Latest news with #LevarStoney
Washington Post
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
New York mayor primary spurs unwarranted freakout about instant runoffs
Virginia state Sen. Ghazala F. Hashmi won Tuesday's six-way Democratic primary for lieutenant governor with 27.4 percent of the vote, barely edging out former Richmond mayor Levar Stoney, who received 26.6 percent, and state Sen. Aaron Rouse, who garnered 26.3 percent. The bunch-up — along with the three other candidates each pulling more than five percent — means a supermajority of Virginia Democrats preferred someone besides the winner. In contrast, the Democratic primary for attorney general offered just two choices: Jerrauld C. 'Jay' Jones beat Shannon Taylor 51 percent to 49 percent, narrowly but cleanly.
Axios
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Richmond voters reject former Mayor Levar Stoney in primary
Levar Stoney lost the city he led for eight years in the Democratic primary for Virginia's lieutenant governor. Why it matters: Richmond is central to the former mayor's political legacy — and voters here rejected him by a landslide, signaling a rebuke from the residents he once governed. By the numbers: Statewide, the race for the nomination was tight, with Virginia Sen. Ghazala Hashmi defeating Stoney by about 3,500 votes, per unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections as of Wednesday. But in Richmond, Hashmi swept with 58% of the vote and led the former mayor by over 10,500 votes in the city. Zoom in: Stoney came in third in parts of Richmond, though he won major swaths of South Richmond that also voted for him in the 2020 mayoral election. What they're saying: Richmond is "not the only thing that doomed him, but it is odd," Richard Meagher, a political science professor at Randolph-Macon College, tells Axios. "It's really rare that you get this kind of extreme test of a politician's former popularity." But some Richmonders have bucked against that perception, criticizing how Richmond police used tear gas on protesters under his watch. More recently, Stoney has been blamed for the breakdown that led to the January water crisis, which he partly pinned on his predecessor in a campaign event earlier this month. Other issues that some Richmonders hold against Stoney's administration: Stoney's campaign did not immediately return Axios' request for comment about whether he expected the loss in Richmond, what he attributes it to and what's next for his career.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghazala Hashmi declares victory in Democratic primary for Virginia lieutenant governor
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi declared victory Tuesday night in the Democratic primary for Virginia lieutenant governor, leading the six-person race with 27.5% of the vote. The next closest candidate, former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, conceded the race Wednesday morning with 26.7% of the vote. State Sen. Aaron Rouse finished in third with 26.1% of the vote and conceded the race Tuesday night. Three other Democrats trailed, each earning less than 10% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the state Department of Elections. The Associated Press called the race for Hashmi on Wednesday morning. 'Today, we've made history yet again, not just by winning this primary, but by declaring with one voice that Virginia is not going to be bullied or broken or dragged backwards by the chaos that's unfolding in Washington,' Hashmi said Tuesday night, addressing a group of about 50 supporters at a condo complex's clubhouse in Richmond. Hashmi is the first Muslim and South Asian-American elected to the state senate and would be the first Muslim on a statewide ticket in Virginia. She took office in 2020 and said she was initially inspired to run in reaction to anti-Muslim rhetoric from President Donald Trump. 'Now, we don't have time for small plans or soft voices,' she added, nodding to her critics who have described her as too soft spoken. 'We need spines of steel. We're facing a pivotal moment in our history, and while MAGA-driven Republican ticket might try to take our state backwards, I'm running, and you're running with me with the unshakable belief in what Virginia can be.' Stoney initially said Tuesday night he would wait for all the votes to be counted. The vote counts are still unofficial, but he subsequently exited the race. If the race is within a percentage point, candidates can request a recount that they pay for; if the totals are within 0.5%, the state will pay for a recount. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor, posted her congratulations to Hashmi on social media Tuesday night. 'As a proven leader in the Virginia Senate, Senator Hashmi has passed legislation that's delivered economic investment, improved schools, protected healthcare, and defended reproductive freedom,' Spanberger wrote. The winner of Tuesday's Democratic primary election will become the nominee for lieutenant governor and will face the Republican nominee, conservative radio host John Reid, in the general election for the position in November. Reid is the first openly gay person on the state's ticket. With DEI under attack, here's how Virginia's diverse slate of candidates talk about identity At time of writing, about 480,000 votes had been counted. That's comparable to the 2021 statewide primary, where about half a million people voted in the Democratic primary, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. It was an expensive