Chesterfield County

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Republican incumbent Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and former Democratic US Representative Abigail Spanberger will face each other in the general election for Governor of Virginia.

The Democratic nominee for Governor, Abigail Spanberger actually fights to expand healthcare and reproductive freedom instead of rolling over when conservatives threaten to restrict abortion rights. She’s committed to investing in clean energy, holding polluters accountable, and reducing energy costs for working families. Her gun-safety agenda goes far beyond “thoughts and prayers,” taking on the NRA head-on instead of cashing their donation checks. Spanberger’s pragmatic progressive vision gives suburban moderates and left-leaners tired of corporate centrism and culture-war theatrics a real reason to show up.

The Opposition

The Republican nominee for Governor, Winsome Earle-Sears is all about slashing taxes for big corporations while telling unemployed workers that losing a job is “no big deal.” She grandstands against critical race theory and “woke” classrooms to score culture-war points instead of tackling real education challenges. By waving her Marine Corps credentials, she sells herself as the ultimate tough-on-crime candidate, conveniently ignoring how lax gun laws endanger communities. Her true believers are MAGA zealots who think banning books, rolling back reproductive freedoms, and erasing civil liberties are more important than looking out for working families.

Recommendation

Due to her advocacy for abortion access, gun violence prevention, and clean energy, Abigail Spanberger is the progressive candidate in this race.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi and Republican John Reid will face each other in the general election for Lt. Governor of Virginia.

The Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor, Ghazala Hashmi is fighting to pump real money into public schools instead of the right’s perennial budget cuts and culture-war book bans. She defends reproductive freedom and Medicaid expansion for working families while conservatives keep dialing back healthcare access and waving anti-abortion placards. Her clean-energy agenda and environmental-justice bills actually target polluters, not the customary GOP handouts to pipeline lobbyists. Dreamers, suburban progressives fed up with partisan hijinks, and anyone who’d trade culture-war theatrics for equity and opportunity will cheer her unapologetic stand for Virginia’s working families.

The Opposition

The Republican nominee for Lt. Governor, John Reid is a self-styled small-government crusader who’ll happily cut taxes for wealthy donors while pretending he’s doing the same for working Virginians. He rails against “woke” curriculum and critical race theory, because apparently teaching actual American history is more offensive to him than runaway inequality. He touts law-and-order credentials and celebrity as a conservative radio host, hawking gun rights like they’re the ultimate public-safety strategy. He even plans to torpedo constitutional protections for same-sex marriage, proving that an openly gay candidate will stab his own community in the back for party unity, the perfect pick for culture-war diehards who prefer corporate giveaways to real solutions for working families.

Recommendation

Due to her advocacy for public education, abortion access, and environmental justice, Ghazala Hashmi is the progressive candidate in this race.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares faces a challenge from former Democratic Virginia State Delegate Jay Jones.

The Democratic nominee for Attorney General, Jay Jones has pledged to sue the Trump administration every time it infringes on the rights of Virginians. He’s secured victories for abortion access, expanded Medicaid to cover thousands more Virginians, and even wrote anti-price-gouging measures to keep corporate vultures in check. His public-safety plan pairs smart gun-violence prevention and community-based crime interventions rather than recycling the right’s tired “lock ’em up” mantra for political ads. Grassroots progressives, consumer-rights advocates, and anyone sick of endless culture-war stunts will line up behind a candidate who actually puts families over fear-mongering theatrics.

The Opposition

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares cozies up to ICE, shaming local authorities who don’t cooperate with Trump’s policies of mass deportation, because terrorizing immigrant families is apparently his idea of due process. He grandstands on opioid crackdowns but turns a blind eye to corporate-friendly loopholes that keep the drug pipeline flowing. He bills himself as a federalism champion when suing Washington over environmental rules, conveniently ignoring states’ rights whenever big donors flash a check. His true believers are tough-on-crime zealots who think more ICE raids, harsher sentencing, and tax cuts for the wealthy are the pinnacle of compassionate governance.

