On June 17, Virginia Democrats selected their statewide nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general, completing the ticket that will appear alongside gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger in November. Early voting was particularly robust this year, with more than 204,500 Virginians casting ballots ahead of Election Day. Of those, over 92%, or more than 189,000, were submitted in the Democratic primary, representing an increase of nearly 65,000 early votes compared to 2021.
In the crowded Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, six candidates vied for the nomination. Levar Stoney, former mayor of Richmond and a former state Secretary of the Commonwealth, entered the race with high name recognition and national support, including an endorsement from Pete Buttigieg. State Senator Ghazala Hashmi, a former community college administrator, campaigned on education access and reproductive rights. State Senator Aaron Rouse, a former NFL player, emphasized his legislative accomplishments and bipartisan collaboration. Other candidates included Babur Lateef, chair of the Prince William County School Board, who focused on education and health care, Victor Salgado, a federal prosecutor who ran on campaign finance reform and voting rights, and Alex Bastani, a former federal labor attorney and progressive organizer.
Senator Ghazala Hashmi secured the nomination with 27.39% of the vote, followed by Levar Stoney with 26.64%, Aaron Rouse with 26.33%, Babur Lateef with 8.40%, Alex Bastani with 5.69%, and Victor Salgado with 5.54%.
In the attorney general primary, Democrats faced a two-way contest between Jay Jones, who served four years in the House of Delegates, and Shannon Taylor, who served as Henrico County’s commonwealth’s attorney for 14 years.
Jones, who previously challenged AG Mark Herring in 2021, campaigned on a platform focused on civil rights, criminal justice reform and restoring public trust. A former assistant attorney general in D.C., he highlighted his legal work on ESG issues and gun violence prevention, including a lawsuit against a major ghost gun manufacturer.
Taylor emphasized her extensive courtroom experience and leadership in high profile prosecutions, including cases against white supremacists following the 2017 Unite the Right rally. Both candidates supported abortion access, stronger gun laws and using the office to challenge federal overreach under a potential second Trump administration.
Jay Jones won the nomination with 51%, while Shannon Taylor earned 49%.
Virginia is one of only two states that hold statewide elections the year after a presidential contest. This positions the commonwealth as a key indicator of national political trends leading into the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats’ hold on Virginia has weakened in recent years, pushing it closer to a swing state status. Kamala Harris carried the state in 2024 by fewer than six points, down from Joe Biden’s 10-point margin in 2020.
This year, both gubernatorial candidates ran unopposed in their party primaries. Democrat nominee Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three term congresswoman from Virginia’s 7th District, has actively campaigned across the state since November 2023. Her platform emphasizes growing the economy, strengthening public education and lowering health care and prescription drug costs. Moderate Democrats believe Spanberger’s candidacy can help move the party towards the center.
Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears currently serves as Virginia’s lieutenant governor. Earle-Sears is a Marine veteran and the first woman of color to serve statewide in Virginia. She is running to reduce the cost of living, combat crime and increase access to high quality education.
Former conservative radio host John Reid is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. If elected, Reid would be the first openly gay Republican to win statewide office. Attorney General Jason Miyares is running for a second term, having made public safety and combating the opioid crisis focal points of his first term in office.
The general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
