Senator Aaron Rouse from Virginia’s 22nd District is on a mission to become the next Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. With focused intensity and authentic cool, it’s easy to see why he has had such a meteoric rise in Virginia politics, climbing the ranks from Virginia Beach City Councilman to State Senator in just five short years. Add to that a prior career in the NFL, playing for the Packers, Giants, and Cardinals, and Rouse is primed to tackle the future challenges facing the Commonwealth.
Facing a competitive primary race against Senator Ghazala Hashmi from the 15th District and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, we caught up with Rouse at his office in the State Capitol to chat about his journey to public service, maintaining a local perspective, and what leadership looks like in 2024.

Landon Shroder: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us Senator. It has been really interesting watching your journey in Virginia politics; your success story is really unique.
Senator Rouse: Thank you. I think most folks assume this success came overnight. They haven’t realized that for three years, I had an open invitation to the General Assembly, learning the entire process of state politics even before I ran [for Senator]. Like any good professional athlete, before you play, you have to practice. Then you’re good enough to be in the game.
LS: As a former NFL player, what have you found more difficult, professional football or Virginia politics?
Senator Rouse: I would say the most difficult thing I’ve encountered has been Virginia politics. One of the differences in sports is that once you’re on a team, you may be on defense, offense, or special teams. We might have different missions and goals, but our combined efforts are what we rely on to win. If everyone understood that we are all working together, then we should have a pretty good team—if we’re doing what we’re supposed to.
LS: You were a City Councilman in Virginia Beach before stepping into state senatorial politics. Has this transition been everything you thought it was going to be? What have the main challenges been?
Senator Rouse: In politics, you’re always going to be presented with new challenges at every single level. I have been fortunate enough to have that local level political experience and now state experience as well. One of the things I have found very enjoyable in the Senate is everybody’s collegiality, and I respect that process when having to talk through really tough issues—that civility remains.
LS: What inspired you to make such a big jump so quickly?
Senator Rouse: When Republicans were trying to take away women’s reproductive rights, I knew immediately that I wanted to step up. I have a daughter, and I have to make sure that for her and other generations, that their rights are still around.
I’m also a fighter. Where I come from, most people don’t make it out or have the opportunities that I had, so it is all about giving back and trying to provide those same opportunities to the next generation. I could have sat in a very comfortable [City Council] district in Virginia Beach and been there for quite some time—Youngkin won that district by five points; no Democrat has held that seat in over 25 years. But I knew we couldn’t afford to stay on the sidelines and become complacent and comfortable. So we hit the ground running, and we won.

LS: What do you attribute your success to? What’s your secret formula? Because I think we would be hard-pressed to find another politician in Virginia that has been on such a trajectory.
Senator Rouse: You know, I am just authentically me. I don’t consider myself a politician, but a servant leader. Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, you’re still a human being, and I am going to treat you as such. We can discuss politics in the matter of today, but at the very heart of it, you are still a human being. So for me, I am always going to give the person on the farthest left and the farthest right the same amount of respect. That’s how I was raised.
When you come from the bottom, when your dad is pretty much incarcerated and your mom is working, all you really want is respect—all you have is your word. I think that has yielded me great success in politics. Because, number one, I am not going to waste your time, and number two, when you come from a background where there’s a lot of criminality, you have to be confident and steadfast in what you’re trying to achieve. It is easy to get pulled in different directions.
So when I am in this role, I have a responsibility not just to my constituents but also to the Commonwealth. I need to make sure I’m doing a good enough job to inspire someone else. Character matters, and it’s a privilege to serve in the General Assembly, especially when understanding our complete history. There was a time when a young Black man would not be allowed in these chambers, so, for me, I never take that for granted.
LS: What’s that experience been like for you as a Black man?
Senator Rouse: You find yourself focused on making sure you do a good job because all eyes are on you. As the first African American elected from Virginia Beach to the State Senate, you realize there’s a tremendous amount of responsibility. Besides the policy-making aspects [of the job], from a character and moral standpoint, it is always about bringing a certain level of dignity to the office. The tradition of it is important to me; these are sacred grounds where we get to guide not only the present but the future.
