Democrats in the state’s capital, Richmond, Va., are scrambling to call primary elections Tuesday following the death of a congressman just weeks ago, and the race’s frontrunner could become the first black woman to represent Virginia in Congress since the state was established in 1788.
Representative A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who won reelection overwhelmingly last month, died on Nov. 28 at age 61 after a years-long battle with colon cancer.
Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, has set the special election for Mr. McEachin’s seat on February 21. Because Mr. McEachin’s district tends to be Democratic, the Fourth Congressional District is a predominantly black and Latino region stretching from Richmond to rural counties along the North Carolina border – the winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary is a hot favorite to win the special elections in February. mr. McEachin defeated his Republican opponent by 30 points in November.
Democrats called Tuesday’s primary just a week after the governor’s announcement, a rushed timeline made all the more complicated by holding elections five days before Christmas.
“The governor definitely chose the shortest amount of time, which forced us to organize this nomination contest in the shortest amount of time,” said Alexsis Rodgers, chairman of the Fourth Congressional District Democratic Committee.
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After the 2022 midterm elections, the Democrats retained control of the Senate, while the Republicans flipped the House.
Soon a frontrunner emerged: state senator Jennifer McClellan, a veteran lawmaker who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2021. In the first 24 hours after announcing her candidacy, she raised more than $100,000, according to her campaign.
Two of the state’s top black elected officials initially expressed interest, Mrs. McClellan and Lamont Bagby, a state deputy. They run the influential Virginia Legislative Black Caucus – Mr. Bagby is the chairman of the caucus and Mrs. McClellan is the vice-chairman.
However, last week, Mr. Bagby stepped down and supported Ms. McClellan. Other Democrats soon followed suit with messages of support for Mrs. McClellan, including all eight members of Virginia’s Democratic congressional delegation, Mr. McEachin’s widow and numerous national democratic groups.
Ms. McClellan, who has conducted what she called a week-long campaign to get out of the ballot box and knocked on doors with several state leaders, focused her message on her Virginia roots and legislative accomplishments. In an interview Friday, she said being a black woman helped shape her policies, particularly on workers’ rights and maternal health.
“I’m bringing a new perspective to the office that will help me represent the district and those who haven’t had a vote in a way that other candidates can’t,” she said. She listed her notable firsts: she was the first black woman to hold her seat in the Senate and was the first person to serve in the State House of Delegates while pregnant.
Democrats in the district will hold a so-called fire station on Tuesday. Named for the polling places where they are typically held, such elections are organized and funded by party representatives rather than local or state election officials. Democratic voters in the primary must sign a pledge that they will vote for the party’s nominee in the general election.
Ms. McClellan’s main Democratic opponent is Senator Joe Morrissey, a self-proclaimed rebel within the party. Mr Morrissey, a former defense attorney, was suspended twice and served time in prison for aiding the delinquency of a minor in 2014. The minor involved later became his wife. In January 2022, the then government. Ralph Northam forgave Mr. Morrissey pardoned for his conviction in the case.
Mr. Morrissey has voted against the Democratic policy and has expressed his opposition to proposed state policies protecting access to abortion. John Fredericks, a prominent Virginia Republican and radio host, placed an ad for Mr. Morrissey and encouraged his audience to vote for him in the Democratic primary.
However, Mr. Morrissey’s criminal justice work in Richmond’s black communities has earned him support in the district. He has also won against difficult odds before. In 2019, he defeated a sitting Democratic senator.
Representatives for Mr Morrissey did not respond to requests for comment.
On an episode of his radio show on Thursday, Mr. Morrissey railed against the Democrats’ handling of the primary. hurt his supporters.
“I don’t care that you don’t like me,” he told the Democrats in the district. “That’s fine. That’s your prerogative. Go vote against me.” He added, “But what you’ve done is you’ve reversed the vote gains we’ve had over the last 10 years to get the person you want.”
Other Democrats in the race include Joseph Preston, a former state deputy who served one year, and Tavorise Marks, an area businessman.
Virginia Republicans have already chosen their candidate for the seat. Leon Benjamin, a pastor and Navy veteran who handily defeated Mr. McEachin in November, won the Republican nomination Saturday in a rankings primary held by the district’s GOP committee.