Recommendation

Due to his advocacy for abortion access, gun violence prevention, and Medicaid coverage, Jay Jones is the progressive candidate in this race.

Virginia’s new 72nd House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Chesterfield County, Powhatan County, Amelia County, and Nottoway County. With almost 69,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Republican.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Lee Ware faces a challenge from Democrat Randolph Critzer in HD-72.

Virginia’s House District 72 covers Powhatan County, Amelia County, Nottoway County, and portions of Chesterfield County in Central Virginia’s capital region. In the 2024 election it remained a strong Republican district by comfortable double‐digit margins.

Democrat Randolph T. “Randy” Critzer Jr. is a lifelong Virginian and criminal justice attorney with a J.D. from William & Mary and a partnership at Frith Anderson + Peake. He is running on a platform centered on justice, affordable healthcare, fully-supported schools, cost-of-living relief, and restoring essential community services like recycling.

His commitment to protect reproductive rights indicates he will support enshrining the fundamental right to reproductive freedom in the Virginia Constitution.

Randolph Critzer supports access to fully-funded schools. He prioritizes addressing rising housing costs to ensure an affordable cost of living. He plans to introduce a bill requiring localities that previously provided recycling services to restore those services to citizens.

Critzer commits to safeguarding reproductive health for all Virginians, and he advocates for quality, affordable medicine. 

The Opposition

Incumbent Republican Delegate Lee Ware was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1998. He was born in Massachusetts. Before beginning his political career, he worked in journalism and education. He is a father of four and has ten grandchildren.

Ware opposed expanding Medicaid in 2018. He also voted against raising the minimum wage, abolishing the death penalty, and legalizing marijuana. Additionally, Ware opposes abortion access and prohibiting voter discrimination in the Commonwealth. He voted against establishing paid family and medical leave, repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees, and establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

Delegate Ware regularly patrons bills for the Virginia Citizens Defense League, an organization opposed to gun violence prevention measures.

Delegate Ware voted against the Constitutional Amendments to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.

Kristin Farry is a Forward Party member and first-time candidate. She has a background in farming, engineering, national defense, business, and piloting. Farry worked to develop government policy in aviation. She also served on a county finance advisory board. 

Recommendation

Based on his commitment to protecting abortion access, fully funding public education, and advocating for affordable medicine, Randy Critzer is the progressive candidate in this race.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Mark Earley, Jr. faces a challenge from Democrat Leslie Mehta in HD-73.

Virginia’s House District 73 covers parts of Chesterfield County in Central Virginia’s capital region. In the 2024 election it leaned slightly Democratic by narrow margins.

Leslie C. Mehta is a civil rights attorney and nonprofit leader, serving as Interim CEO of the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. A lifelong Virginian and former Legal Director at the ACLU of Virginia, she brings a passion for equity grounded in personal experience. The Democratic nominee for District 73, Mehta is campaigning on expanding healthcare access, protecting reproductive freedom, supporting families, and strengthening public schools.

Constitutional Amendment
Mehta’s stance on reproductive rights indicates she will support enshrining the fundamental right to reproductive freedom in Virginia’s Constitution.

Education
Leslie Mehta believes that every child should have access to a high-quality education. She supports expanding programs like the G3 tuition assistance program and pushes for higher education to be more affordable.

Economy and Inflation
Mehta advocates for workers’ rights, including better wages and paid sick leave. She fights for a fair tax system, affordable childcare, and other policies that ease the burdens on middle-class and working families.

Health and Human Services
Mehta is committed to protecting access to abortion, contraceptives, IVF, and the full spectrum of reproductive care She lists equitable healthcare as a top priority and will fight for access to affordable, quality healthcare for all. Mehta advocates for rare disease awareness and supports ongoing funding for rare diseases.

Other Issues
Mehta supports common-sense gun violence prevention legislation and prioritizes community safety. She represented Jason Kessler, an organizer for the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her reasoning was that the First Amendment rights of Americans should be defended.

