Dr. Danny Avula wins Richmond mayor’s race
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Dr. Danny Avula is set to be Richmond's next mayor after unofficial results show he secured enough districts to win the election -- and the other top two candidates in the race conceded on Wednesday. Avula, a 46-year-old pediatrician at Chippenham Hospital, has unbeatable leads in six of the nine districts -- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th -- with all precincts reporting, per unofficial results. To win the mayoral race, a candidate needs majorities in at least five of the city’s nine districts. "Richmond! Thank you so much for putting your trust in me as the next mayor of our amazing city," Avula said in a statement Wednesday morning. "I know I would not be here without the support of my family — my amazing wife, Mary Kay, and my kids– Arjanae, Luke, David, Kiran, and Abby." Avula, who also has a more than 20,000 vote lead over his top competition in the race, has been a resident of Richmond’s East End for 20 years. He came to the U.S. after his father, who grew up in rural India, came to the country and joined the U.S. Navy. READ 8News' interview with Avula: In race for mayor, Danny Avula says he offers leadership to make changes in Richmond Avula will be Richmond’s first immigrant mayor. Investing in the city’s new IT platform, Avula told 8News in an interview before Election Day, will allow Richmond to closely monitor and track data to improve efficiency, something Avula said he would do if elected mayor. A resident in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, Avula called housing “the biggest crisis facing our community" in his 8News interview. Avula said a critical issue to address is the lack of supply of affordable options. Avula said Richmond should focus on improving the processes of local government to ensure bottlenecks aren’t created for housing production, use federal tax credits, create more mixed-income communities and invest more in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Maggie Walker Land Trust. McClellan wins Virginia’s 4th Congressional District race Michelle Mosby, who leads in the other three districts per unofficial results, thanked her family and supporters in a statement Wednesday congratulating Avula on his victory. "I will continue to be an active and engaged member of this community, and I look forward to doing what I can with Mayor-elect Avula to build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and our community," Mosby said. Harrison Roday, who has the third most votes per unofficial results, also congratulated Avula and conceded on Wednesday. “I congratulate Danny Avula. I wish him success in moving our city toward a more equitable future," Roday said. First District City Councilman Andreas Addison praised and thanked his supporters in a Wednesday statement congratulating Avula. "Congratulations to Dr. Avula on his victory," he said. "Richmond needs leaders who are ready to work together for our future, and I am prepared to support any efforts that strengthen our community." Kaine defeats Cao in Virginia US Senate race to win third term Addison also raised his concerns over a second term for former President Donald Trump, adding that Richmond must "acknowledge a chilling reality; the challenges our city faces will only be exasperated once Trump takes office again. If we don’t come together to make Richmond a more welcoming and inclusive city, the next four years will hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest." Dr. Avula, the former director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, led Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination effort in 2021 and ran the state’s Department of Social Services. In his victory statement, Avula told Richmonders that he's "incredibly humbled and honored" by their confidence in him and that his door and inbox "are always open." "It’s going to take all of us, but together we will build a Richmond where everyone’s rights are protected, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and where no one gets left behind," Avula said. "Thank you, and let’s get to work." All election results are unofficial until certified.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Dr. Danny Avula is set to be Richmond's next mayor after unofficial results show he secured enough districts to win the election -- and the other top two candidates in the race conceded on Wednesday.
Avula, a 46-year-old pediatrician at Chippenham Hospital, has unbeatable leads in six of the nine districts -- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th -- with all precincts reporting, per unofficial results. To win the mayoral race, a candidate needs majorities in at least five of the city’s nine districts.
"Richmond! Thank you so much for putting your trust in me as the next mayor of our amazing city," Avula said in a statement Wednesday morning. "I know I would not be here without the support of my family — my amazing wife, Mary Kay, and my kids– Arjanae, Luke, David, Kiran, and Abby."
Avula, who also has a more than 20,000 vote lead over his top competition in the race, has been a resident of Richmond’s East End for 20 years. He came to the U.S. after his father, who grew up in rural India, came to the country and joined the U.S. Navy.
Avula will be Richmond’s first immigrant mayor.
Investing in the city’s new IT platform, Avula told 8News in an interview before Election Day, will allow Richmond to closely monitor and track data to improve efficiency, something Avula said he would do if elected mayor.
A resident in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, Avula called housing “the biggest crisis facing our community" in his 8News interview. Avula said a critical issue to address is the lack of supply of affordable options.
Avula said Richmond should focus on improving the processes of local government to ensure bottlenecks aren’t created for housing production, use federal tax credits, create more mixed-income communities and invest more in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Maggie Walker Land Trust.
McClellan wins Virginia’s 4th Congressional District race
Michelle Mosby, who leads in the other three districts per unofficial results, thanked her family and supporters in a statement Wednesday congratulating Avula on his victory.
"I will continue to be an active and engaged member of this community, and I look forward to doing what I can with Mayor-elect Avula to build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and our community," Mosby said.
Harrison Roday, who has the third most votes per unofficial results, also congratulated Avula and conceded on Wednesday. “I congratulate Danny Avula. I wish him success in moving our city toward a more equitable future," Roday said.
First District City Councilman Andreas Addison praised and thanked his supporters in a Wednesday statement congratulating Avula. "Congratulations to Dr. Avula on his victory," he said. "Richmond needs leaders who are ready to work together for our future, and I am prepared to support any efforts that strengthen our community."
Kaine defeats Cao in Virginia US Senate race to win third term
Addison also raised his concerns over a second term for former President Donald Trump, adding that Richmond must "acknowledge a chilling reality; the challenges our city faces will only be exasperated once Trump takes office again. If we don’t come together to make Richmond a more welcoming and inclusive city, the next four years will hit our most vulnerable communities the hardest."
Dr. Avula, the former director of the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, led Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination effort in 2021 and ran the state’s Department of Social Services. In his victory statement, Avula told Richmonders that he's "incredibly humbled and honored" by their confidence in him and that his door and inbox "are always open."
"It’s going to take all of us, but together we will build a Richmond where everyone’s rights are protected, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and where no one gets left behind," Avula said. "Thank you, and let’s get to work."
All election results are unofficial until certified.
