02-05-2025
As early voting begins, a committed few turn out in Hampton Roads
Early voting began Friday for primary elections in Virginia, and a few Hampton Roads residents decided to show up as soon as possible.
Noel Craig was among the first 30 people to vote early in Norfolk. A retired social worker, Craig said his biggest concerns were the threats to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and the threats to voting rights. He said the governor's race was the most important to him because it has the most direct impact on taxes and quality of life. Specifically, he wants the governor to address the high tolls in Hampton Roads and lower auto insurance rates.
'I think (the tolls) are ridiculous, I think there's other ways to generate revenue instead of implementing tolls all over the blasted place,' Craig said angrily.
In Newport News, where there are three local primaries, Steve Groce exited City Hall around 9 a.m.
Groce, 75, is a former chairman of the Newport News Republican City Committee, but on Friday he voted in the Democratic primary, he said.
'I don't consider myself a staunch Republican, so much as a conservative person.'
Groce has a long history of organizing 'pop tents' in support of local conservative candidates at events such as the Fall Festival, Poquoson Seafood Festival and Larry King Law's Langley Speedway, he said. This year, he showed up for the Democratic primary out of respect for incumbent Commonwealth's Attorney Howard Gwynn.
Gwynn, 72, has won eight straight unopposed elections — until this year. His challenger, Shannon Jones, 40, is opposing Gwynn in the Democratic primary.
'Howard Gwynn has been here a long time, and Howard Gwynn has been a non-partisan individual,' Groce said.
757 Votes: The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press 2025 primary election guide
Thirty-one people had cast in-person, early ballots as of 12:40 p.m. Friday. at the Newport News Voter Registration office in City Hall. Voting began at 8 a.m., and about 15 minutes later, Hailey Dollar exited as the first Newport News resident to cast a vote in this year's primary election, she said. She voted for herself.
Dollar explained that it was her first time voting.
'I want to support the democratic process: be the first in line; be good to go; ready,' she added. 'And you know the fact that my name is on the ballot helps.'
Dollar, 35, is one of two Republicans vying to become the GOP nominee for Virginia's House of Delegates 70th District. The district covers a portion of Newport News. Dollar or her opponent in the Republican primary, 49-year-old Cynthia Scaturico, will face off in November against Democrat incumbent Shelley Simonds.
Over in Norfolk, Jane Watson, 73, voted on the way to the tax office. Watson said she's been frustrated at the fallout from the presidential election, but also acknowledging that she didn't cast a vote in the race, she said that this time, she wants to 'do the right thing.' As a retired home health care worker and a widow, Watson said her biggest concerns are the potential cuts to social security, Medicare and Medicaid.
'I'm always going to be alert to (what's being done to public health programs) until the end of my time here because that's my source of support,' Watson said. 'I won't know (if anything will change for the better) because I'm not a genie but all I can do is keep hoping and praying.'
