Richmond-area Democrats voting Sunday to pick nominee for vacant House seat

For the second Sunday in a row, some Democratic voters in the Richmond area will cast ballots in a firehouse primary to pick their party’s nominee for an open Virginia General Assembly seat.

After local Del. Mike Jones won last Sunday’s firehouse primary for a vacant state Senate seat, Democrats now have to nominate a successor for the House of Delegates seat Jones is leaving.

Competing for the seat are former Richmond City Council member Michelle Mosby, who is being backed by Mayor Danny Avula and much of the city’s political class, and attorney Charlie Schmidt, a progressive activist who previously worked for the Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Late Thursday a third candidate, carpenter Greg Powers, was also approved to join the ballot.

Democrats who live in the 77th House District can cast ballots Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at one of two polling locations. 

In Richmond, the voting site will be at Richmond High School for the Arts (formerly George Wythe High School) at 4314 Crutchfield St.

In Chesterfield County, the location is Providence Middle School at 900 Starlight Ln.

Mosby — who is also the founder of a nonprofit organization that focuses on offender reentry services — ran for mayor of Richmond in 2024, finishing second to Avula.

In a news release about her latest bid for elected office, Mosby said the district needs “leadership that is prepared, steady, compassionate and ready to work from day one.”

“District 77 deserves a delegate who can be an authentic bridge — someone who knows the challenges families face, who has worked side-by-side with them, and who can deliver meaningful results in housing, public safety, reentry, youth supports and economic development,” Mosby said.

Jones, who is running to replace Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi as the representative for the 15th Senate District, also endorsed Mosby for the House seat.

Reflecting his history in left-leaning activism, Schmidt has laid out a progressive policy platform emphasizing more accountability for law enforcement, protections for immigrant communities targeted by federal authorities, energy affordability and repealing Virginia’s right-to-work law that limits union power.

“Throughout my life and my legal career, I have worked to protect the vulnerable, seek justice, and ensure our government is accountable to the people,” Schmidt said in a news release announcing his campaign. “Now I want to take that experience to the General Assembly.”

Current Richmond City Councilor Stephanie Lynch (5th District) was considering a run for the seat. She announced on social media this week that she had decided against it.

“After careful consideration I realized that my heart and soul are with serving my local community and I have found a renewed passion for my work on city council,” Lynch said on Instagram. Lynch went on to back Mosby for the seat, saying her decision was easier “knowing that we have a strong female leader in Michelle Mosby.”

Special elections for both the House and Senate seats will be held on Jan. 6, allowing the winners to be seated before the 2026 General Assembly session begins Jan. 7.

The results of this year’s elections will bring a new era of full Democratic control to the statehouse, with Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger able to work with Democratic majorities in both chambers to enact her agenda.

Both of the Richmond area’s vacant districts are solidly Democratic, meaning Jones and the victor in Sunday’s House primary will be strong favorites to win in January.

For the Senate seat, Republicans have nominated John Thomas, who just made an unsuccessful run for the House in November.

It’s unclear if the GOP will field a candidate for the House seat.

According to Democratic officials running the House primary, voters who live in the following precincts can participate:

Richmond

• 402 - Forest Hill Presbyterian Church
• 404 - Jahnke Road Baptist Church
• 412 - Lucille M. Brown Middle
• 509 - Richmond High School for the Arts
• 810 - Metropolitan African American Baptist Church
• 812 - Branch’s Baptist Church
• 814 - Boushall Middle
• 902 - Cardinal Elementary
• 903 - J.L. Francis Elementary
• 908 - Miles Jones Elementary
• 909 - Elizabeth Redd Elementary
• 910 - River City Middle
• 911 - Southside Community Center

Chesterfield County

• 408 - Reams
• 413 - Shenandoah
• 419 - North Courthouse
• 505 - Bon Air
• 506 - Greenfield
• 513 - Beaufont
• 515 - Davis
• 519 - Buford
• 521 - Rockaway

Contact Reporter Graham Moomaw at gmoomaw@richmonder.org. This story has been updated to note Powers' addition to the ballot.