Quick Facts
Biography
Mamie Evelyn Locke (born March 19, 1954) is an African-American politician and educator. A Democrat, she was a member of the Hampton, Virginia city council 1996–2004, and mayor 2000–2004. Since 2004, she has been a member of the Senate of Virginia from the 2nd district. She currently represents parts of the cities of Hampton, Newport News and Portsmouth, plus part of York County. She is also Professor of Political Science and Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Hampton University.
Education
Locke received a B.A. degree in history and political science from Tougaloo College in 1976. She then attended Atlanta University for advanced political science studies, receiving an M.A. in 1978 and a Ph.D. in 1984. She also completed a program in Middle Eastern studies at the American University in Cairo in 1986.
Political career
Locke was first elected to Hampton City Council in 1996. The council chose her as Vice Mayor in 1998 and Mayor in 2000.
In 2003, she won a three-way Democratic primary for the 2nd Senate district nomination with 48.11% of the vote. She then won the general election over Republican P. K. Bomersheim and independent J. B. Hobson with 64.75%.
In 2007, Locke was unopposed.
In 2011, she defeated Republican Tom E. Harmon IV with 65.39% of the vote.