Public primary elections for the Democratic and Republican parties will be held on June 8, 2021. Off on a Tangent is making recommendations to party primary voters in each contested state- and federal-level primary race in Virginia, as well as those for Loudoun County local offices.
Political parties are private organizations that should not have any official standing in our political system, but Democratic and Republican primaries are held by the Virginia Department of Elections and are funded by Virginia taxpayers. The purpose of a party primary should be for members of that party to choose who will represent them on the general election ballot. Virginia, however, has an “open primary” system where any registered voter may vote in any one (but not more than one) primary each year.
This series of recommendations applies only to public, taxpayer-funded primaries. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are making some of their nominations at party conventions or through other private means.
Democratic Party Primaries
Contested Democratic Party primary races are being held for all three statewide offices and eighteen of the one hundred seats in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Governors, lieutenant governors, and attorney generals serve four-year terms and there are no term limits. Governors may not serve multiple consecutive terms. Currently, the Democratic Party holds each of the three seats.
Members of the House of Delegates serve two-year terms and there are no term limits. Currently, the Democratic Party holds fifty-five of the one hundred seats and the Republican Party holds forty-five.
Virginia Statewide Offices
- Governor: Former Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-VA 2nd), Delegate Lee Carter (D-VA 50th), Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax (D-VA), former Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA), and Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-VA 9th) stand as candidates for governor. I make no recommendation except voting against Justin Fairfax and Terry McAuliffe.
- Lieutenant Governor: Norfolk City Council Member Andria McClellan (D-Superward 6), Delegate Hala Ayala (D-VA 51st), Delegate Mark Levine (D-VA 45th), Sean Perryman (D), Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-VA 11th), and Xavier Warren (D) stand as candidates for lieutenant governor. I recommend voting for Xavier Warren.
- Attorney General: Incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring (D-VA) is challenged by Delegate Jerrauld “Jay” Jones (D-VA 89th). I recommend voting for Jay Jones.
Virginia House of Delegates
- 2nd District: Incumbent Delegate Candi King (D-VA 2nd) is challenged by Pam Montgomery (D). I recommend voting for Candi King.
- 7th District: Derek Kitts (D) and Tara Orlando (D) stand as 7th District candidates. I recommend voting for Derek Kitts.
- 31st District: Incumbent Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-VA 31st) is challenged by Idris Jibowu-O’Connor (D), Kara Pitek (D), and Rod Hall (D). I make no recommendation.
- 34th District: Incumbent Delegate Kathleen Murphy (D-VA 34th) is challenged by Jennifer Adeli (D). I recommend voting for Kathleen Murphy.
- 36th District: Incumbent Delegate Ken Plum (D-VA 36th) is challenged by Mary Barthelson (D). I recommend voting for Mary Barthelson.
- 38th District: Incumbent Delegate Kaye Kory (D-VA 38th) is challenged by Holly Hazard (D). I recommend voting for Kaye Kory.
- 45th District: Incumbent Delegate Mark Levine (D-VA 45th) is challenged by Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D). I make no recommendation.
- 49th District: Incumbent Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-VA 49th) is challenged by Karishma Mehta (D). I make no recommendation.
- 50th District: Incumbent Delegate Lee Carter (D-VA 50th) is challenged by Michelle Lopes-Maldonado (D) and Helen Zurita (D). I recommend voting for Helen Zurita.
- 66th District: Linnard Harris Sr. (D) and Katie Sponsler (D) stand as 66th District candidates. I recommend voting for Linnard Harris Sr.
- 68th District: Incumbent Delegate Dawn Adams (D-VA 68th) is challenged by Kyle Elliott (D). I make no recommendation.
- 71st District: Incumbent Delegate Jeff Bourne (D-VA 71st) is challenged by Richard Walker (D). I recommend voting for Jeff Bourne.
- 74th District: Incumbent Delegate Lamont Bagby (D-VA 74th) is challenged by John Dantzler II (D). I make no recommendation.
- 79th District: Incumbent Delegate Steve Heretik (D-VA 79th) is challenged by Nadarius Clark (D) and Dante Walston (D). I recommend voting for Steve Heretik.
- 84th District: Tracie Liguid (D) and Virginia Beach School Board Vice Chair Kim Melnyk (D) stand as 84th District candidates. I make no recommendation.
- 86th District: Incumbent Delegate Ibraheem Samirah (D-VA 86th) is challenged by Irene Shin (D). I make no recommendation.
- 89th District: Incumbent Delegate Jerrauld “Jay” Jones (D-VA 89th) is challenged by Hannah Kinder (D). I recommend voting for Jay Jones.
- 99th District: Linwood Blizzard (D), Zach Filtz (D), and Jolicia Ward (D) stand as 99th District candidates. I make no recommendation.
Republican Party Primaries
Contested Republican Party primary races are being held for seven of the one hundred seats in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Members of the House of Delegates serve two-year terms and there are no term limits. Currently, the Democratic Party holds fifty-five of the one hundred seats and the Republican Party holds forty-five.
Virginia House of Delegates
- 9th District: Incumbent Delegate Charles Poindexter (R-VA 9th) is challenged by Wren Williams (R). I make no recommendation.
- 22nd District: Incumbent Delegate Kathy Byron (R-VA 22nd) is challenged by Isaiah Knight (R). I recommend voting for Isaiah Knight.
- 24th District: Incumbent Delegate Ronnie Campbell (R-VA 24th) is challenged by Mark Reed (R). I recommend voting for Mark Reed.
- 51st District: Tim Cox (R) and Jeff Dove (R) stand as 51st District candidates. I recommend voting for Tim Cox.
- 68th District: Michael Dickinson (R) and Mark Earley Jr. (R) stand as 68th District candidates. I make no recommendation.
- 72nd District: Tom Gardner (R) and Christopher Holmes (R) stand as 72nd District candidates. I recommend voting for Christopher Holmes.
- 83rd District: Tim Anderson (R), Phil Kazmierczak (R), and Chris Stolle (R) stand as 83rd District candidates. I recommend voting for Phil Kazmierczak.