2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election

Last updated

2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election
Flag of Virginia.svg
←  2022 February 21, 2023 2024  →
Virginia's 4th congressional district
  U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan - 118th Congress (cropped).jpg Leon Benjamin (2023) (cropped).png
Nominee Jennifer McClellan Leon Benjamin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote82,04028,083
Percentage74.4%25.5%
2023 Congressional Special Election in Virginia's 4th District.svg
County and independent city results
McClellan:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Benjamin:     50–60%     60–70%
U.S. Representative before election

Donald McEachin
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Jennifer McClellan
Democratic

The 2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election was a special election to the U.S. House of Representatives that was held to fill Virginia's 4th congressional district for the remainder of the 118th United States Congress. The seat became vacant after incumbent Democrat Donald McEachin died on November 28, 2022, of colorectal cancer. [1] [2] State Senator Jennifer McClellan was declared the victor shortly after the polls closed, winning in a landslide against her Republican opponent.

Contents

In the United States, vacancies in the House must be filled by special elections. Under Virginia law, the governor schedules the special election and political parties handle their nominating processes themselves. On December 12, 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the special election will take place on February 21, 2023. [3] According to the writ of election, party nominees and other prospective candidates had until December 23 to file to run in the special election. [4]

Democratic primary

The Fourth Congressional District Democratic Committee, responsible for choosing a nominee by December 23, organized an unassembled caucus, or "firehouse primary," on December 20 with a filing deadline of December 16. [5] According to the Democratic Party of Virginia, the race saw the highest turnout in a "firehouse primary" in Virginia history. [6]

The solid Democratic lean of the district meant that victory in the primary was seen as tantamount to election. Political analysts perceived the short timeline between the writ of election and the primary date as beneficial to candidates with institutional support. The major candidates in the primary were state senators Jennifer McClellan, who was considered to be the establishment favorite, and "firebrand" Joe Morrissey. Morrissey criticized the lack of polling locations in his Senate district and his campaign paid for a radio ad encouraging Republicans to vote for him. [7]

McClellan won with 85% of the vote to Morrissey's 14%. [8]

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Lamont Bagby (withdrawn)
State legislators
Local officials
Jennifer McClellan
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations

Results

Democratic firehouse primary results [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jennifer McClellan 23,661 84.8
Democratic Joe Morrissey 3,78213.6
Democratic Tavorise Marks2170.8
Democratic Joseph Preston 1740.6
Unallocated660.2
Total votes27,900 100.0

Republican primary

The Fourth Congressional District Republican Committee, responsible for choosing a nominee by December 23, held a canvass event in Colonial Heights on December 17. [32]

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

General election

Analysis

Despite already being regarded as a safe seat, McClellan still managed to widen the margin from the previous election in the district, winning with the largest percentage of votes in any federal election in the state since 2020 and the largest of any special election since 1946. Being a special election in an off year that comes with turnout downturn, McClellan won about three quarters of the total vote, while Benjamin slid to just a quarter of the vote, losing for the third time in a row. McClellan swept every county in the district except for Colonial Heights City and Prince George County.

After winning the special election, McClellan was sworn in on March 7, 2023, becoming the first black congresswoman from the Commonwealth of Virginia. [34] [35]

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [36] Solid DDecember 22, 2022
Inside Elections [6] Solid DDecember 22, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball [37] Safe DDecember 20, 2022

