By: Maria- Paula
Virginia recently held primary elections for those vying for the different elective seats ahead of elections in November. Gubernatorial, lieutenant governors, House of Delegates, and the Arlington County board leader. The polls included both Democrats and Republicans.
In the gubernatorial race, there were no primaries in Virginia since the Democratic and Republican parties had already nominated their single candidates. Republicans maintained the current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears as their nominee, while former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger was the Democratic nominee.
The Democratic party candidates for the Lt. Governor contest included Alex Bastani, Ghazala Hashmi, Babur Lateef, Aaron Rouse, Victor Salgado, and Levar Stoney. Hashmi carried the day at 27.4% with 131,865 votes against the closest rival Levar Stoney at 128,262 ( 26.64%). Although the Lt. Governor position is a key to breaking ties in the state Senate. The role is mostly ceremonial and mostly viewed as a first step to future gubernatorial candidates.
In November, Attorney General Jason S. Miyares( R), who was nominated unopposed, will face competition from Jay Jones( D). Jones garnered 233,503 votes( 51%) in the Democratic primary nominations against Shannon Taylor with 234,817( 49%).
The House of Delegates had little activity and competition during the primaries as most candidates were nominated unopposed.
Incumbent Patrick Hope( D) had no Republican competitor in House District 1 after trouncing Sean Epstein and Arjoon Srikanth both of the Democratic party.
House District 21 will be represented by Greg Gorham( R) after beating Sahar Smith and Xanthe Larsen. Democrats fielded no candidate in House District 2.
In addition, Terry Austin( R) is the undisputed 37th District candidate, while Donna Littlepage( D) will represent the 40th District. Also unopposed are Mitchell Cornett( R), 46th District, May Nivar( D), 57th District, 62nd Districts Karen Hamilton( R), 70th Districts Cynthia Scaturico( R), 72nd Districts Radolph Critzer( D), 73rd Districts Leslie Mehta( D), 75th Districts Lindsey Dougherty( D), 81st Districts Delores McQuinn( D) and 97th Districts Timothy Anderson( R).
House District 49 will be a competition between Gary Miller( D) and Madison Whittle( R) while House District 89 will see Karen Carnegie( D) go against Michael Lamonea( R).
Incumbent Takis Karantonis selected from the five elected Arlington county board members won the chairs seat with 16,091, 65%, of the vote against attorney James DeVita 8,997, 35.9%, for the Democratic party nominations. The board members all serve four-year terms. Since 2015, the Democratic party has won the board chairman ship sit over time.