race. VPAP reported that Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor cumulatively raised about $7.6 million. Stoney raised about $2.1 million, and Rouse and Hashmi each raised about $1.8 million. Hashmi currently serves as chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee. Before she was a legislator, she was a college professor at the University of Richmond and Reynolds Community College. She was endorsed by abortion rights and climate groups. Originally from York County, Stoney served as the mayor of Richmond from 2017 through 2024. Before that, he was secretary of commonwealth in Gov. Terry McAuliffe's administration. Stoney said previously that those roles prepared him well to run as lieutenant governor and touted his decision to remove Confederate monuments on city property after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. The former mayor received criticism after city police tear gassed those same protesters. And, critics blamed Stoney for January's water crisis that left much of the city without drinkable water just days after he left office. On the campaign trail, Stoney deflected some of the blame to his predecessor Dwight Jones, according to reporting from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Virginia primary election results Stoney pulled some big name endorsements, including McAuliffe, former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and actor Levar Burton. Rouse is a state senator representing Virginia Beach, from where he originally hails. A former professional football player and Virginia Beach City Council member, Rouse took office in 2023 after a special election. He was preceded by Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Republican. This legislative session, Rouse sponsored the Senate version of the Save Local Pharmacies Act, which realigns the state's Medicaid pharmacy benefit under a single state-contracted pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). That law takes effect July 5. Reid, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, had raised just over $300,000 between January and June of this year. John Curran, who failed to qualify for the ballot but is running a write-in campaign for lieutenant governor, had raised more than $1 million. In Virginia, the lieutenant governor and governor are elected separately, meaning they do not run on a shared ticket and it's possible — though rare — for two different parties to occupy those positions. Current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee for governor, has not yet appeared alongside Reid, though the Republicans did not hold a primary this year. Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kateseltzer@
Fox News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
State senator, Indian immigrant, pulls upset in Virginia Democratic lieutenant governor's race
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chester, has won the Democratic nomination for Virginia's lieutenant governorship, according to the Associated Press. Hashmi, an immigrant from India, said on her campaign site that she is the only candidate "endorsed by both abortion rights groups and labor." Hashmi was locked in a close race with the top two contenders, former Green Bay Packers safety Aaron Rouse and ex-Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. Hashmi will face GOP nominee John Reid in the state's general election in November. Stoney, who conceded on Wednesday, moved on to become mayor of Richmond, the capital city, and oversaw the removal of several Confederate sculptures that for decades lined the famous Monument Avenue from the Fan District to downtown. In the Washington Post at the time, Stoney wrote that there "are two epidemics in America: COVID-19 and racism. One is now 14 months old, the other over 400 years old. Both are lethal. I knew I wasn't going to be able to cure those issues that day [standing with protesters at Lee Circle]." More recently, Stoney told the Virginia Mercury that he will effectively work across the aisle in the lieutenant governor's dual role of president of the Virginia State Senate. "We will not agree on everything, and that is OK. I will be a happy warrior—someone who is willing to stand firm on values, speak up when there is disagreement, and still find a way to work together when common ground exists. Disagreement does not have to lead to dysfunction," Stoney said. Rouse has positioned himself as a force to counter Republican leadership in Washington, writing on his campaign site that he "stood up to Donald Trump time and again." He added that he shepherded a law through the legislature to protect federal workers from Department of Government Efficiency attrition, which he labeled "Musk's chaos." Other candidates in the race included state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, Prince William County School Board Chair Dr. Babur Lateef and union leader Alexander Bastani. Hashmi, whose county directly abuts Richmond-Petersburg, positioned herself as a progressive who emphasized support for public education, abortion rights and affordable housing. She also serves as chairwoman of the Senate Education and Health Committee in Richmond. Lateef, an ophthalmologist endorsed by McAuliffe, also focused on education policy. Bastani partially self-funded his quixotic campaign and focused on labor and economic issues. Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., ran unopposed for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and was officially projected such Tuesday evening.
