Richard “Rip” Sullivan, Jr. and his wife, Beth, were both raised and attended public schools in Northern Virginia. Before being elected to the House of Delegates in 2014, Rip served our region on numerous boards and commissions, which are listed here, providing him with extensive experience in a number of key policy areas that have directly translated to his work for the 48th District.
Rip served as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, a leadership role in which he works with Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn and Majority Leader Charniele Herring to promote the goals of House Democrats. Rip served two terms as the House Democratic Caucus Campaign Chair, during which time he led the Democratic Party’s effort to gain seats and win back the majority in the House. He became Campaign Chair in 2017 and oversaw the strategy that led House Democrats to pick up a whopping 15 seats. He reprised his role as Campaign Chair during the 2019 cycle in which Democrats made history by taking back both the House and Senate.
As a Delegate, Rip has fought every year to encourage the growth of Virginia’s clean energy and energy efficiency sectors, promote access to the ballot box, protect and advance LGBTQ rights, and de-politicize the redistricting process. Speaker Filler-Corn appointed Rip to serve as Chair of the powerful Labor and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, a role in which he used his experience legislating in the energy space to help shape the way Virginia moves forward on these crucial issues. He also previously served as Chair of the Finance Committee’s Third Subcommittee which considers bills related to corporate and individual income tax. Currently, Rip serves on the Courts of Justice Committee and Finance Committee.
During the 2020 session Rip introduced the historic Virginia Clean Economy Act to advance the Commonwealth’s clean energy sector and promote energy efficiency and a life-saving “Red Flag” law to curb gun violence before a single shot is fired, among other significant pieces of legislation. Rip worked diligently with stakeholders and his colleagues to ultimately ensure that these landmark bills became law.
Rip and Beth, his high school sweetheart, have four children, all of whom graduated from our public schools. They have three granddaughters, Alex, Avery, and Riley, and one grandson, Taylor.
Rip graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College, and received his law degree from the University of Virginia. He is a partner in the law firm Bean Kinney & Korman, P.C., in Arlington.
United States Institute of Peace – International Advisory Council Member
Fairfax County Park Authority Board – former Board Member
Fairfax County Housing and Redevelopment Authority – former Vice-Chair – Fairfax Transportation Advisory Commission – former member
Virginia Commission on Civics Education – former member
Fairfax Consumer Protection Commission – former member
George Mason University School of Law – former Adjunct Professor
Legal Services of Northern Virginia – former President and Board Member
Potomac Legal Aid Society – former Board Member
Virginia Law Foundation – Fellow
Virginia State Bar Council – Represented the 19th Judicial Circuit (2003-2009)
Virginia Bar Association – Member of the Board of Governors (2006-2009)
Virginia Bar Association Committee on Federal Judgeships – Eastern District, former
Virginia State Bar Professionalism Course – former Faculty Member
Arlington Bar Association
Fairfax Bar Association
Fairfax Law Foundation – former Board Member
Federal Bar Association
Alexandria Bar Foundation – former Board Member
Homestretch, Inc. – former Vice Chairman and Board Member
McLean Community Foundation – former President and Board Member
McLean Project for the Arts Advisory Board
Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at The University of Virginia – former Board Member
Virginia State Bar/Virginia Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Joint Committee – Member and former Chair
Virginia State Bar Emergency Legal Services Task Force – former Chairman
Virginia State Bar Special Committee on Access to Legal Services – former Member and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Funding Alternatives
Virginia State Bar Special Committee on the Resolution of Fee Disputes – former Chairman
Dranesville Budget Task Force – former Chair
