title: Matthew James (politician)
text: # Matthew James (politician)
  
  Matthew James (born September 11, 1955 in Norfolk, Virginia) is a former Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 80th district, comprising parts of the cities Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake.
  
  He won his seat in the 2009 election after defeating Republican Jennifer Lee in the general election by nearly forty points. He succeeded incumbent Kenneth Melvin, who resigned in May 2009 to become a judge.
  
  