Virginia Democrat Dies, Special Election To Be Held

Things are about to get interesting in Virginia.

Virginia Democrat state representative Donald McEachin passed away recently at the age of 61 after  a long battle with cancer.

As a response to his death, Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced a run-off will take place to fill the now-open seat.

Here’s Younkin’s official announcement here:

JUST IN: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has announced the date for the special election to replace the late state representative Donald McEachin. McEachin passed away late November after a long battle with cancer.https://t.co/dMeFV3Z4PK

— WAVY TV 10 (@WAVY_News) December 12, 2022

Wavy News added these details:

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has announced the date for the special election to replace the late state representative Donald McEachin.

The special election for Virginia’s 4th congressional district has been set for February 21. The seat was previously held by Representative Donald McEachin, who passed away on November 28.

The district stretches from the Richmond area down to the North Carolina line.

The last day potential candidates have to file to be in the special election is December 23.

Two state delegates have already filed paperwork to run. Del. Lamont Bagby (Henrico) and state Sen. Jennifer McClellan (Richmond). Another Democrat, former state delegate Joseph Preston, is also seeking the 4th District seat.

Republicans Leon Benjamin, who lost to McEachin in November, and Dale Sturdifen, a former Mecklenburg County School Board chairman, are running to be the GOP nominees.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday set a special election for Feb. 21 to fill the 4th Congressional District seat of the late Democratic Rep. A. Donald McEachin. https://t.co/Z8SBYAnEVa

— 𝕸𝖆𝖗𝖎𝖊 🇲🇽🇺🇸⚔️ 🌊🐺♒💃💙🌻 (@LMarieVResists) December 12, 2022

Yahoo News added these details:

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin set a special election for Feb. 21 to fill the 4th Congressional District seat of the late Democratic Rep. A. Donald McEachin, as the field of candidates seeking the post grew on Monday.

An experienced state lawmaker was among those launching a bid to succeed McEachin in representing the solidly Democratic district, which has its population base in Richmond and stretches south to the North Carolina border.

Del. Lamont Bagby, who has represented part of suburban Richmond’s Henrico County in the state House of Delegates for nearly a decade and chairs the powerful legislative Black caucus, announced his candidacy at a community center named in his honor in the neighborhood where he grew up.

“I hope that this run not only shows individuals that a young boy from Essex Village can make it, but also a young boy from Essex Village can lead — and lead with a heart, a heart like Donald McEachin had,” said Bagby, a former educator and school board member.