Meet Ryan

Ryan and his Dad, Wayne McDougle

Ryan McDougle was sworn in for his 3nd term in the Senate of Virginia this January 2012. In 2006, he was first elected to serve in the Senate in a Special Election where he captured 80% of the vote.  Early in 2012 he was elected Republican Caucus Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus.  He now represents all of Caroline, Essex, Lancaster, Middlesex, Northumberland, and Richmond Counties and parts of Hanover, King George, Spotsylvania and Westmoreland Counties. McDougle previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2005. Senator McDougle serves as a the Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Transportation Committee; Courts of Justice Committee; and Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee.  He also serves on the Virginia Code Commission and the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules and as a member of the Supreme Court’s Committee on District Courts.  McDougle was also appointed to serve as a representative of the Senate on the Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring.As a member of the Virginia General Assembly, Senator McDougle has been a strong proponent of improving public safety. He has worked closely with the Attorney General to win passage of landmark legislation to protect children from perpetrators of child pornography by establishing an Anti-Child Pornography Images Registry to use as a cross-reference for investigation and conviction of related offenses. The law also increased penalties for child pornography possession. McDougle also sponsored legislation requiring all persons charged with violent felonies to submit samples to be checked against the state DNA database.  In 2006, he sponsored the law known as the Virginia Back to School Sales Tax holiday.

McDougle currently operates his own law practice, the McDougle Law Firm, P.C. Prior to being elected to office, he served as a prosecutor with the Hanover County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Office where he specialized in prosecuting domestic violence and family abuse offenders. His professional work on behalf of children grew into a personal commitment that resulted in his becoming a founding member of the Hanover County Child Advocate Response Team. McDougle also served on the Hanover Domestic Violence Task Force.

A native of Hanover, McDougle has always been an active member of his community. He served beyond his local community in many ways including his missions outreach work in the Czech Republic through a local Baptist church. McDougle served as a Board Member of the Virginia FFA Foundation. He attends Fraternal Lodge No. 344 A.F. and A.M. and the Hanover Ruritan Club in Mechanicsville.

McDougle graduated from Lee-Davis High School and received his Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University in Political Science and History. McDougle earned his Juris Doctorate from the College of William and Mary School of Law.

Ryan and his wife, Robyn live in the historic Cold Harbor area of Mechanicsville with their daughter, Reagan.

Member of following Committees, Commissions, and Task Forces

Senate Transportation Committee

Senate Agriculture, Conservation & Natural Resources Committee

Senate Courts of Justice Committee

Senate Rehabilitation & Social Services Committee

Republican Leader Pro Tempore

Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring

Joint Commission for Administrative Rules

Virginia Supreme Court Committee on District Courts

Virginia Code Commission

Government and Regulatory Reform Task Force: Infrastructure in Virginia Working Group

Virginia Criminal Justice Conference

National Conference of State Legislators Justice Information Sharing Advisory Group

Formerly

Attorney General’s Youth Internet Safety Task Force

Virginia Crime Commission’s Joint Legislative Task Force on Computer Crimes

Attorney General’s Anti-Gang Violence Task Force

Former Hanover Prosecutor

Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program

Biosciences and BioTechnology Study Subcommittee

Advisory Council on Career and Technical Education

Joint Subcommittee to study the Virginia Public Records Act

Joint Subcommittee to study the effectiveness and costs of the Guardian ad Litem Program

Virginia Council on Indians

Joint Subcommittee to Study Redistricting the Judicial Circuits

Founding Member: Hanover Child Abuse Response Team

VA FFA Foundation Board

Hanover Domestic Violence Task Force

Member of House of Delegates: 2002-2006