Virginia state office candidates begin submitting signatures to qualify for the ballot
RICHMOND — To qualify for the ballot, candidates for Virginia state office must submit at least 10,000 signatures, including at least 400 of qualified voters from each Congressional district.
Monday marked the first day of ballot signature filing, and a flurry of candidates and campaign staff lugged boxes of signatures to the Virginia Department of Elections. Some staff had been there since 8 a.m., and by noon, people milled around as they waited for the office's single copier to print a receipt with the total number of signatures.
The act of submitting the signatures itself doesn't automatically mean candidates have qualified for the primary ballot. The signatures still need to be reviewed by the parties to make sure they're valid. Candidates will often bring in well over the required number of petitions, because some will almost certainly be thrown out for being insufficiently or improperly filled out.
Still, there are advantages to being first. Assuming they meet the threshold of 10,000 legitimate signatures, candidates who submitted their signatures Monday before noon will have their name appear first on the ballot. Candidates running for the same office who submitted Monday are considered to be 'simultaneous filers,' and they will be entered into a drawing to determine who will appear first.
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The state offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are on the ballot this year, as are all 100 House of Delegates seats and some local offices such as sheriff and commonwealth's attorney. The primary is June 17, but early voting begins May 2.
Current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is one of several Republicans running for governor this year. She submitted nearly 20,000 signatures, according to her campaign.
'I want to thank the tens of thousands of Virginians who want to keep common sense in the Commonwealth,' said Earle-Sears in a statement. 'With their support, we will win this race. Today just reaffirms that we have got what it takes to make that happen. I am committed to leading our Commonwealth with integrity, vision, and a steadfast dedication to the values that make Virginia exceptional.'
Former Virginia legislators Amanda Chase and Dave LaRock have also announced their intent to run, but have not yet submitted the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. They have until April 3 to meet the requirement.
Meanwhile, former U.S. Rep. and Democratic candidate for governor Abigail Spanberger submitted more than 40,000 signatures, according to her campaign.
'Virginians deserve a Governor who is not afraid to stand up for them — someone who is not afraid to protect their fundamental freedoms, protect their jobs, protect our public schools, and protect the long-term stability of the Commonwealth's economy,' she said in a statement. 'Thank you to every Virginian who participated in our civic process and demonstrated the strength of our campaign to build a stronger Virginia.'
Candidates in a crowded field for lieutenant governor also submitted signatures Monday. On the Democratic side, State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, Prince William County School Board chair Babur Lateef, attorney Victor Salgado, State Sen. Aaron Rouse and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney all said they submitted at least 10,000 signatures. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member Pat Herrity, a Republican candidate for the office, also submitted signatures Monday. John Reid, a conservative radio host and Republican candidate for lieutenant governor submitted a partial filing, though a spokesperson for his campaign said he has the 10,000 signatures and will be submitting additional signatures in the next two weeks.
Democrats Shannon Taylor, Henrico County's commonwealth's attorney, and Jay Jones, a former state delegate from Norfolk, submitted signatures for the attorney general's race. Republican and current Attorney General Jason Miyares also submitted signatures.
Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com
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