Six House of Delegates races to watch in Central Virginia this election season
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Of all of the seats in the Virginia House of Delegates that are up for election this November, there's six races in Central Virginia that election experts think will be a little more exciting than others.
8News is your Local Election Headquarters for the 2025 General and Special Election, which is happening on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Early voting began on Friday, Sept. 19.
Quite a few important races are on the ballot this year. Virginians will be choosing who will serve in the state's topmost offices, including:
- Gubernatorial candidates:
- Abigail Spanberger (D)
- Winsome Earle-Sears (R), current lieutenant governor
- Candidates for lieutenant governor:
- Ghazala Hashmi (D), current state senator representing the 15th Senate district
- John Reid (R)
- Candidates for attorney general:
- Jay Jones (D)
- Jason Miyares (R), incumbent
However, in addition to those significant races, Virginia voters across the state will also decide who represents their district in the Virginia House of Delegates.
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The Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) curates a "VPAP Index" that classifies districts based on how much they favor one party over another.
Using that index, 8News pinpointed six House of Delegates races in Central Virginia that VPAP expects to be more competitive. In each of these races, one of the two candidates on the ticket is an incumbent, or a sitting delegate.
Keep reading to learn more about who's on the ballot in these districts.
District 57
(Photo: Virginia General Assembly)
District 57 of the Virginia House of Delegates includes parts of Henrico and Goochland counties. It is shown in light blue in the map above.
This district is classified as competitive on the VPAP Index.
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Del. David Owen (R-Henrico), who has served in the General Assembly since 2024, currently represents this district. His Democratic challenger this November is May Nivar.
Republican candidate Owen, the incumbent
Owen was raised in Henrico County and was inspired to pursue a role in public service after watching his father, Bill Owen, dedicate decades of his life to both the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the General Assembly, per his campaign website.
His legislative priorities include supporting public education, reducing crime, lowering inflation and empowering small businesses.
As listed on his website, Owen's reelection bid has been endorsed by both Earle-Sears and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R).
Democratic candidate Nivar, his opponent
Nivar is a Philadelphia native born to Chinese immigrants who has lived in Richmond for 20 years, according to her campaign website. She has held several leadership roles in Virginia, with that work primarily centering Asian Americans, women and other minorities.
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Her legislative priorities include lowering costs, supporting public education, expanding access to healthcare and implementing stricter gun laws. She also supports marriage equality, as well as access to abortions and contraception, per her website.
Nivar's listed endorsements include Spanberger, former governor Ralph Northam (D) and Virginia state senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner.
District 75
(Photo: Virginia General Assembly)
District 75 of the Virginia House of Delegates includes all of Hopewell, as well as parts of Chesterfield and Prince George counties. It is shown in dark blue in the map above.
This district is classified as competitive on the VPAP Index.
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Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield), who has served in the General Assembly since 2020, currently represents this district. Her Democratic challenger this November is Lindsey Dougherty.
Republican candidate Coyner, the incumbent
Coyner grew up in Chesterfield, where she previously served on both its School Board and Chamber of Commerce, per her campaign website. In addition to her duties in the General Assembly, she practices business and real estate law at RudyCoyner Attorneys at Law, which she founded.
Her legislative priorities include making education more affordable, advocating for those with disabilities and supporting those struggling with addiction.
Coyner does not have a section for endorsements on her website.
Democratic candidate Dougherty, her opponent
Dougherty is a Tennessee native who moved to Virginia about a decade ago, her campaign website states. She is a longtime community activist who regularly volunteers her time. Groups she's worked with include ones that advocate for expanding Virginia children's access to healthcare, as well as those that provide support to single mothers and their families.
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Her legislative priorities include expanding public education, raising the state's minimum wage and reforming Virginia's justice system. She also supports access to abortions because she required medical intervention for a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, per her website.
Dougherty's listed endorsements include groups like Freedom Virginia, EMILY's List and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.
District 82
(Photo: Virginia General Assembly)
District 82 of the Virginia House of Delegates includes all of Petersburg and Surry County, as well as parts of Dinwiddie and Prince George counties. It is shown in red in the map above.
This district is classified as competitive on the VPAP Index.
Del. Kim Taylor (R-Dinwiddie), who has served in the General Assembly since 2022, currently represents this district. Her Democratic challenger this November is Kimberly Pope Adams.
Republican candidate Taylor, the incumbent
Taylor is a Sussex County native who currently lives in Dinwiddie, per her campaign website. In addition to her work as a delegate, she owns and operates three car repair shops in Chesterfield alongside her husband, Andrew "Butch" Taylor. Their small business has 30 employees.
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Her legislative priorities include lowering taxes, combating human trafficking and violent crime, expanding broadband access and supporting public schools.
Taylor does not have a section for endorsements on her website.
Democratic candidate Adams, her opponent
Adams grew up in Hopewell and has a deep love for the Tri-Cities, her campaign website states. After graduating from Virginia Tech, she began her public service career as a state auditor. She has since held multiple other roles in the financial sector of government.