The Opposition

Incumbent Republican Delegate Mark Earley supports Republican initiatives to police public schools and forcibly out transgender kids. In the run-up to the election, he removed his positions on abortion from his website, which previously indicated that he was wholly against abortion. He will do nothing about gun violence and even supports putting armed guards in classrooms.

Delegate Earley voted against Constitutional Amendments to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights.

He voted against establishing paid family and medical leave, increasing the minimum wage, repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees, establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board.

Delegate Earley believes photo identification should be required to vote, a move that would disenfranchise some voters. Additionally, he lists supporting law enforcement and battling illegal immigration as top priorities.

Recommendation

Based on her commitment to protecting abortion access, fair taxes, and workers' rights, Leslie Mehta is the progressive candidate in this race.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Mike Cherry faces a challenge from Democrat Jonas Eppert in HD-74.

Virginia’s House District 74 covers portions of Chesterfield County and the City of Colonial Heights in Central Virginia’s capital region. In the 2024 election it leaned Republican by single-digit margins.

Jonas J. Eppert is a Florida-born environmental specialist and renewable-minded public servant running as the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 74th House District in November 2025. A graduate of the University of Central Florida and Powhatan County’s Environmental Coordinator, he prioritizes affordable healthcare, fully funded schools, environmental protection, and reducing everyday costs for families. Committed to transparency and term limits, Eppert enters the race against the Republican incumbent, Mike Cherry, in a key swing district.

Constitutional Amendments
Eppert will support  HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution.

Education
Jonas Eppert pledges to invest in public schools, including teachers, classrooms, and students. He supports free school meals for all students.

Economy and Inflation
Eppert prioritizes addressing the financial burdens of families, including high costs for groceries, gas, and utilities. He advocates for putting people ahead of corporate interests.

He currently serves as the Environmental Coordinator for Powhatan County, focusing on promoting sustainable development that preserves the community's local character. He pledges to strengthen worker protections, including salary transparency.

Health and Human Services
Eppert pledges to lower healthcare costs, including prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket expenses. He also advocates for a state-run insurance option.

Other Issues
Eppert will fight to hold polluters accountable and expand cost-sharing programs so farmers can invest in conservation. He also pledges to protect immigrant families and push for a fair and equitable Virginia for all.

The Opposition

Incumbent Republican Delegate Mike Cherry was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2021. He previously served on the Colonial Heights City Council. He holds a B.S. from Liberty University and an M.S. in Education from Regent University. He served as the Head of School at Life Christian Academy. Delegate Cherry and his wife have two children. 

Delegate Cherry voted against the Constitutional Amendments to enshrine abortion rights, to restore voting rights to returning citizens, and to enshrine equal marriage rights.

He voted against raising teacher pay, authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property, increasing the minimum wage, establishing paid family and medical leave, and repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees. Additionally, he has voted against tenants' rights bills, affordable healthcare bills, and a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI.

Recommendation

Based on his commitment to supporting quality public education, environmental protection, and access to affordable healthcare, Jonas Eppert is the progressive candidate in this race.

Virginia’s new 75th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Chesterfield County, Hopewell City, and parts of Prince George County. With over 56,000 registered voters, this district leans Republican.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner faces a challenge from Democrat Lindsey Dougherty in HD-75.

Virginia's House District 75 encompasses Hopewell City and portions of Chesterfield and Prince George counties. In the 2024 election, it leaned Democratic by single-digit margins.

Lindsey M. Dougherty is a lifelong Virginian and Senior Research Administrator at VCU. A working mother whose personal healthcare battles—from parenting children with serious illness to overcoming a life-threatening pregnancy—fuel her dedication to accessible, compassionate public policy. She sustains a bold platform advocating for strong public schools, affordable healthcare and housing, economic justice, and inclusive governance.

Constitutional Amendments
Lindsey Dougherty's will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution. Her statements on protecting the LGBTQ+ community indicate she will support HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.

