Jessica L. Anderson is a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing District 71, which includes the City of Williamsburg, parts of James City County, and eastern parts of New Kent County. Born in 1981 in Newport News, Virginia, she is a lifelong Virginian who has resided in the district for 25 years, initially in New Kent County and later in Williamsburg and James City County after a divorce. She works as a front office receptionist at a public elementary school in Williamsburg-James City County, a position she has held for eight years, and lives with her husband David Anderson—whom she met through a running community—and three children: Samantha, Anya, and Felicity. A notable achievement is her 2025 election victory over Republican incumbent Amanda Batten, House GOP Caucus Chair since 2020, by nearly 3,000 votes in a rematch of her narrow 2023 loss by 660 votes; she was sworn in on January 14, 2026.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Associate of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Nelson Community College .
• Political Experience: First elected to the House of Delegates in 2025 for the 71st District ; previously ran unsuccessfully in 2023. Affiliations include Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership , member of Williamsburg-James City Education Association , and Board Secretary of Colonial Road Runners. She advocates for education funding, social safety nets, housing, health care, and personal liberties, driven by her experiences as a working mother and school employee.