Virginia Democrats have selected their nominees in two key statewide races — but at a cost. Deep fractures, voter apathy in key regions, and far-left nominees are leaving Republicans more optimistic than ever about a 2025 sweep.
The six-way Democratic primary for lieutenant governor ended in a dramatic upset, as Richmond State Senator Ghazala Hashmi defeated former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and State Senator Aaron Rouse in a race shaped by regional turnout and local resentment.
Despite dominating in Northern, Central, and Southern Virginia — largely on the back of a Terry McAuliffe endorsement — Stoney was crushed in his own backyard. In Richmond City, voters overwhelmingly rejected their former mayor, giving Hashmi 58% of the vote to Stoney’s 20%. For many residents, it was payback for eight years of mismanagement and scandal under Stoney’s tenure.
Richmond voters, many still dealing with basic infrastructure failures like water access, turned out in force to block his advancement. As one observer put it, Richmond “got to be the decisive nail in the coffin of his gubernatorial ambitions.”
Meanwhile, Senator Aaron Rouse — considered by some to be the Democrats’ strongest general election contender — underperformed. He carried Hampton Roads and had pockets of support in Southwest Virginia, but failed to translate his Virginia Tech football fame into votes in the Roanoke-Blacksburg corridor. His failure to advertise in key media markets like Roanoke cost him dearly. (RELATED: Moderate Democrats Urge Party to Ditch Identity Politics)
That left Hashmi, the most left-wing candidate in the field, as the nominee. Her general election opponent will almost certainly hammer her liberal record — and with reason. Hashmi will have to explain how she plans to win over swing voters after running a campaign squarely aligned with the progressive base.
In the attorney general race, former Delegate Jay Jones narrowly edged out Northern Virginia prosecutor Shannon Taylor in another regionally fractured battle. Jones swept every locality in Hampton Roads and won Richmond City and Chesterfield County, while Taylor dominated Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William. But Northern Virginia’s margins weren’t enough to offset Jones’ massive numbers in southeast Virginia.
Both candidates ran on “stopping Trump,” signaling just how little attention was given to issues like crime or the economy. Now, Jones faces off against incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, who enters the general election with a large fundraising advantage — and a strong record to run on.
Jones, by contrast, will have to answer for his soft-on-crime history and extreme environmental policies that risk alienating moderate voters. (RELATED: Lt. Gov. Sears Pushes to End Car Tax, Gains Rare Support from Spanberger)
With the Democrat primaries behind them, Republicans are looking at a Democrat ticket defined by ideological extremism, regional resentment, and missed opportunities. Meanwhile, GOP candidates are unified, well-funded, and laser-focused on winning back the Commonwealth.
The 2025 general election has begun — and Virginia conservatives are ready to fight.