Richmond, Va. — The primary election in Virginia concluded Tuesday evening with clear outcomes for both major political parties, setting the stage for this year’s gubernatorial race. Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger were unchallenged for their respective nominations for governor, effectively securing their positions at the top of their tickets.
Polling concluded at 7 p.m., marking a significant moment for Virginia voters. Republicans faced no competition in their statewide contests, while Democrats had a competitive race for the lieutenant governor nomination. With six candidates in the running, the results revealed a closely fought contest.
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi of Richmond led the Democratic pack, capturing 27.49% of the vote, closely followed by State Sen. Aaron Rouse, who garnered 26.16%. Other contenders included former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney with 26.65%, Prince William County School Board Chairman Babur Lateef at 8.44%, and federal attorneys Alexander J. Bastani and Victor Salgado, who received 5.70% and 5.57%, respectively. Although Hashmi claimed victory, an official declaration is still pending.
“The competition among the candidates demonstrates their strong fundraising capabilities, indicating substantial grassroots support,” said Alex Keena, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
On the Republican side, talk-radio host John Reid ran unopposed for the lieutenant governor nomination. Incumbent Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares also faced no challengers as he sought reelection, consolidating Republican control in those high-profile positions.
The Democratic race for attorney general was notably competitive, featuring former state Delegate Jay Jones and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor. The margin between the two candidates was razor-thin, with Jones ultimately securing 50.94% to Taylor’s 49.06%. Keena noted that Jones’s vocal opposition to Dominion Energy may have played a significant role in his victory.
In response to Jones’s win, Miyares issued a statement asserting that the Democratic agenda could jeopardize the progress made in Virginia. “My opponent’s ideological record makes our families less safe,” Miyares contended.
Other contests in the Virginia House of Delegates also captured attention. All 100 seats are up for election this year, but only 15 districts featured contested primaries. Democrats hold precarious majorities in both the House and Senate, while the upper chamber will not face elections until 2027.
In Arlington County’s District 1, incumbent Democratic Delegate Patrick Hope overcame challenges from Sean Epstein and Arjoon Srikanth, winning 71.8% of the vote. He stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to support constituents amid concerns about federal hiring freezes and spending cuts.
On the Republican side, District 21 saw Gregory Gorham defeat Xanthe Larsen and Sahar Smith, amassing 66.35% of the vote. Gorham will face Democratic incumbent Joshua Thomas in the general election in November. In District 62, former Delegate Nick Freitas’s decision not to seek reelection opened the door for new candidates, with Karen Hamilton winning the nomination.
Turnout for this primary election was underwhelming, with early reports reflecting participation rates significantly lower than in previous primaries. In Fairfax County, only 2.9% of registered voters had cast ballots by mid-afternoon, following a 3.9% early voting turnout. Similar patterns were reported in other counties, indicating that likely low interest in the races contributed to the decline in voter engagement.
Virginia’s dynamic political landscape continues to shift as candidates prepare for the general election in November. With both parties positioning themselves to rally support, the coming months will be crucial in determining the state’s future direction.