Primary elections for the Democratic and Republican parties will be held on June 11, 2019. 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 only applies to taxpayer-funded primaries. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are making some of their nominations at party conventions. The Libertarian Party, which currently qualifies as a major party under the Tangent style guide (section 10.70), nominates its candidates in party conventions and is not holding primaries.
Democratic Party Primaries
Contested Democratic Party primary races are being held for eleven of the forty seats in the Virginia Senate, twelve of the one hundred seats in the Virginia House of Delegates, and two Loudoun County local offices.
Virginia Senators serve four-year terms and there are no term limits. Currently, the Democratic Party holds nineteen seats and the Republican Party holds twenty-one.
Virginia Delegates serve two-year terms and there are no term limits. Currently, the Democratic Party holds forty-nine seats and the Republican Party holds fifty-one.
Virginia Senate
- 6th District: Incumbent Senator Lynwood Lewis Jr. (D-VA 6th) is challenged by former Northampton County Supervisor Willie Randall (D). I recommend voting for Willie Randall.
- 7th District: Susan Hippen (D), Kim Howard (D), and Delegate Cheryl Turpin (D-VA 85th) stand as 7th District candidates. I recommend voting for Cheryl Turpin.
- 10th District: Eileen Bedell (D), Zachary Brown (D), and Ghazala Hashmi (D) stand as 10th District candidates. I make no recommendation.
- 11th District: Amanda Pohl (D) and Wayne Powell (D) stand as 11th District candidates. I recommend voting for Wayne Powell.
- 12th District: Veena Lothe (D) and Delegate Debra Rodman (D-VA 73rd) stand as 12th District candidates. I make no recommendation.
- 16th District: Incumbent Senator Rosalyn Dance (D-VA 16th) is challenged by former Delegate Joseph Morrissey (D-VA 74th). I recommend voting for Rosalyn Dance.
- 17th District: Ben Hixon (D) and former Charlottesville City School Board Member Amy Laufer (D) stand as 17th District candidates. I recommend voting for Amy Laufer.
- 28th District: Qasim Rashid (D) and former Stafford County Supervisor Laura Sellers (D) stand as 28th District candidates. I recommend voting for Laura Sellers.
- 31st District: Incumbent Senator Barbara Favola (D-VA 31st) is challenged by Nicole Merlene (D). I make no recommendation.
- 33rd District: Incumbent Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-VA 33rd) is challenged by Sharafat Hussain (D). I recommend voting for Sharafat Hussain.
- 35th District: Incumbent Senator Dick Saslaw (D-VA 35th) is challenged by Yasmine Taeb (D) and Karen Torrent (D). I recommend voting for Karen Torrent.
Virginia House of Delegates
- 18th District: Laura Galante (D) and Tristan Shields (D) stand as 18th District candidates. I recommend voting for Laura Galante.
- 26th District: Catherine Copeland (D) and Brent Finnegan (D) stand as 26th District candidates. I make no recommendation.
- 38th District: Incumbent Delegate Kaye Kory (D-VA 28th) is challenged by Andres Jimenez (D). I make no recommendation.
- 49th District: Incumbent Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-VA 49th) is challenged by Julius “JD” Spain (D). I recommend voting for Julius “JD” Spain.
- 50th District: Incumbent Delegate Lee Carter (D-VA 50th) is challenged by Mark Wolfe (D). I recommend voting for Mark Wolfe.
- 52nd District: Incumbent Delegate Luke Torian (D-VA 52nd) is challenged by Kevin Wade (D). I recommend voting for Luke Torian.
- 57th District: Charlottesville City Council Member Kathy Galvin (D) and Sally Hudson (D) stand as 57th District candidates. I make no recommendation.
- 62nd District: Lindsey Dougherty (D) and Tavorise Marks (D) stand as 62nd District candidates. I make no recommendation.
- 87th District: Hassan Ahmad (D), Akshay Bhamidipati (D), Johanna Gusman (D), and Suhas Subramanyam (D) stand as 87th District candidates. I recommend voting for Suhas Subramanyam.
- 88th District: Kecia Evans (D) and Jess Foster (D) stand as 88th District candidates. I recommend voting for Jess Foster.
- 91st District: Martha Mugler (D) and Michael Wade (D) stand as 91st District candidates. I make no recommendation.
- 96th District: Mark Downey (D), Rebecca Leser (D), and Christopher Mayfield (D) stand as 96th District candidates. I recommend voting for Mark Downey.
Loudoun County Offices
- Board of Supervisors, Sterling District: Incumbent Loudoun County Supervisor Koran Saines (D-Sterling) is challenged by Ibrahim Moiz (D). I recommend voting for Koran Saines.
- Sheriff: Justin Hannah (D) and Chris Harmison (D) stand as candidates for Loudoun County Sheriff. I make no recommendation.
Republican Party Primaries
Contested Republican Party primary races are being held for five of the forty seats in the Virginia Senate and seven of the one hundred seats in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Virginia Senators serve four-year terms and there are no term limits. Currently, the Republican Party holds twenty-one seats and the Democratic Party holds nineteen.
Virginia Delegates serve two-year terms and there are no term limits. Currently, the Republican Party holds fifty-one seats and the Democratic Party holds forty-nine.
Virginia Senate
- 7th District: Jen Kiggans (R) and Virginia Beach School Board Member Carolyn Weems (R-Bayside) stand as 7th District candidates. I recommend voting for Jen Kiggans.
- 13th District: Mike Buscher (R), Loudoun County Supervisor Geary Higgins (R-Catoctin), and Loudoun County Supervisor Ron Meyer (R-Broad Run) stand as 13th District candidates. I recommend voting for Geary Higgins.
- 15th District: Incumbent Senator Frank Ruff (R-VA 15th) is challenged by Mecklenburg County School Board Member Dale Sturdifen (R-Mecklenburg 2nd). I recommend voting for Frank Ruff.
- 17th District: Incumbent Senator Bryce Reeves (R-VA 17th) is challenged by Rich Breeden (R). I recommend voting for Rich Breeden.
- 24th District: Incumbent Senator Emmett Hanger (R-VA 24th) is challenged by Tina Freitas (R). I recommend voting for Tina Freitas.
Virginia House of Delegates
- 4th District: Russell County Supervisor David Eaton (R-Russell 4th) and Will Wampler (R) stand as 4th District candidates. I recommend voting for Will Wampler.
- 5th District: Incumbent Delegate Israel O’Quinn (R-VA 5th) is challenged by Michael Osborne (R). I recommend voting for Israel O’Quinn.
- 20th District: Former Staunton Mayor John Avoli (R) and Dave Bourne (R) stand as 20th District candidates. I recommend voting for Dave Bourne.
- 23rd District: Ronald Berman (R), Lynchburg City Council Member Turner Perrow (R-Ward IV), and Wendell Walker (R) stand as 23rd District candidates. I recommend voting for Turner Perrow.
- 28th District: Incumbent Delegate Bob Thomas (R-VA 28th) is challenged by former Stafford County Supervisor Paul Milde (R-Aquia). I recommend voting for Bob Thomas.
- 68th District: Garrison Coward (R) and Lori Losi (R) stand as 68th District candidates. I recommend voting for Lori Losi.
- 96th District: Melanie Rapp Beale (R) and Amanda Batten (R) stand as 96th District candidates. I recommend voting for Amanda Batten.