2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election
February 21, 2023
Virginia's 4th congressional district
 
Nominee Jennifer McClellan Leon Benjamin
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 82,040 28,083
Percentage 74.4% 25.5%
County and independent city results
McClellan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Benjamin:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. Representative before election

Donald McEachin
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Representative

Jennifer McClellan
Democratic

The 2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election was a special election to the U.S. House of Representatives that was held to fill Virginia's 4th congressional district for the remainder of the 118th United States Congress. The seat became vacant after incumbent Democrat Donald McEachin died on November 28, 2022, of colorectal cancer.[1][2] State Senator Jennifer McClellan was declared the victor shortly after the polls closed, winning in a landslide against her Republican opponent.

In the United States, vacancies in the House must be filled by special elections. Under Virginia law, the governor schedules the special election and political parties handle their nominating processes themselves. On December 12, 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the special election will take place on February 21, 2023.[3] According to the writ of election, party nominees and other prospective candidates had until December 23 to file to run in the special election.[4]

Democratic primary

The Fourth Congressional District Democratic Committee, responsible for choosing a nominee by December 23, organized an unassembled caucus, or "firehouse primary," on December 20 with a filing deadline of December 16.[5] According to the Democratic Party of Virginia, the race saw the highest turnout in a "firehouse primary" in Virginia history.[6]

The solid Democratic lean of the district meant that victory in the primary was seen as tantamount to election. Political analysts perceived the short timeline between the writ of election and the primary date as beneficial to candidates with institutional support. The major candidates in the primary were state senators Jennifer McClellan, who was considered to be the establishment favorite, and "firebrand" Joe Morrissey. Morrissey criticized the lack of polling locations in his Senate district and his campaign paid for a radio ad encouraging Republicans to vote for him.[7]

McClellan won with 85% of the vote to Morrissey's 14%.[8]

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Lamont Bagby (withdrawn)
State legislators
Local officials
Jennifer McClellan
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations

Results

Democratic firehouse primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jennifer McClellan 23,661 84.8
Democratic Joe Morrissey 3,782 13.6
Democratic Tavorise Marks 217 0.8
Democratic Joseph Preston 174 0.6
Unallocated 66 0.2
Total votes 27,900 100.0

Republican primary

The Fourth Congressional District Republican Committee, responsible for choosing a nominee by December 23, held a canvass event in Colonial Heights on December 17.[32]

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

General election

Analysis

Despite already being regarded as a safe seat, McClellan still managed to widen the margin from the previous election in the district, winning with the largest percentage of votes in any federal election in the state since 2020 and the largest of any special election since 1946. Being a special election in an off year that comes with turnout downturn, McClellan won about three quarters of the total vote, while Benjamin slid to just a quarter of the vote, losing for the third time in a row. McClellan swept every county in the district except for Colonial Heights City and Prince George County.

After winning the special election, McClellan was sworn in on March 7, 2023, becoming the first black congresswoman from the Commonwealth of Virginia.[34][35]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[36] Solid D December 22, 2022
Inside Elections[6] Solid D December 22, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[37] Safe D December 20, 2022

Results

2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jennifer McClellan 82,040 74.41% +9.49
Republican Leon Benjamin 28,083 25.47% −9.43
Write-in 129 0.12% −0.06
Total votes 110,252 100.00%
Democratic hold
By county and independent city
County Jennifer McClellan
Democratic		 Leon Benjamin
Republican		 Write-in Margin Total votes
# % # % # % # %
Brunswick 1,631 65.14% 872 34.82% 1 0.04% 759 30.32% 2,503
Charles City 1,113 72.32% 426 27.68% 0 0.00% 687 44.64% 1,539
Colonial Heights 790 32.38% 1,645 67.42% 5 0.20% −855 −35.04% 2,440
Chesterfield 17,494 65.50% 9,174 34.35% 39 0.15% 8,320 31.18% 26,707
Dinwiddie 2,000 52.87% 1,781 47.08% 2 0.05% 219 5.79% 3,783
Emporia 513 65.60% 269 34.40% 0 0.00% 244 31.20% 782
Greensville 1,010 55.13% 821 44.81% 1 0.05% 189 10.32% 1,832
Henrico 18,658 81.24% 4,282 18.64% 26 0.11% 14,376 62.60% 22,966
Hopewell 1,313 62.08% 801 37.87% 1 0.05% 512 24.21% 2,115
Petersburg 3,687 91.53% 331 8.22% 10 0.25% 3,356 83.32% 4,028
Prince George 2,410 46.84% 2,726 52.98% 9 0.17% −316 −6.14% 5,145
Richmond 28,991 90.10% 3,152 9.80% 34 0.11% 25,839 80.30% 32,177
Southampton 494 56.98% 373 43.02% 0 0.00% 121 13.96% 867
Surry 968 59.72% 653 40.28% 0 0.00% 315 19.43% 1,621
Sussex 968 55.44% 777 44.50% 1 0.06% 191 10.94% 1,746
Total 82,040 74.41% 28,083 25.47% 129 0.12% 53,957 48.94% 110,252

