Nicole Cole

Nicole Cole is a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 66th District, which includes portions of Spotsylvania and Caroline counties. Born in Hampton and raised in Highland Springs, Virginia, she is the granddaughter of a farmer and entrepreneur and the daughter of a public school teacher.

Cole is a financial advisor and small business owner with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector. She is a mother of three children: Joshua, Cassius, and Maximilian. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and maintains active memberships in the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce.

Cole made history in 2025 when she defeated 35-year incumbent Republican Bobby Orrock by a margin of 4.39%, flipping the traditionally conservative district to Democratic representation. She took office on January 14, 2026.

Education

Cole holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Health Services Management from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business . She graduated from Highland Springs High School in June 1987.

Political Experience

Cole's path to the House of Delegates began with her work on the Spotsylvania County Public School Board, to which she was elected in 2021. Recognizing disparities in educational resources between Virginia and Maryland schools where she had previously lived, she initially ran for the school board to address funding and equity issues.

In 2022, Cole founded the Pathways to Success Foundation, a 501 nonprofit organization dedicated to education and education advocacy. She also served as Board President for Higher Education and Learning Professional Consulting, Inc., a national nonprofit focused on student-centered programming in college and career readiness.

Key policy priorities in her campaign and legislative work include public school funding, affordable housing, mental health advocacy, women's reproductive rights, and repealing Virginia's right-to-work status.