Richard Lawrence Saslaw (born February 5, 1940) is an American politician.
A Democrat, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1976–80, then was elected to the Senate of Virginia.
He currently represents the 35th district, made up of the city of Falls Church and portions of Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria.Saslaw has been the leader of the Virginia Senate Democrats since 1998, serving as Majority Leader from 2008–2012, 2014 – June 12, 2014, and Minority Leader 1998–2008, 2012–2014.
He ran for Congress in Virginia's 8th congressional district in 1984.
He was defeated by then-Congressman Stanford Parris.