On Tuesday, June 17th, Virginia held primary elections to choose the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Other statewide candidates, including the Democratic candidate for Governor, Abigail Spanberger and the Republican candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney did not face challengers so no primary election was needed.
Regional Observation of Statewide Elections
For the first time in just over 50 years, there will be no candidate for statewide office from Northern Virginia, the most populated region of the Commonwealth. Two of the three Democratic nominees, the Gubernatorial candidate and the Lieutenant candidate, are from the Richmond metro area and the third, Attorney General candidate, Jay Jones is from the Hampton Roads area. On the Republican ticket, the candidate for Governor and Attorney General are from the Hampton Roads region and the Lieutenant Governor candidate is from the Richmond region.
Six Democrats for Lt. Governor
There were two candidates from the Richmond metro area, state Senator Ghazala Hashmi and former Mayor of Richmond, Levar Stoney. Three candidates from Northern Virginia, ophthalmologist Babur Lateef, attorney Victor Salgado and Alexander Bastani, an attorney and union leader. State Senator Aaron Rouse from Virginia Beach also sought the nomination.
Senator Ghazala Hashmi declared victory late Tuesday evening and Levar Stoney, who initially did not concede, did concede mid-morning on Wednesday, June 18th.
Two Democrats for Attorney General
Former Delegate Jay Jones of Newport News and Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor sought the nomination. Jones, won by just over 9,000 votes.
Republican Statewide Candidates
The Republican candidate for Governor is Winsome Earle-Sears, Virginia’s current Lieutenant Governor and former Delegate, John Reid, an openly gay white male radio talk show host for Lieutenant Governor and Jason Miyares, a second-generation Cuban immigrant, former Delegate and the existing Attorney General seeking re-election as Attorney General.
House of Delegates Races
All 100 members of the House of Delegates face re-election this year. There were 15 primaries for candidates seeking a seat in the House of Delegates. Of the 15 primaries, just 2 incumbent Democrats and 1 Republican incumbent faced a primary. All three incumbents won their primary elections.
Virginia’s General Election for all statewide candidates and House of Delegates races will be held on Tuesday, November 4th. Virginia will elect its first female Governor.
Results
Below are the results of the Democratic statewide candidates’ primary elections and the House of Delegates primary elections. This information was obtained from vpap.org.
Democratic Lt. Governor nominee
Bastani – 5.69% (27,360 votes)
Hashmi – 27.4% (131,777 votes) (likely winner – pending certification by the Board of Elections)
Lateef – 8.4% (40,419 votes)
Rouse – 26.32% (126,620 votes)
Salgado – 5.54% (26,762 votes)
Stoney – 26.65% (128,167 votes)
County and locality details can be found here.
Democratic Attorney General nominee
Jones – 51.00% (244,421 votes) (likely winner – pending certification by the Board of Elections)
Taylor – 49.00% (234,649 votes)
County and locality details can be found here.
House of Delegates
House of Delegates primary results can be found here.
Democrats have candidates running in all 100 districts and Republicans are running in 70 of the 100 districts. Currently Democrats have a two-seat majority in the House (51 Dem – 49 Rep).