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Rep. Donald McEachin passes away at 61 after battle with colorectal cancer". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Rep. Don McEachin dies". Cardinal News. November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  3. ↑ Ayo, Julius (December 12, 2022). "Gov. Youngkin announces special election for seat held by late Congressman Donald McEachin". WAVY-TV.
  4. ↑ "Writ of Election" (PDF). Virginia Department of Elections. December 12, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "VA-04 Democratic Committee Votes to Hold Firehouse Primary on Tuesday, December 20, 2022". VA Dems. Democratic Party of Virginia. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Rubashkin, Jacob (December 22, 2022). "Virginia 4 Special: McClellan Poised for History". Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  7. 1 2 McIntire, Mary Ellen (December 19, 2022). "Democrats scramble in one-week primary for open Virginia seat". Roll Call. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Democratic firehouse primary results". VA Dems. Virginia Democratic Party. December 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ Flynn, Meagan (December 22, 2022). "Jennifer McClellan wins Virginia 4th District primary for McEachin's seat". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Martz, Michael (December 12, 2022). "Youngkin sets Feb. 21 special election for 4th District seat". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  11. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (December 13, 2022). "Sen. Joe Morrissey joins race for Virginia's 4th Congressional District seat". WRIC-TV. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ Flynn, Meagan; Vozzella, Laura (December 13, 2022). "State Sen. Jennifer McClellan seeks to fill McEachin's seat in Congress". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022.
  13. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (December 9, 2022). "Del. Lamont Bagby running for Virginia's 4th Congressional District seat". WRIC-TV. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  14. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (December 15, 2022). "Del. Lamont Bagby drops out of 4th Congressional District race, backs McClellan". WRIC-TV. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  15. 1 2 Lappas, Tom (November 29, 2022). "McEachin, a political giant in Central Virginia, dies at 61". Henrico Citizen. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  16. ↑ Atkinson, Bill (December 7, 2022). "Petersburg councilor considers run for late congressman's seat". The Progress-Index. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Cain, Andrew; Martz, Michael. "Bagby, McQuinn, Stoney appear at 'unity' rally with McClellan". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  18. ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (December 12, 2022). "Del. Lamont Bagby announces run to fill late Rep. McEachin's congressional seat". WRIC-TV. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Flynn, Meagan; Vozzella, Laura; Schneider, Gregory S. (December 15, 2022). "Virginia Democrats are vying to win a congressional race in only 7 days". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 Mirshahi, Dean (December 14, 2022). "Kaine endorses McClellan for Virginia's 4th Congressional District seat". WRIC-TV. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lappas, Tom (December 13, 2022). "McClellan, Morrissey formally join Democratic race for 4th District Congressional seat". Henrico Citizen.
  22. ↑ "Team McClellan Youth Phone Bank with Congressman-elect Maxwell Frost!". Mobilize. Jennifer McClellan for Congress. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  23. ↑ Todd, Chuck; Murray, Mark; Kamisar, Ben; Bowman, Bridget; Marquez, Alexandra (December 20, 2022). "Trump was 'central cause' of Jan. 6, committee report says". NBC News. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  24. ↑ "BREAKING: Del. Lamont Bagby Dropping Out of VA04 Democratic Nomination Race, Endorsing Jennifer McClellan". Blue Virginia. December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  25. ↑ Murray, Delaney (December 17, 2022). "Colette McEachin officially endorses McClellan for Virginia's Fourth Congressional District". WRIC-TV.
  26. ↑ "Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC Endorses Jennifer McClellan in VA-04 Special Election". Progressive Caucus. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  27. ↑ "DMFI PAC endorses State Senator Jennifer McClellan in the Democratic primary in VA-04". DMFI PAC. December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  28. ↑ "EMILYs List Endorses State Sen. Jennifer McClellan for Congress". EMILY's List (Press release). December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Human Rights Campaign Endorses Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan for the U.S. House of Representatives". Human Rights Campaign (Press release). January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Endorsements". League of Conservation Voters. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  31. ↑ "NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Virginia State Sen. Jennifer McClellan for U.S. Congress". NARAL Pro-Choice America (Press release). December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  32. 1 2 Moomaw, Graham (December 14, 2022). "Virginia Republicans are using ranked-choice voting again. Democrats still aren't". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  33. ↑ Atkinson, Bill (December 8, 2022). "Former GOP congressional candidate will run in 4th District special election". The Progress-Index. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  34. ↑ Bazail-Eimil, Eric (February 22, 2023). "Jennifer McClellan Wins Virginia House Seat, Becoming State's First Black Woman in Congress". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  35. ↑ Duster, Chandelis (March 7, 2023). "Jennifer McClellan sworn in as first Black congresswoman to represent Virginia". CNN. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  36. ↑ Wasserman, Dave [@Redistrict] (December 22, 2022). "New: state Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D) wins #VA04 Dem nomination w/ 85%, poised to become first Black congresswoman from VA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  37. ↑ Coleman, J. Miles (December 20, 2022). "Notes on the State of North Carolina". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  38. ↑ "2023 February Special". Virginia Department of Elections. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
Campaign websites
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