Nadarius Clark

Nadarius Clark
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Incumbent
Assumed office January 10, 2024
Preceded by	Glenn Davis (redistricting)
Constituency	84th district
In office January 12, 2022 – March 28, 2023
Preceded by	Steve Heretick
Succeeded by	Rae Cousins (redistricting)
Constituency	79th district
Personal details
Born	1995 (age 29–30) Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Virginia Union University

Nadarius Clark (born 1995) is an American activist and politician who has served as delegate for the 84th district of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2023, and formerly the 79th district from 2022 to 2023. Clark, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Steve Heretick in the Democratic primary and Republican nominee Lawrence Mason in the 2021 Virginia House of Delegates election.^[1][2][3]

He resigned on March 28, 2023, to run for election to a different seat in the chamber.^[4] On June 20, 2023, Clark won the Democratic primary for the new 84th district.^[5] He won the election with 53% of the vote to his Republican opponent's 47% Michael Dillender in Virginia's 84th House of Delegates district.

Early life

Nadarius Clark attended Virginia Union University for college, in Richmond.^[6]

Political career

Virginia House of Delegates

Nadarius Clark is a Democratic politician and activist from Virginia who, at a young age, has held multiple terms in the Virginia House of Delegates. He worked as a campaign organizer for Tim Kaine from when he was governor. Clark became the youngest ever representative at 26 years old, the minimum age to be a representative is 21 years old.^[6]

Clark first won election in 2021 to represent Virginia's 79th House of Delegates district, defeating incumbent Steve Heretick in the Democratic primary and later the Republican challenger in the general election.

In 2023, following redistricting, Clark resigned from his seat and sought election in the 84th House District. In June 2023, he won the Democratic primary for the seat, and won the general election later that year, securing about 53% of the vote. Clark has continued served as the delegate for District 84 since.

Committee assignments

During his tenure, Clark has held committee assignments including Agriculture Chesapeake & Natural Resources, Communications, Education, Technology & Innovation, and Public Safety. He is the vice chair for the Agriculture Chesapeake & Natural Resources Committee, and the chair for the Public Safety - Firearms subcommittee.^[7]

Policy positions and legislation

In the 2024 session, Clark introduced a bill that would prohibit the collection of medical debt if collection proceedings didn't start within 3 years of the due date on the final notice.^[8]

In 2024, Clark introduced a bill to cap rising rents which ultimately didn't advance.^[9]

In the 2025 session, Clark had multiple bills signed into law, including one to establish bleeding control programs, requiring schools to have and maintain bleeding control kits, with certain contents such as bandages and tourniquets.^[10] He also introduced a bill to limit the ability of third parties to file malpractice claims against another person's lawyer, which also became law.^[11] Another passed bill allows businesses in localities with higher unemployment and poverty to qualify for investment grants under more flexible requirements.^[12]

Electoral history

2021 elections

Democratic primary results^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nadarius Clark	2,033	45.73
	Democratic	Steve Heretick (incumbent)	1,883	42.35
	Democratic	Dante Walston	530	11.92
Total votes			4,446	100.0

Virginia's 79th House of Delegates district, 2021^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nadarius Clark	10,647	56.1
	Republican	Lawrence Mason	8,283	43.6
	Write-in		63	0.3
Total votes			18,993	100.0
	Democratic hold

2023 election

Virginia's 84th House of Delegates District, 2023 General Election^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nadarius Clark	15,899	52.99
	Republican	Michael Dillender	14,046	46.82
	Write-in		58	0.19
Total votes			30,003	100
	Democratic gain from Republican

References

1. Littlehales, Alex (June 9, 2021). "Meet Nadarius Clark: the 26-year-old vying for Virginia's House of Delegates". 13 News Now. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
2. Virginia General Assembly: Nadarius Clark
3. Virginia Scope: Nadarius Clark, 3 October 2021 (audio)
4. "Clark resigns House seat, completes move to Suffolk". The Smithfield Times. March 28, 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
5. Janney, Josh (June 20, 2023). "Nadarius Clark and Michael Dillender win their primaries in House District 84". The Virginian Piolot. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
6. Wilson, Thailon (2024-04-03). "Virginia's General Assembly is trending younger. At 28, Del. Clark strives to get young voters involved". The Virginian-Pilot. Capital News Service. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
7. "Delegate Nadarius E. Clark". Virginia General Assembly. virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
8. McIntyre, Meghan (2024-01-26). "Three interesting bills: medical debt, mobile home park tenant rights and state data breaches • Virginia Mercury". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
9. "Virginia bills to cap rent increases don't advance this session". Virginia Mercury. Capital News Service. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
10. "HB1700". Virginia Legislative Information Service. lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
11. "HB2174". Virginia Legislative Information Service. lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
12. "HB2179". Virginia Legislative Information Service. lis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
13. "2021 June Democratic Primary". Virginia Department of Elections. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
14. "2021 November General". 2021-11-03. Archived from the original on 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
15. "Member, House of Delegates (84th District)". Election results. elections.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2 April 2024.