Our Candidates
As Democrats, we're committed to running candidates who care deeply about their communities, and helping those candidates win up and down the ballot. Since Virginia has off-year elections, seats from the House of Delegates to the Governor will be up for election this November, giving Americans dismayed with the Trump administration's attacks on our country their first opportunity to register their disgust at the ballot box.
Abigail Spanberger
Governor
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger is running for governor of Virginia. A passionate pragmatist, Spanberger worked across the aisle to protect teachers' social security benefits and fight the opioid crisis -- while also battling against Republican efforts to restrict reproductive rights and hurt working people.
Spanberger is currently the only declared Democratic candidate. If another candidate collects enough signatures by April 8 to get on the ballot, a primary in June will decide the eventual Democratic nominee.
Competitive Primary
Lt. Governor of Virginia
Seven Democratic candidates have declared that they will seek the party's nomination for Lt. Governor, of whom six are still running:
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Alex Bastani, Labor Organizer
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Ghazala Hashmi, State Senator
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Babur Lateef, Chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors
​​Aaron Rouse, State Senator
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​Victor Salgado, Former Department of Justice attorney
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Levar Stoney, Mayor of Richmond​
​​As a matter of policy, the Staunton Democratic Committee does not endorse or express a position on candidates in Democratic primaries. However, we do encourage everyone to learn more about the candidates and vote in the June primary, for whichever candidate you feel will best serve the people of Virginia.
Competitive Primary
Attorney General of Virginia
Two Democratic candidates are running for Attorney General of Virginia, to replace incumbent Republican Jason Miyares.
Shannon Taylor is the Commonwealth's Attorney of Henrico County and former president of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys. She's running on a platform of pragmatic progressivism to keep Virginians safe, fight back against attacks on women's rights and voting rights, and make the criminal justice system fairer to people with mental illnesses.
Jay Jones is a former Delegate for the 89th district who fought in the General Assembly to raise the minimum wage, expand Medicaid, and pay teachers more. He has also worked as an assistant attorney general of DC, where he worked to protect people from gun manufacturers, giant housing conglomerates, and big banks.
Makayla Venable
VA House of Delegates
Makayla Venable is running to replace Delegate Ellen Campbell because she believes we need representation in Richmond that is more connected to our local communities. She will stand up for working people in Richmond, fighting for commonsense economic policies like an increased minimum wage.
