As the first Iranian American elected to state-level office in Virginia, Atoosa Reaser’s path to public service reflects both her family’s remarkable journey and her deep commitment to the community she calls home.
Atoosa fled Iran during a revolution that stripped away freedoms, particularly for women. Her parents made extraordinary sacrifices to ensure she could grow up in a country where education and opportunity were within reach. She has never forgotten what that meant: “I worked hard to graduate, chose a career in public service, and have made it my mission to give back to the community that has given me so much.”
That sense of obligation drives her work in the legislature today. “Through all my time as an attorney and serving my community, I never thought I would see a day when Americans would lose their freedoms. Sadly, we are watching rights being rolled back, and state legislatures have become the last battleground to protect the American promise: if you work hard, you can succeed. That’s why I decided to run for the House of Delegates, to make sure every Virginian has the same freedom and opportunity that brought my family to America in the first place.”
Atoosa has called Loudoun County home for over 20 years. She represents House District 27, covering Eastern Loudoun, and brings a record of community service that long predates her time in Richmond. She served on the Loudoun County School Board, where her colleagues twice elected her Vice Chair, and has volunteered with the PTA, Boy Scouts, and LINK Against Hunger.
Her professional background is equally broad. As a lawyer and former educator, Atoosa has served as a Deputy Town Attorney, a litigator, and in-house counsel, and has been qualified by the Virginia Supreme Court as a guardian ad litem, a role that reflects her longstanding commitment to protecting vulnerable members of her community.
In her first term, 15 of her bills were signed into law by a Republican governor. “In a time of deep partisan division, my bipartisan wins delivered real results for my community and all Virginians.” That record of results has continued. In the most recent legislative session, Governor Spanberger signed all 11 of Atoosa’s bills that reached her desk.
Increasingly, people feel that the American dream is slipping away due to the rising cost of living, the lack of affordable housing, and the difficulty of starting small businesses. As a Delegate, I passed legislation to create affordable assisted living units, expanded the Virginia Values Veterans program to military spouses, and secured funding for Loudoun nonprofits. I am committed to making sure every family has the economic foundation they need to live and thrive here.
Climate Change represents an existential threat to our communities and our children’s future. On School Board, I supported the expansion of electric charging stations throughout the Commonwealth, as well as expanding our electric bus fleet. As Delegate, I supported legislation to help us transition to a clean energy future that creates new high paying jobs in our communities and spurs the development of renewable energy.
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States, underscoring the urgent need for stronger prevention measures. As Delegate, I spearheaded the passage of two bipartisan firearm safety measures that were enacted by a Republican governor. I also served as Chief Co-Sponsor of a secure storage initiative to encourage responsible ownership and advanced additional proposals to eliminate ghost guns and assault-style weapons, expand background screening, and improve enforcement of statutes permitting the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others.
As an English Language Learner, I know firsthand that a strong public education opens doors—empowering every child to reach their full potential and give back to their community. That’s why, as your Delegate, I’ve fought to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. I passed laws to strengthen literacy instruction, improve teacher training, and prevent hazing in our schools. I also led efforts to address student gun violence and passed a law allowing telehealth visits during the school day—so students can stay healthy without falling behind.
As a first-generation immigrant and English Language Learner, I understand that a quality public education allows children to reach their full potential and give back to their community. As a member of the Loudoun County School Board, I championed the creation of new opportunities in academics and arts, improved teacher pay and benefits, and helped lead Loudoun County Schools to a #1 ranking in Virginia.
Women’s Rights are under attack from the Supreme Court and from Republicans in our Virginia legislature. As Delegate, I am protecting the right to make reproductive health care choices between a patient and their medical professionals, without the government inserting itself – including a constitutional amendment enshrining that right – to combat pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, for affordable and accessible birth control, and for equal pay.
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