Results

2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Jennifer McClellan 82,040 74.41% +9.49
Republican Leon Benjamin28,08325.47%−9.43
Write-in 1290.12%−0.06
Total votes110,252 100.00%
Democratic hold
By county and independent city
County Jennifer McClellan
Democratic 		Leon Benjamin
Republican 		Write-inMarginTotal votes
#%#%#%#%
Brunswick 1,63165.14%87234.82%10.04%75930.32%2,503
Charles City 1,11372.32%42627.68%00.00%68744.64%1,539
Colonial Heights 79032.38%1,64567.42%50.20%−855−35.04%2,440
Chesterfield 17,49465.50%9,17434.35%390.15%8,32031.18%26,707
Dinwiddie 2,00052.87%1,78147.08%20.05%2195.79%3,783
Emporia 51365.60%26934.40%00.00%24431.20%782
Greensville 1,01055.13%82144.81%10.05%18910.32%1,832
Henrico 18,65881.24%4,28218.64%260.11%14,37662.60%22,966
Hopewell 1,31362.08%80137.87%10.05%51224.21%2,115
Petersburg 3,68791.53%3318.22%100.25%3,35683.32%4,028
Prince George 2,41046.84%2,72652.98%90.17%−316−6.14%5,145
Richmond 28,99190.10%3,1529.80%340.11%25,83980.30%32,177
Southampton 49456.98%37343.02%00.00%12113.96%867
Surry 96859.72%65340.28%00.00%31519.43%1,621
Sussex 96855.44%77744.50%10.06%19110.94%1,746
Total82,04074.41%28,08325.47%1290.12%53,95748.94%110,252

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald McEachin</span> American politician (1961–2022)

Aston Donald McEachin was an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district from 2017 until his death in 2022. His district was based in the state capital, Richmond; it included much of the area between Richmond, a portion of its suburbs, and Hampton Roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia's congressional districts</span> U.S. House districts in the state of Virginia

Virginia is currently divided into 11 congressional districts, each represented by a member of the United States House of Representatives. The death of Rep. Donald McEachin on November 28, 2022, left the 4th congressional district seat empty. Following the results of a special election to fill his seat on February 21, 2023, Jennifer McClellan made history by becoming Virginia's first black congresswoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Morrissey</span> American lawyer and politician

Joseph Dee Morrissey is an American Democratic politician, businessman, and former lawyer who won election to both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly from districts including Richmond or surrounding Henrico County, Virginia. He represented Virginia's 16th Senate district from 2020 to 2024, having been elected during the 2019 election. He represented much of southern Richmond, as well as all of the cities of Petersburg and Hopewell and portions of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie and Prince George counties. He lost the 2023 Democratic primary for his district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer McClellan</span> American politician (born 1972)

Jennifer Leigh McClellan is an American politician and attorney who has served as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 4th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she represented the 9th district in the Virginia State Senate from 2017 to 2023 and the 71st district in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2009 to 2017. She ran in the Democratic primary for governor of Virginia in the 2021 election, losing to former governor Terry McAuliffe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia's 9th Senate district</span> American legislative district

Virginia's 9th Senate district is one of 40 districts in the Senate of Virginia. It is currently the most Democratic-leaning district in the Virginia Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia</span> 2016 House elections in Virginia

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia were held on November 8, 2016, to elect a U.S. representative from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as House of Representatives elections in other states, U.S. Senate elections and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on June 14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamont Bagby</span> American politician (born 1976)

Lamont Bagby is an American politician of the Democratic Party. On November 3, 2015, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 74th district, which includes Charles City County, parts of Henrico County and the city of Richmond. Bagby serves as Chair of the bicameral Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. He is a former member of the Henrico County School Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Richmond, Virginia, mayoral election</span>

Richmond, Virginia, held a general election on November 8, 2016. Voters elected the Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, members of the Richmond City Council, as well as several other local officials. In an officially nonpartisan, three-way race, Levar Stoney, the former state Secretary of the Commonwealth defeated Jack Berry, former Hanover County Administrator, and Joe Morrissey, former delegate of the Virginia House of Delegates. Former councilperson, Michelle Mosby, finished in a distant third. On January 1, 2017, Stoney took office as the 80th mayor of Richmond, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia</span> 2018 Virginia congressional elections

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the 11 U.S. representatives from the state of Virginia, one from each of the state's 11 congressional districts. The elections coincided with other states' elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. Primary elections took place on June 12.

