Charniele Herring selected as new Chairwoman of Virginia Democratic Party

Charniele Herring. PHOTO/James Cullum

(AP) – A House of Delegate member from northern Virginia has been selected as the new chairwoman of the state Democratic Party and the first African-American to lead the party.

Charniele Herring was unanimously elected Saturday in Williamsburg by the state party’s ruling central committee.

The three-term delegate from Alexandria succeeds Brian Moran.

Moran announced he wouldn’t seek another term after his party won presidential and senatorial elections in November.

The party’s likely nominee for governor, Terry McAuliffe, called Herring’s selection historic.