Her legislative priorities include reducing crime, promoting transparency in government, fighting food insecurity and supporting unionization. She also supports access to abortions and contraception.
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Adams' listed endorsements include groups like Clean Virginia, Care In Action and the Committee to Protect Health Care.
District 73
(Photo: Virginia General Assembly)
District 73 of the Virginia House of Delegates includes parts of Chesterfield County. It is shown in green in the map above.
According to the VPAP Index, this district leans Republican.
Del. Mark Earley, Jr. (R-Chesterfield), who has served in the General Assembly since 2024, currently represents this district. His Democratic challenger this November is Leslie Mehta.
Republican candidate Earley, the incumbent
Earley was born in Chesapeake and raised in Chesterfield, according to his campaign website. He previously served under former governor Bob McDonnell (R). Alongside his work in the General Assembly, he is an attorney at a family-run law practice in Richmond. He and his wife have two sons and are also active foster parents.
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His legislative priorities include increasing funding for public education, building trust between police departments and communities, lowering taxes and strengthening immigration enforcement. Due to his experience as a foster parent, Earley puts heavy emphasis on protecting Virginia families.
Per his website, Earley's reelection bid has been endorsed by Miyares and Chesterfield Sheriff Karl Leonard, as well as groups like AFP Virginia and Virginia Professional Fire Fighters.
Democratic candidate Mehta, his opponent
Mehta was raised in North Carolina by a social worker and a corrections officer, who instilled the values of public service within her, her campaign website states. A career lawyer, she previously served as legal director of the ACLU of Virginia. She has also worked for both the Northam and Youngkin administrations.
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Her legislative priorities include raising wages, making higher education more affordable, guaranteeing paid parental leave and addressing rising housing costs. Healthcare access is of high importance to Mehta, per her website, as she lost her daughter to Rett Syndrome at five years old. She also supports access to abortions and contraception.
Mehta's listed endorsements include Spanberger and Virginia state Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D), as well as groups like the New Virginia Majority, SEIU and the National Women's Political Caucus - Virginia.
District 74
(Photo: Virginia General Assembly)
District 74 of the Virginia House of Delegates includes all of Colonial Heights, as well as parts of Chesterfield County. It is shown in purple in the map above.
According to the VPAP Index, this district leans Republican.
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Del. Mike Cherry (R-Colonial Heights), who has served in the General Assembly since 2022, currently represents this district. His Democratic challenger this November is Jonas James Eppert.
Republican candidate Cherry, the incumbent
Cherry is a North Carolina native who joined the U.S. Air Force out of high school, per his campaign website. He previously served on the Colonial Heights City Council. In addition to his service as a delegate, Cherry is a pastor at Life Church, Head of School at Life Christian Academy and a volunteer Chaplain with the Colonial Heights Police Department.
His legislative priorities include investing in public schools, making private schools more accessible to families, lowering taxes and cutting unnecessary spending. He believes in a strong, well-funded police force, but emphasized that those who complete their sentences should be given the support needed to reenter society.
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Cherry does not have a section for endorsements on his website.
Democratic candidate Eppert, his opponent
On his campaign website, Eppert describes himself as a public servant and a "Virginian by choice" who lives in southern Chesterfield. He is the environmental coordinator for Powhatan County and has experience in planning, zoning and code compliance.
His legislative priorities include expanding collective bargaining, ensuring government transparency, making roads safer and broadening public transit access.
Eppert's listed endorsements include Hashmi and Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider, as well as groups like Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, VA LGBT+ Democrats and Run for Something.
District 58
(Photo: Virginia General Assembly)
District 58 of the Virginia House of Delegates includes parts of Henrico County. It is shown in yellow in the map above.
According to the VPAP Index, this district leans Democratic.
Del. Rodney Willet (D-Henrico), who has served in the General Assembly since 2020, currently represents this district. His Republican challenger this November is Milad Mikhail.
Democratic candidate Willet, the incumbent
Willet is a Virginia native who was raised by teachers, which inspired him to public service, according to his campaign website. He is an attorney, a small business owner and a technology consultant who, alongside his duties as a delegate, serves on numerous boards and committees down to the community level.
His legislative priorities include making healthcare more affordable, expanding access to early childhood education, minimizing bureaucracy for businesses and investing in renewable energy. He is also pro-LGBTQ+ rights and supports access to abortions.
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Willet does not have a section for endorsements on his website.
Republican candidate Mikhail, his opponent
Mikhail is an immigrant from Egypt who now calls Herico home, per his campaign website. His interest in government began abroad when he held leadership roles within the Free Egyptians Party. Through the New Life Foundation, which he co-founded, Mikhail provides those who are without homes or battling addiction with vital resources.
His legislative priorities include increasing funding for public schools, providing more support to veterans, expanding mental health services and promoting environmental sustainability. He is in favor of "common-sense measures" related to firearms and does not support transgender women playing on women's sports teams.
Mikhail does not have a section for endorsements on his website.
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