Education
Dougherty pledges to expand offerings of community college classes and trade school programs to in-state students. She wants to streamline course credit acceptance across the state college and university system to minimize costs to families. She will fight to reduce barriers to families with special needs children in public schools and make Universal Pre-K programs available to all 3- and 4-year-old children. She advocates for raising teachers and support staff pay to above the mid-Atlantic state average.

Economy and Inflation
Dougherty advocates for raising the minimum wage. She prioritizes support for military personnel and their families and families struggling with caregiving costs for children and/or seniors. She will also work to promote affordable housing initiatives.

Health and Human Services
Dougherty advocates for prescription drug affordability and wants to ensure pre-existing conditions are protected for all Virginians. She will fight to improve access to quality and affordable mental healthcare, including addiction programs and expanded access to emergency beds for acute mental health crisis patients. She prioritizes improved healthcare access and protecting all reproductive rights.

Other Issues
Dougherty pledges to protect the LGBTQ+ community by banning housing discrimination, ending conversion therapy, and putting in place workplace protections.

She will work to implement commonsense gun safety solutions that reduce gun violence and vows to introduce new criminal justice reform legislation.

Dougherty advocates for environmental policies that increase the use of renewable energies, improve air quality, bolster protections, and water quality in the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.

The Opposition

Incumbent Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2019. She previously served on the Chesterfield County School Board, as well as the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce. She is the founder of a law practice and the mother of three children. 

Constitutional Amendments
She voted against a bill to enshrine abortion rights in the Virginia Constitution.

Delegate Coyner voted against increasing the minimum wage, establishing paid family and medical leave, and repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees. She opted not to vote on a forced-outing bill targeting transgender students to avoid going on the record. She voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board and against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live.

Recommendation

Based on her advocacy for affordable, quality healthcare, environmental protection, and quality public education, Lindsey Dougherty is the progressive candidate in this race.

Virginia’s new 76th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Chesterfield County. With almost 67,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Debra Gardner faces a challenge from Republican John Thomas in HD-76.

Virginia's House District 76 is wholly located within Chesterfield County. In the 2024 election it remained strongly Democratic by comofrtable double-digit margins.

Debra D. Gardner is the Democratic Delegate for Virginia’s 76th House District, serving since January 2024. A Chesterfield County resident and a former social worker with a Master's in public administration, she has held senior roles in state correctional and social service agencies and led key city departments. As Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in Richmond and now as Delegate, she champions public services, justice reform, and safety—earning endorsements from major advocacy groups.
Committee Assignments: Counties, Cities and Towns, Finance, Health and Human Services

Constitutional Amendments
- Co-patroned a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Co-patroned a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-patroned a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution

Education
- Voted to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted to increase protections and support for cyberbullying
- Co-patroned a bill to authorize public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property

Economy and Inflation
- Voted to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid medical and family leave
- Co-patroned a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Co-patroned a bill to establish a regulated and taxed cannabis industry in Virginia
- Voted to establish frameworks to preserve local housing
- Voted to establish the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Health and Human Services
- Voted to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to require health insurance plans to cover birth control

Other Issues
- Co-sponsored a bill to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of assault-style weapons
- Voted to establish regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted to authorize Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections

The Opposition

Republican John Thomas is a lifelong resident of Chesterfield County. He was a contractor with the U.S. Army, Military Police, and the Missile Defense Agency. Through his work with the U.S. Government, he partnered with corporations like Boeing, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. Additionally, he worked for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in compliance and was certified Glock factory armorer.

Recommendation

Based on her track record for supporting abortion access, workers' rights, and quality, affordable healthcare, Delegate Debra Gardner is the progressive candidate in this race.

Virginia’s new 77th House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Richmond City and parts of Chesterfield County. With almost 55,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Democratic Delegate Mike Jones faces a challenge from Republican Richard Stonage in HD-77.

Virginia’s House District 77 spans portions of the City of Richmond and adjacent areas of Chesterfield County in Central Virginia’s capital region. In the 2024 election it was a strong Democratic district by comfortable double-digit margins.