Jeffrey Michael Bourne is an American attorney and politician. He is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 71st district, after winning a special election on February 7, 2017, to fill the seat vacated by Jennifer McClellan's election to the Senate of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Virginia gubernatorial election</span>

The 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the next governor of Virginia. The election was concurrent with other elections for Virginia state offices. Incumbent Democratic Governor Ralph Northam was ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits governors from serving consecutive terms. Businessman Glenn Youngkin won the Republican nomination at the party's May 8 convention, which was held in 37 polling locations across the state, and was officially declared the nominee on May 10. The Democratic Party held its primary election on June 8, which former Governor Terry McAuliffe easily won.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2021 Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the next lieutenant governor of Virginia. Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax was eligible to run for a second term, but instead unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. On November 3, Hala Ayala conceded the race, making Republican Winsome Sears the first black woman to be elected to the lieutenant governorship of Virginia or any statewide office, as well as the first woman elected lieutenant governor in Virginia's history. Sears was also the first Jamaican-American to become a lieutenant governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Richmond, Virginia, mayoral election</span>

Richmond, Virginia, held a general election on November 3, 2020. Voters elected the Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, members of the Richmond City Council, as well as several other local officials. The incumbent, Levar Stoney, who was elected in 2016 ran for reelection facing five challengers. While local races in Virginia are officially nonpartisan elections, four candidates identified with the Democratic party while Griffin ran as an independent. Stoney won the most votes in six out of nine city council districts and therefore won reelection. In order to win election a candidate must receive the most votes in five or more districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Virginia Attorney General election</span> Election for Commonwealths Attorney General

The 2021 Virginia attorney general election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the next attorney general of Virginia. Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring attempted to win a third term. Herring initially planned to run for governor, but decided to run for re-election. Herring faced Republican nominee Jason Miyares in the general election. Herring conceded defeat at 5:02 PM EST the following day, November 3. Miyares became the first Cuban-American and Hispanic to be elected to statewide office in Virginia. Miyares was later sworn in on January 15, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the 11 U.S. representatives from the state of Virginia, one from each of the state's 11 congressional districts. The elections coincide with other elections to the House of Representatives. Pursuant to state law, primaries organized through the Department of Elections were held on June 21, 2022. However, some Republican firehouse primaries were held on dates as late as May 21, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2025 Virginia gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of Virginia

The 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican governor Glenn Youngkin will be ineligible to run for re-election, as the Constitution of Virginia prohibits the state's governors from serving consecutive terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Virginia Senate election</span>

The 2023 Virginia Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, concurrently with elections for the Virginia House of Delegates, to elect senators to all 40 seats in the Senate of Virginia for the 163rd and 164th Virginia Assembly. Nomination primaries held through the Department of Elections were held June 20, 2023. These were the first elections held following redistricting as a result of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia</span>

The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the eleven U.S. representatives from the State of Virginia, one from all eleven of the state's congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate, and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 United States House of Representatives elections</span> Special elections to the 118th United States Congress

There were three special elections to the United States House of Representatives in 2023 during the 118th United States Congress.

The 2023 Virginia elections took place on November 7, 2023. All 40 seats of the Virginia Senate and 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates were up for election, as are many local offices.

