davis | successor = Madinah Wilson-Anton | birth_date = {{birth date|1950|6|1}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|02|15|1950|6|1}} | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = | children = Andria Bennett | alma_mater = Goldey–Beacom College | profession = | website = }}

'''John J. Viola''' (June 1, 1950 – February 15, 2026) was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives for District 26.<ref name="DL">{{cite web |url= https://legis.delaware.gov/AssemblyMember/150/Viola |title= Representative John J. Viola (D) |publisher= Delaware General Assembly |location= Dover, Delaware |accessdate= January 9, 2019}}</ref><ref name="PVS">{{cite web |url= http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/17252 |title= John Viola's Biography |publisher= Project Vote Smart |accessdate= November 12, 2013}}</ref> He was elected in 1998 after defeating incumbent Republican Richard F. Davis. He served as the majority whip in the House before he left the position and was replaced by John "Larry" Mitchell in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://delawarestatenews.net/news/legislators-pick-new-caucus-leaders/ |title=Legislators pick new caucus leaders |first=Matt |last=Bittle |date=November 8, 2018 |newspaper=Delaware State News}}</ref> His daughter, Andria Bennett, joined him in the House in 2012 after she was elected to replace her husband and Viola's son-in-law, Brad Bennett.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.delmarvapublicradio.net/post/wife-makes-bid-take-over-delaware-house-seat-husband |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183357/https://www.delmarvapublicradio.net/post/wife-makes-bid-take-over-delaware-house-seat-husband |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |title=Wife Makes Bid To Take Over Delaware House Seat From Husband |first=Don |last=Rush |publisher=Delmarva Public Radio |date=July 11, 2012 }}</ref> In 2020, he was defeated by progressive primary challenger Madinah Wilson-Anton.

Viola earned an associate degree in business management from Goldey–Beacom College.

Viola died on February 15, 2026, at the age of 75.<ref name=death>{{cite web|title=Former Delaware House Rep. John Viola, who served Newark, Bear, dies|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/former-delaware-house-rep-john-185009131.html}}</ref>

==Electoral history== *In 1998, Viola challenged incumbent Republican Richard F. Davis and defeated him in the general election with 1,897 votes (51.3%).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect98/elect98_general/elect98_general_office.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 3, 1998 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 |archive-date= May 12, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130512041100/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect98/elect98_general/elect98_general_office.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2000, Viola won the general election with 6,054 votes (74.0%) against Republican nominee John Megahan and Libertarian nominee Andrew Gregg.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect00/2000genofficial.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 7, 2000 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 |archive-date= November 12, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131112192402/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect00/2000genofficial.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2002, Viola won the general election with 3,123 votes (95.9%) against Independent J. Oliver Lannak.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect02/elect02_general/elect02_office.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 5, 2002 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 |archive-date= November 12, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131112192209/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect02/elect02_general/elect02_office.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2004, Viola was unopposed in the general election, winning 6,255 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect04/elect04_general/elect04_general_office.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 2, 2004 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 |archive-date= November 28, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181128160148/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect04/elect04_general/elect04_general_office.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2006, Viola won the Democratic primary with 381 votes (58.5%),<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect06/elect06_primary/elect06_primary_office.shtml |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061129125002/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect06/elect06_primary/elect06_primary_office.shtml |url-status= dead |archive-date= November 29, 2006 |title= State of Delaware Primary Election Official Results |date= September 12, 2006 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 }}</ref> and was unopposed in the general election, winning 3,795 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect06/elect06_general/html/elect06_general_office.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 7, 2006 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 |archive-date= May 28, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190528184435/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect06/elect06_general/html/elect06_general_office.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2008, Viola won the general election with 6,316 votes (79.9%) against Republican nominee Jeremy Filliben.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect08/elect08_general_election/html/elect08_gen_office.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 4, 2008 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 |archive-date= May 28, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190528144158/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect08/elect08_general_election/html/elect08_gen_office.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2010, Viola won the general election with 4,819 votes (96.7%) against Republican nominee Hans-Erik Janco.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect10/elect10_General/html/election.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 2, 2010 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 |archive-date= March 3, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175242/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect10/elect10_General/html/election.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2012, Viola was unopposed for the general election, winning 7,476 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect12/elect12_general/html/election.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 6, 2012 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= November 12, 2013 |archive-date= November 3, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131103114518/http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect12/elect12_general/html/election.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2014, Viola was unopposed for the general election, winning 3,329 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect14/elect14_General/html/election.shtml |title= State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date= November 7, 2014 |publisher= Delaware Department of Elections |department= Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate= January 9, 2019 |archive-date= January 31, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230131212001/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect14/elect14_General/html/election.shtml |url-status= dead }}</ref> *In 2016, Viola was unopposed for the general election, winning 7,745 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_general/html/election.shtml |title=State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date=November 8, 2016 |publisher=Delaware Department of Elections |department=Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate=January 9, 2019 |archive-date=May 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528142341/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect16/elect16_general/html/election.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> *In 2018, Viola won the general election with 5,417 votes (73.9%) against Republican nominee Justin Cruice.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect18/elect18_general/html/election.shtml |title=State of Delaware General Election Official Results |date=November 6, 2018 |publisher=Delaware Department of Elections |department=Office of the State Election Commissioner |accessdate=January 9, 2019 |archive-date=December 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222125356/https://elections.delaware.gov/archive/elect18/elect18_general/html/election.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> *In 2020, Viola was defeated in the Democratic primary by challenger Madinah Wilson-Anton by a 42.7%-41.2% margin.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://elections.delaware.gov/results/html/index.shtml?electionId=PR2020 |title= State of Delaware Primary Election Official Results |date= September 15, 2020 |publisher= Delaware Commissioner of Elections |accessdate= September 16, 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://legis.delaware.gov/AssemblyMember/150/Viola Official page] at the Delaware General Assembly * {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=17252 | fec= | congress= }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Viola, John}} Category:1950 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Democratic Party members of the Delaware House of Representatives Category:Goldey–Beacom College alumni Category:People from Newark, Delaware Category:20th-century members of the Delaware General Assembly Category:21st-century members of the Delaware General Assembly

John Viola

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