Toronto Star
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Virginia Democrats vying for lieutenant governor and attorney general remain locked in tight races
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democrats seeking to be Virginia's next lieutenant governor and attorney general remained locked in tight races in Virginia's primary election Tuesday night. Democrat Ghazala Hashmi led Levar Stoney in the primary battle for lieutenant governor by a narrow margin. In the nomination contest for attorney general, Former Del. Jay Jones had a razor-thin lead against Democrat Shannon Taylor. Ballots remained to be counted, and close margins made the races too early to call. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The races will determine Democrats' statewide ticket and set the stage for a bellwether election later this year. Most of the nominees slated to be at the top of the November ticket have already been picked, and Republicans aren't even having a statewide primary. In the race for governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, whose candidacy thwarted prospective primary challengers, will go up against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears — the only Republican who qualified for the ballot. Republicans have also solidified nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Virginia is one of two states that host statewide elections the year after a presidential election — New Jersey is the other — and the races are typically seen as referendums on the party in power before Congress heads into midterm elections. Analysts will be looking for clues in both states about voter sentiment with President Donald Trump back in the Oval Office and Republicans controlling power in Washington. Democrats' hold on Virginia has slipped in recent years, moving it close to swing-state status nationally. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin beat former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2021. And although Democrats narrowly gained back complete control of the Legislature in a 2023 election, then-Vice President Kamala Harris won Virginia last year by less than six points, compared to former President Joe Biden's 10-point lead in 2020. Still, Democrats have history on their side: The party of the sitting president typically suffers defeat in Virginia's statewide races. And considering Trump has never won the state, Democrats are probably better positioned to make gains once their ticket solidifies. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Six Democrats seeking to be lieutenant governor The six Democrats vying to be Virginia's next lieutenant governor aren't all that different on the issues: They support rights to abortion, a living wage, affordable housing and accessible health care. They also share similar criticisms of Trump. The candidates notably fracture along regional lines, and distinctions emerge in what they have emphasized in stump speeches along the campaign trail. Former Richmond City Mayor Levar Stoney has touted his ties to the Democratic Party and experience working under former Govs. Mark Warner and Terry McAuliffe. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed his campaign in June. Hashmi is also from the Richmond area, representing part of the city and suburbs. Hashmi has pushed reproductive health in her bid and has been endorsed by abortion rights political action committees. Virginia Sen. Aaron Rouse, from Virginia Beach with ties to southwest Virginia, has also highlighted his legislative accomplishments. Prince William County School Board Chair Barbur Lateef, former federal prosecutor Victor Salgado and retired U.S. Department of Labor worker Alex Bastani are from northern Virginia. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Lateef, an eye surgeon, has honed in on education and health care. Salgado has stressed the importance of strengthening democracy, and Bastani has emphasized labor rights. County prosecutor vs. former delegate in race for attorney general Former Del. Jones and Taylor, Henrico County Commonwealth's attorney, are seeking to be the next attorney general. Jones, who once represented Norfolk in the House of Delegates, comes from a long line of Hampton Roads politicians. His father was also a delegate, and his grandfather was the first Black member of the Norfolk School Board. Jones previously ran for attorney general in 2021 but lost the primary to Democratic incumbent Mark Herring. Taylor has served more than a decade as the top prosecutor in the suburbs outside Richmond after flipping the open seat in 2011. Notable cases include when she was appointed special prosecutor in the case of the torch-carrying mob in the fatal 2017 Unite the Right white supremacist riot. She took one of the torch carriers to trial, records show, but the case was dismissed after a hung verdict. A Republican ticket for a divided party Only one Republican candidate in each statewide contest is advancing to the ballot. Earle-Sears became the gubernatorial nominee after Republicans Dave LaRock and Amanda Chase failed to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Both LaRock and Chase initially challenged Earle-Sears for not being fully aligned with Trump. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Conservative talk-radio host John Reid became the de facto nominee for lieutenant governor after his primary opponent left the race, and despite intraparty quarreling over whether he was tied to a social media account reposting pornography. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares sailed to his spot on the ballot after announcing his reelection bid. Downballot races in the House of Delegates All 100 seats of the House of Delegates are up for election in November, and some nomination contests are taking place in Virginia's more competitive districts. Democrat May Nivar won her primary race and will be taking on Republican incumbent Del. David Owen in a Richmond-area district that House liberals are vying to flip. Three Democrats are running to battle Republican Del. Carrie Coyner in a Petersburg-area district. Republicans and Democrats also had separate primaries to fill a competitive seat in the Chesapeake area, which opened after Republican Rep. Baxter Ennis announced his retirement. Karen Carnegie won the Democratic primary for that seat. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ___ Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Read more on the U.S. Election at