References

  1. ↑ "Rep. Donald McEachin passes away at 61 after battle with colorectal cancer". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR . November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Rep. Don McEachin dies". Cardinal News. November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  3. ↑ Ayo, Julius (December 12, 2022). "Gov. Youngkin announces special election for seat held by late Congressman Donald McEachin". WAVY-TV .
  4. ↑ "Writ of Election" (PDF). Virginia Department of Elections . December 12, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "VA-04 Democratic Committee Votes to Hold Firehouse Primary on Tuesday, December 20, 2022". VA Dems. Democratic Party of Virginia. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Rubashkin, Jacob (December 22, 2022). "Virginia 4 Special: McClellan Poised for History". Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales . Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  7. 1 2 McIntire, Mary Ellen (December 19, 2022). "Democrats scramble in one-week primary for open Virginia seat". Roll Call . Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Democratic firehouse primary results". VA Dems. Virginia Democratic Party. December 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ Flynn, Meagan (December 22, 2022). "Jennifer McClellan wins Virginia 4th District primary for McEachin's seat" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Martz, Michael (December 12, 2022). "Youngkin sets Feb. 21 special election for 4th District seat". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  11. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (December 13, 2022). "Sen. Joe Morrissey joins race for Virginia's 4th Congressional District seat". WRIC-TV . Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ Flynn, Meagan; Vozzella, Laura (December 13, 2022). "State Sen. Jennifer McClellan seeks to fill McEachin's seat in Congress" . The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022.
  13. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (December 9, 2022). "Del. Lamont Bagby running for Virginia's 4th Congressional District seat". WRIC-TV. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  14. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (December 15, 2022). "Del. Lamont Bagby drops out of 4th Congressional District race, backs McClellan". WRIC-TV. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  15. 1 2 Lappas, Tom (November 29, 2022). "McEachin, a political giant in Central Virginia, dies at 61". Henrico Citizen . Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  16. ↑ Atkinson, Bill (December 7, 2022). "Petersburg councilor considers run for late congressman's seat" . The Progress-Index . Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Cain, Andrew; Martz, Michael. "Bagby, McQuinn, Stoney appear at 'unity' rally with McClellan". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  18. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (December 12, 2022). "Del. Lamont Bagby announces run to fill late Rep. McEachin's congressional seat". WRIC-TV. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Flynn, Meagan; Vozzella, Laura; Schneider, Gregory S. (December 15, 2022). "Virginia Democrats are vying to win a congressional race in only 7 days". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 Mirshahi, Dean (December 14, 2022). "Kaine endorses McClellan for Virginia's 4th Congressional District seat". WRIC-TV. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lappas, Tom (December 13, 2022). "McClellan, Morrissey formally join Democratic race for 4th District Congressional seat". Henrico Citizen .
  22. ↑ "Team McClellan Youth Phone Bank with Congressman-elect Maxwell Frost!". Mobilize. Jennifer McClellan for Congress. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  23. ↑ Todd, Chuck; Murray, Mark; Kamisar, Ben; Bowman, Bridget; Marquez, Alexandra (December 20, 2022). "Trump was 'central cause' of Jan. 6, committee report says". NBC News. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  24. ↑ "BREAKING: Del. Lamont Bagby Dropping Out of VA04 Democratic Nomination Race, Endorsing Jennifer McClellan". Blue Virginia. December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  25. ↑ Murray, Delaney (December 17, 2022). "Colette McEachin officially endorses McClellan for Virginia's Fourth Congressional District". WRIC-TV.
  26. ↑ "Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC Endorses Jennifer McClellan in VA-04 Special Election". Progressive Caucus. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  27. ↑ "DMFI PAC endorses State Senator Jennifer McClellan in the Democratic primary in VA-04". DMFI PAC. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  28. ↑ "EMILYs List Endorses State Sen. Jennifer McClellan for Congress". EMILY's List (Press release). December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Human Rights Campaign Endorses Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan for the U.S. House of Representatives". Human Rights Campaign (Press release). January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Endorsements". League of Conservation Voters. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  31. ↑ "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Virginia State Sen. Jennifer McClellan for U.S. Congress". NARAL Pro-Choice America (Press release). December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  32. 1 2 Moomaw, Graham (December 14, 2022). "Virginia Republicans are using ranked-choice voting again. Democrats still aren't". Virginia Mercury . Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  33. ↑ Atkinson, Bill (December 8, 2022). "Former GOP congressional candidate will run in 4th District special election". The Progress-Index . Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  34. ↑ Bazail-Eimil, Eric (February 22, 2023). "Jennifer McClellan Wins Virginia House Seat, Becoming State's First Black Woman in Congress". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  35. ↑ Duster, Chandelis (March 7, 2023). "Jennifer McClellan sworn in as first Black congresswoman to represent Virginia". CNN. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  36. ↑ Wasserman, Dave [@Redistrict] (December 22, 2022). "New: state Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D) wins #VA04 Dem nomination w/ 85%, poised to become first Black congresswoman from VA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  37. ↑ Coleman, J. Miles (December 20, 2022). "Notes on the State of North Carolina". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  38. ↑ "2023 February Special". Virginia Department of Elections. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
Campaign websites
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.