Dr. Michael J. Jones is the Democratic Delegate for Virginia’s 77th District, serving since January 2024. A former Richmond City Council President and senior pastor, he holds advanced theological degrees. He stands out for advancing gun safety and estate reform legislation and continues to champion policies on justice, equity, education, and environmental health in Richmond and Chesterfield County.
Committee Assignments: Communications, Technology and Innovation; Counties, Cities and Towns; Labor and Commerce

Constitutional Amendments
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution

Education
- Co-patroned a bill to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted to authorize public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property

Economy and Inflation
- Co-patroned a bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Co-patroned a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted to establish a regulated and taxed cannabis industry in Virginia
- Voted to establish frameworks to preserve local housing
- Voted to establish the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Health and Human Services
- Voted to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to require health insurance plans to cover birth control

Other Issues
- Voted to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of assault-style weapons
- Voted to establish regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted to authorize Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections

The Opposition

Republican Richard Stonage is a Bon Air resident. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kentucky and has worked in the manufacturing and processing industry. He and his wife have one son. 

Education
Richard Stonage has repeated disinformation targeting transgender students and calls for a review of safety procedures and protection systems for all schools. He supports a taxpayer-funded voucher system for private schools.

Economy and Inflation
Stonage opposes collective bargaining and union rights. He advocates for lowering taxes, repealing or lowering the car tax, repealing the electric car mandate, and cutting other regulations. He incorrectly calls non-renewable energy sources like coal and gas “clean energy." He wants to raise the Virginia top income tax bracket to $34,000.

Other Issues
Stonage wants to roll back voting rights by narrowing the early voting window. He is in favor of aggressive prosecution and “focused laws to combat gangs and organized drug networks” as a way to combat fentanyl and other drugs. He will fight for full funding and the best training for Sheriffs and police.

Recommendation

Based on his history of supporting quality, affordable healthcare, workers' rights, and gun violence prevention legislation, Delegate Mike Jones is the progressive candidate in this race.

Virginia’s new 81st House of Delegates district encompasses parts of Henrico City, parts of Chesterfield County, and Charles City County. With over 60,000 registered voters, this district leans strongly Democratic.

This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Democratic Delegate Delores McQuinn is running for reelection unopposed in HD-81.

Virginia's House District 81 includes Charles City County and portions of Chesterfield and Henrico counties to the East of the City of Richmond. In the 2024 election it remained strongly Democratic by double-digit margins.

Delores L. McQuinn is a veteran Democratic Delegate, a former Richmond School Board Vice Chair and City Council Vice Mayor, who has represented District 70 since 2009 and District 81 since 2024. A Henrico native with degrees from VCU and VUU, she chairs the Transportation Committee and serves on key panels like Appropriations, Education, and Rules. She is actively campaigning for re-election in November 2025.
Committee Assignments: Appropriations, Education, Transportation 

Constitutional Amendments
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s Constitution
- Voted for a Constitutional Amendment to restore voting rights to returning citizens
- Co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment to enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution

Education
- Voted to raise teacher pay to the national average
- Voted to increase protections and support for cyberbullying
- Voted to authorize public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted against a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students

Economy and Inflation
- Voted to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Co-patroned a bill to establish paid family and medical leave
- Co-patroned a bill to repeal prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Did not vote on a bill to establish regulatory bodies for the cannabis industry in Virginia
- Voted to establish frameworks to preserve local housing
- Voted to establish the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Health and Human Services
- Voted to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted to establish the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted to require health insurance plans to cover birth control

Other Issues
- Co-sponsored a bill to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of assault-style weapons
- Voted to authorize Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
- Voted to establish regulations for “high-risk” AI

Recommendation

This is an uncontested race. Based on her history of supporting quality, affordable healthcare, gun violence prevention, and workers' rights, Delegate Delores McQuinn is the progressive candidate in this race.