LS: On your campaign page, you have a lot of endorsements, but it seems like you’re still defining your overall platform. How would you sum up your candidacy for Lieutenant Governor? What are the core issues you’re most passionate about, and where do you see the Commonwealth going?
Senator Rouse: I am very proud to have the support of the highest-ranking African American women in General Assembly history—Senators Locke and Lucas. But for me, it is about continually broadening the boundaries, so to speak. Being more inclusive, more diverse, and bringing in folks who typically don’t look at politics. This is how I want to define being Lieutenant Governor.
We also need to do better in education and make sure our public education system has what it needs for the future. We need a well-trained and educated workforce, which directly correlates to our economic growth. There is also the issue of affordability. Housing is a huge issue, especially for millennials. I’m a millennial, and you can’t even work 40 hours a week and afford a roof over your head, let alone groceries and healthcare—it should not be this way.
This is why it’s time to usher in a new generation of leaders; we have no time to waste. [Our campaign] is not just a moment, it is a movement.
LS: Are you feeling there is a sense of urgency these days? Policy building used to be slow and deliberate, but nowadays it feels like there is an immediacy to everything. I’m not sure if that’s a characteristic of our hyper-connectedness or if there is actually a desperate sense that things need to be brought under control?

Senator Rouse: The urgency comes from the top issues we’re facing—human rights, women’s [reproductive] rights, education, and, in some cases, our history is not being told to its full accuracy. We need to talk about the economy and housing affordability; everyone deserves to make a livable wage. These are all pressing and urgent issues, and we need to have leaders in place that will look at them directly and not kick the can down the road—be effective. That’s one thing that separates me in this Lieutenant Governor race; my experience at the local and state level. I have always been effective at getting things done.
LS: This leads me to my next question. It will be a hard primary for Lieutenant Governor, facing off against Senator Hashmi and Mayor Stoney. What do you see as your main differentiator?
Senator Rouse: As you know, I served at a local level. We passed a historic bond referendum, $567 million to mitigate flooding in Virginia Beach. That also ushered in one of the city’s largest economic deals ever. Then we have the $350 million VB Wave Park and Something in the Water (Pharrell Williams is involved in both projects). We also expanded the Summer Youth Employment Programs.
At the same time, I never forget where I came from, which is why I worked to fund and expand the Summer Youth Employment Program. You cannot forget communities that sit in the shadows of a hundred million dollar tourism industry (the Virginia Beach Oceanfront). That’s how you get overlooked. I also worked with Governor Northam to keep the beaches open and small businesses running during COVID. I am a champion of small businesses; they are the backbone of our economy. This is something I understand by having served at the local level, how passing legislation affects both levels.
LS: You’ve been a big proponent of marijuana legalization in Virginia and support a retail market for cannabis. How close are we to achieving these goals?
Senator Rouse: This is another reason why we want to work with a Governor Spanberger [administration] to ensure the passage of this legislation. It was a credible and tough piece of legislation to get through the General Assembly. Along with my other colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we got the bill to the governor’s desk where all the stakeholders, from the grassroots to the pharmaceutical companies, were aligned.
LS: So what happened?
Senator Rouse: You’ll have to ask the Governor that. I think realistically this Governor has his eyes outside of Virginia and has not been focused on the small businesses and companies helping Virginians drive out the illicit black market that is thriving right now. In fact, a marijuana retail industry would have done wonders for our community safety. This is something that not only brings in revenue but brings in the kinds of revenue to help solve some of our other pressing issues. This is what I believe Governor Youngkin did not understand—maybe he had other things in mind.
LS: If Congresswoman Spanberger does take the governor’s office, what is the timeframe for the legal retail market? Some are now saying 2027.
Senator Rouse: We are going to be in a short session next year—so it’ll be in ’27. Listen, when Virginia legalized for personal consumption and you have pharmaceutical companies that can get you a medical license and dispense like that—why is it now that we don’t have a retail market for small business owners, so they can develop generational wealth and bring in revenues that we can keep right here in Virginia?
There are those opposed to the bill who say it’s not doing well in Colorado or other places, but we are Virginia. We’re going to do it the Virginia way. Not the old Virginia way, but the new Virginia way, where we can support people throughout the Commonwealth—from Hampton Roads to Northern and Southwest Virginia. We’re going to make sure that if you want to partake in this industry, you have the opportunity to do just that.
