Representative Thomas S. P. Perriello

Thomas S. P. Perriello served as a Representative from Virginia in the United States Congress from 2009 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, Thomas S. P. Perriello contributed to the legislative process during 1 term in office.

Thomas S. P. Perriello’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Thomas S. P. Perriello participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Thomas Stuart Price Perriello (born October 9, 1974) is an American attorney, diplomat, and politician. He previously served in numerous positions at the United States State Department including as Special Representative for the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, U.S. Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes, and as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan. A Democrat, Perriello served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 5th congressional district from 2009-2011. Perriello ran for Virginia’s 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2008. He narrowly defeated six-term Republican incumbent Virgil H. Goode Jr. by 727 votes out of over 317,000 cast. At the time he served, the district included much of Southside Virginia and stretched north to Charlottesville. Perriello was defeated in the 2010 election by Republican state senator Robert Hurt. In February 2014, he was appointed United States Special Representative for the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, serving until July 2015. From July 2015 to December 2016, he was Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, succeeding former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. Perriello ran for the Democratic nomination in the 2017 Virginia gubernatorial election, but lost to Ralph Northam. For over four years until July 2023, Perriello served as the executive director for U.S. Programs at the Open Society Foundations. On February 26, 2024, Perriello was appointed as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan. Tom Perriello led U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and humanitarian catastrophe. His work involved empowering Sudanese civilian leaders, fostering regional and international engagement to address atrocities and famine. He resigned on January 18, 2025, shortly before the Second inauguration of Donald Trump. He is currently a candidate for the 2026 U.S. House election in Virginia’s 5th district.