Irving holds off challenger in Richmond sheriff primary
Antionette Irving is one step closer to a third term as Richmond’s sheriff.
Irving won the Democratic primary on Tuesday night, defeating competitor William Burnett with 54% of the vote to Burnett's 46%, nearly mirroring the final numbers from their 2021 matchup.
In heavily-Democratic Richmond, she is now all but assured of winning the position during the general election in November.
“I love what I do,” Irving said in a pre-election interview. "I enjoy doing it."
At the polls on Tuesday, Megan Donohue, an emergency and internal medicine physician living in Church Hill, said she voted for Irving.
“I think it’s really amazing that we have a female sheriff who’s done a good job,” she said. “I think elevating and supporting the good work of people that have experiences is important – not that I had an issue with the opponent.”
Graham Moomaw
Another voter, Noelle Schnelle, who lives in Manchester, also voted for Irving, expressing similar reasons.
“She’s been in it for a while,” the 24-year-old nanny said. “If a woman can keep that position … that says that she’s obviously more than qualified, more than competent as a woman, and especially a woman of color.”
Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org
