Thelma Day Drake (born November 20, 1949) is an American politician and former member of Congress for Virginia’s 2nd congressional district. She was born Thelma Mary Day in Elyria, Ohio, to Harry Elwood Day and Ephram O’Brien Day. She attended both Elyria Catholic High School and Elyria High School before moving to Virginia, where she later attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Her relocation to the Hampton Roads region would shape the course of her political and professional life, anchoring her career in the civic affairs of Norfolk and the surrounding communities.
Drake entered public service in Virginia state politics in the mid-1990s. In 1995 she became the second Republican to be elected to represent the City of Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates since the Reconstruction era, marking a significant partisan shift in a historically Democratic area. She represented the 87th District in the House of Delegates and served there for nine years. During her tenure, Drake chaired the Virginia Housing Commission and was a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, roles that placed her at the center of policy discussions on housing, land use, and environmental stewardship in the Chesapeake Bay region.
A member of the Republican Party, Drake advanced to national office when she was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004. She entered the race for Virginia’s 2nd congressional district after incumbent Republican Congressman Ed Schrock ended his re-election campaign. In the general election, she defeated Democratic candidate David Ashe, becoming the third woman to represent Virginia in Congress, following Leslie Byrne and Jo Ann Davis. She took office on January 3, 2005, and served two terms, remaining in the House of Representatives until January 3, 2009. Her service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, encompassing the later years of the Iraq War and debates over homeland security, defense, and federal spending, during which she participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of her coastal Virginia constituents.
Drake successfully sought re-election in 2006, defeating Democratic Party candidate Phillip Kellam by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent. In the 2008 election cycle, she ran for a third term but was defeated by Democratic nominee Glenn Nye. Over the course of her two terms in Congress, Drake contributed to the work of the House through her committee assignments and advocacy on issues important to the Hampton Roads region, including transportation, military affairs, and port and maritime concerns, reflecting the strategic and economic importance of her district.
After leaving Congress in 2009, Drake continued her involvement in transportation and public policy at the state and local levels. She was appointed Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation by Governor Robert McDonnell, where she oversaw planning and policy for passenger and freight rail, public transit, and commuter services across the Commonwealth. Later, she became Assistant Director of the Public Works Transportation Division for the City of Norfolk, further extending her role in managing and improving local transportation infrastructure. In addition to her public-sector responsibilities, Drake worked as a real estate agent in the Hampton Roads region, maintaining close ties to the community she had long represented.
Drake’s experience in transportation policy led to consideration for federal executive service. On February 15, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated her to serve as Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. The nomination expired without Senate confirmation on January 3, 2019. She was renominated to the same office on January 16, 2019, but that nomination also expired on January 3, 2020, and she was not renominated thereafter. These nominations reflected her recognized expertise in transit and rail policy developed over years of state and local leadership.
Throughout her career, Drake has been rooted in the Norfolk area. She is married to Ted Drake, and they reside in the East Ocean View neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia. Her long record of service in the Virginia House of Delegates, the U.S. House of Representatives, and in state and municipal transportation leadership has made her a notable figure in the political and civic life of coastal Virginia.
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