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# Irving holds off challenger in Richmond sheriff primary
- URL: https://www.richmonder.org/irving-holds-off-challenger-in-richmond-sheriff-primary/
- Published: 2025-06-18T02:55:11.000Z
- Updated: 2025-06-18T02:55:11.000Z
- Description: The numbers mirrored the results from the same matchup four years ago.
- Author: Victoria A. Ifatusin
- Tags: City Government

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](https://www.richmonder.org/sheriffs-race-pits-familiar-challengers-who-are-sparring-over-jail-deaths-and-the-offices-role/). 

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."

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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.”

[Richmond to launch $300K pilot program to treat opioid addiction in city jailCity officials authorized using $300,000 in national opioid settlement money to help incarcerated people with drug problems.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-1-155.png)The RichmonderGraham Moomaw![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_7521.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-to-launch-300k-pilot-program-to-treat-opioid-addiction-in-city-jail/)

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*](mailto:vifatusin@richmonder.org)