LS: Have you found Virginia law enforcement to be pretty open to the idea of a legal retail market?
Senator Rouse: I think [the statistics] have brought law enforcement agencies clarity. When it comes to cannabis, there is no gray area. So many of the resources that are needed for violent crimes are going to mitigate interactions with cannabis, especially with our young folks. This also correlates to lessening gun violence. Legalizing certain markets is a step, so let’s be proactive in putting money into our smaller non-profit groups who typically are not on the radar of state officials.
We know our communities; we’re out here knocking on doors, hosting cookouts, and doing giveaways to meet these kids where they are. This is where, as Lieutenant Governor, I can understand better than most because I understand the local level and can credibly use legislation for positive turnouts. Much like Senator Tim Kaine, when he had the local level experience and then went from Governor to Senator—it bodes well for our Commonwealth to have someone who understand that.

LS: The district you represent is on the front lines of where climate change is manifesting most deeply. Our coastal region drives tourism and the Navy’s infrastructure, all of which is contingent on climate staying at manageable levels, but the EPA’s forecast for Virginia is not positive. Where are we as a Commonwealth on climate change, and what can we do moving forward?
Senator Rouse: We have to get serious about it. In Virginia Beach, when I was a City Councilman, we passed a bond referendum to mitigate flooding concerns in the city. Understandably, not every city has the revenues of Virginia’s largest city, so that means they need state and federal help. We need to look at things like carbon emissions and make sure we get back into RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative), something the Governor unilaterally pulled us out of. The revenues from RGGI directly affected low-income areas [impacted by climate change] as well.
So we need to have policies in place that mitigate climate concerns. We have to be serious about it, and not just continue to talk about it or do a study that is going to take another three to five years. We understand the issues, let’s be effective.
LS: Does there seem to be a broad bipartisan consensus over climate change? There are a lot of Republican districts also impacted, so is this one of the areas that you see the General Assembly working together on?
Senator Rouse: I think so, but as you know, there are different solutions. Folks are still looking for the best direction to go. As someone who has been a leader, I feel it is time to pick a direction and move forward. And if that turns out to not yield the most benefit, we can always change course and head in another direction—so long as we’re moving forward. That’s the thing about leadership; there are a lot of great ideas, but we have to pick one and move forward accordingly.
LS: On May 31st, it was the five-year anniversary of the mass shooting at the Municipal Center in Virginia Beach. You said it was one of the darkest days of your public service. What’s the first thing that went through your mind when you received that news? How can you ever truly prepare for an incident like that?
Senator Rouse: I remember exactly where I was when we got the call that there was a shooting at the Municipal Center. I had my daughter and remember calling my mom, telling her I needed to drop her off—then I raced all the way to City Hall. I get full just thinking about it because I remember the shooting at Virginia Tech (where Rouse is an alumnus) and the lives that were lost there—and for that to happen in the city I grew up in. I felt like I’m not going to be scared; I wanted to be a source of strength for those families, for the city, and for the community.
I’ll never forget sitting in the old Kellam High School, trying to console families. Folks were looking for their loved ones, and if you had not heard from them, they were told to go to this place. I remember the chaplain and police coming in and informing a family that they had lost their loved one. I’ll never be able to get that out of my head.
We can’t just blame mental health. As a legislator, I think it is very important that someone who is in a position to do something about it continuously works to limit gun violence in our community. It’s not about taking away people’s rights, it’s about a simple fact—do you want to send your child to school and think they are not going to come home safe? From a mall, grocery store, the movies, or a church.
LS: Can I ask you a personal question?
Senator Rouse: Sure.
LS: How did you balance your feelings with your responsibility to the community? I guess that’s a way of asking—we look for strong leaders to carry all of our emotional weight at times like this. And that’s a terrible burden to have to carry sometimes, especially for somebody just starting in politics.
Senator Rouse: People come first; this isn’t Aaron Rouse’s district—it belongs to the people. I think it is a personal sacrifice that all elected officials make, whatever level you’re serving at. But I make it with a full understanding that it’s a privilege and I don’t need anything in return. It is a pure act of service. The title doesn’t change me; in fact, it reveals who you really are.
