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 "excerpt": "Timmy French, born 1969, in Woodstock, Virginia, is an American Republican politician and Shenandoah County farmer who represents the 1st district in the Virginia Senate.",
 "snippet": "Timmy French, born 1969, in Woodstock, Virginia, is an American Republican politician and Shenandoah County farmer who represents the 1st district in the Virginia Senate.",
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 "markdown": "# Timmy French\n\nTimmy French (born 1969) is an American politician and farmer. A Republican, he is a member of the Virginia Senate representing the 1st district, which includes all of Clarke County, Frederick County, Shenandoah County, Warren County, and Winchester City.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> Before entering the Senate, he was known as a farmer and co-owner of several agricultural businesses in Shenandoah County.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Republican<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> |\n| Current office | Member, Virginia Senate, District 1<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> |\n| Born | 1969, Woodstock, Virginia<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> |\n| Education | Central High School (1983–1987); American FFA degree, 1988<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nFrench is a Republican.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> He was identified as a Republican farmer from Shenandoah County when he was described as senator-elect in January 2024.<sup>[2](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)</sup>\n\n## Early life and education\n\nFrench was born in Woodstock, Virginia, in 1969.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> He attended Central High School from 1983 to 1987 and received the American FFA degree in 1988.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> He is a Presbyterian and a member of Woodstock Presbyterian Church.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup>\n\n## Career\n\nFrench is a farmer and co-owner of French Brothers Dairy, Springdale Poultry, and Springdale Family Farms.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> Before his election to the Senate, he served as a past committee member of the Shenandoah County Agricultural and Forestal District Advisory Committee and as past president of the Shenandoah County Farm Bureau.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup>\n\nFrench serves in the Virginia Senate from the 1st district.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup> In January 2024, shortly before the start of the General Assembly session, he was described as senator-elect.<sup>[2](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)</sup> He serves on the [Agriculture](https://www.edgepedia.org/agriculture), Conservation and Natural Resources; General Laws and Technology; and Rehabilitation and Social Services committees.<sup>[1](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)</sup>\n\n## Issues specific to French\n\nIn January 2024, Route 11 News reported that French, then senator-elect, would co-sponsor legislation to re-legalize skill games in Virginia. According to the report, Senator Aaron Rouse, a Democrat from Virginia Beach, would be the lead sponsor of the pro-skill game bill, with Senator Louise Lucas, a Democrat from Portsmouth, and French signing on as co-patrons.<sup>[2](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)</sup> Skill games had popped up in gas stations, convenience stores, and bars around the state before they were outlawed, and the machines had been operating without regulation since late 2021.<sup>[2](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)</sup> The companies behind the games, Pace-O-Matic and Queen of Virginia Skill & [Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/entertainment), said in a pre-session memo that they felt confident they had support from legislators and the public to get skill games operating again in the market.<sup>[2](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)</sup> The company estimated that state-sanctioned skill games could generate up to $200 million in tax revenue, though it was unclear what kind of tax system lawmakers might pursue and how many machines they would be willing to allow.<sup>[2](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)</sup>\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Skill games\n\nFrench signed on as a co-patron of a bill to re-legalize skill games in Virginia, introduced in the 2024 General Assembly session. The bill was reported as a pro-skill game measure led by Senator Aaron Rouse, with French and Senator Louise Lucas as co-patrons.<sup>[2](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)</sup> Skill games had been outlawed after appearing in gas stations, convenience stores, and bars around the state, and had operated without regulation since late 2021.<sup>[2](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Senator Timmy French, Virginia Senate](https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S121)\n2. [Sen.-elect Timmy French to co-sponsor 'Skill Games' re-legalization bill, Route 11 News](https://route11news.com/2024/01/08/sen-elect-timmy-french-to-co-sponsor-skill-games-re-legalization-bill/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Southern state legislators › Surnames D to F*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026; Oct 12, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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