LS: Governor Northam was mentioned twice in the presidential debate, both times in relation to post-birth abortions. How do we fight disinformation like this when it comes to protecting reproductive healthcare for women in the Commonwealth, assuming one half of Virginia actually believes this?
Senator Rouse: We break through the other side by gathering in numbers, stepping up, knocking on doors, and getting involved by supporting candidates who want to protect women’s rights and human rights. This comes with a certain responsibility, not just personal responsibility, but a collective responsibility. That’s why it is ‘we the people.’ For all of us involved, it is about continuously making your voice heard. There are more people who support the right to abortion than those who oppose it.
Good people sometimes sit back and think they don’t need to support, that the other side is just extreme. But those people are running for office, their groups are turning out and helping them get elected and changing the landscape of America. So we cannot afford to think the other side is crazy; people have to take action and get involved.

LS: Do you think Virginia’s ready for another Trump presidency?
Senator Rouse: I don’t think the world is ready [laughing]. The leaders of the world have contingency plans in case he wins. Anytime you have a US President tell NATO, ‘If you don’t put your money up, I’m not going to protect you,’ it shows a lack of seriousness. I feel as though America needs to take this much more seriously. They say nothing underneath the sun is new, but we’ve seen this happen before in 1939 Germany.
LS: Let me segue that into my last question. You are a relatively young man, and you’ve been drawn to this career of public service. How do we inspire the next generation of leaders? It does feel like a lot of young people believe there is no way to affect change anymore, that voting doesn’t really matter, and the whole system is corrupt and we always land back in the same spot.
Senator Rouse: I think first, we have to grab their attention and cut through TikTok and Instagram. I’m the perfect candidate to do just that since I have a unique background—retired from the NFL. That gets some people to look up for a split second and say, ‘What’s he doing? How did he do that?’ I use that to capture their attention. And once I have it, we can talk about getting involved in climate, housing, education, jobs, livable wages—everything they care about.
But guess what? [Young people] also have the numbers to do something about it, and that’s going to yield a tremendous amount of change and progress for our Commonwealth. Ever since I was on City Council, that’s been my entire mantra: What am I doing to inspire you to get involved? If you can come from where I come from and garner the most votes in Virginia Beach election history, then you can do it too. For those who grew up poor, like I did, you should have life in your lungs. You can still do great things. I want to continue to provide that hope and inspiration from both sides. I contribute that perspective to my sports background. If you play football, it is about accountability and responsibility. One of the questions I always ask myself after each session is, are we winning?
LS: Do you feel like we’re winning?
Senator Rouse: Virginia, right now? No. You’re not winning when you veto 87 bipartisan bills which ensure that the rural parts of our Commonwealth can safely build schools, protect the environment, study gun violence, or protect women’s rights. That’s why we need to have a Governor Spanberger and Lieutenant Governor Rouse in the executive mansion, so we can continue to work in a way that is bipartisan.

LS: Ok, last, last question, because I know you’re close to Pharrell. He was also just in town shooting a movie, and I know there is still some controversy over Something in the Water. Does he still have his enthusiasm for Virginia?
Senator Rouse: Absolutely. I would say when it comes to Pharrell Williams, we all have a role to play. Pharrell has played such a monumental role because he’s brought the world to Virginia Beach. He put Virginia on the map. I hope he continues to elevate Virginia. You now have kids thinking they want to stay in Virginia, work here, start their businesses here. And that star power is unique; there is only one Pharrell.
LS: What’s the status of Something in the Water? This might be the number one question our readers want to know [laughing].
Senator Rouse: It’s in great hands, and I’m very optimistic that Something in the Water is coming back.
LS: But not this summer?
Senator Rouse: Like I said, it’s in great hands.
ed. note: On July 25th, Something in the Water announced it will return to Virginia Beach on October 12-13th. Stay tuned to RVA Mag for more details.
LS: Hush, hush, then? Well, that is a good place to call it then. Senator Rouse, thank you for such a great interview, and good luck in all of your endeavors.
Senator Rouse: Thank you. Thanks.