Voter Guide: Southwest & Southside Virginia

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In less than a month, Virginians can begin primary voting to select candidates for the U.S. Senate, House, and several local positions. Cardinal News’ voter guide answers common questions about how to vote and what will be on your ballot.

When does primary voting begin?

May 3: Early voting begins at your local registrar’s office.

May 28: Deadline to register to vote for the primary if you’re not already registered. (Voters may register after this date using a provisional ballot). Are you registered to vote? Check here.

June 7: Deadline to apply for a mail ballot.

June 15: Last day to vote early in-person at your local registrar’s office. Offices close at 5 p.m.

June 18: In-person voting day at regular polling place. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where is my polling place?

Who’s on my ballot?

Can I vote with an out-of-state or expired license? 

Yes. If you get to your polling place without an acceptable ID, you can sign a statement affirming your identity and vote on a regular ballot, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. If your license is expired, you can still use it to vote.

How can I vote by mail in Virginia?

You can request a mail-in ballot for the primary election until June 7.

Request the mail-in ballot on Virginia’s election portal, or by mailing an application for an absentee ballot to your local voter registration office. You can find the address for your voter registration office on the Virginia Department of Elections website.

You can also request an absentee ballot up to 11 days until June 7. After June 7, only emergency absentee ballots are available until the day before the election. To qualify for an emergency absentee ballot, you need to have a serious conflict (like a work conflict, or a health issue of an immediate family member).

Can I vote early in-person?

Yes. You can vote early in-person at your local registrar’s office. You can find the location of the general registrar’s office in your jurisdiction and read more about early voting on the Virginia Department of Elections’ website.

When do polls open?

Polls for the primaries will be open between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18. The general election also runs between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., on Tuesday Nov. 8.

If you are in line by 7 p.m., you will be allowed to vote.

Can I vote from jail in Virginia? 

In many cases, yes. If you do not have a felony conviction, or if the governor has restored your right to vote after a felony conviction, you can vote – even from jail. This includes if you are being detained awaiting your court date, or are in jail for a misdemeanor conviction. 

If you have a felony conviction, you can petition the governor to restore your voting rights.

Not sure if you’re eligible to vote?

Check your registration status at virginia.gov.

You can also check out this guide on how to vote in Virginia, Virginia DOE’s pocket voter guide, and read ProPublica’s guide on voting accessibility for more information.

Which congressional district am I in? 

A new congressional district map went into effect in 2023, so your district may have changed.

Who’s on my ballot?

Find an election

Congressional races with primaries

1st Congressional District

Which party is holding a primary? Democrats

Candidates:

• Herb Jones: See his campaign page.
• Leslie Mehta: See her campaign page.

The winner will face Republican incumbent Robb Wittman in November. 

2nd Congressional District

Which party is holding a primary? Democrats

Candidates:

• Missy Cotter Smasal: See her campaign page.
• Jake Denton: See his campaign page.

The winner will face Republican incumbent Jen Kiggans and independent Robert Reid in November.

5th Congressional District

Which party is holding a primary? Republicans and Democrats

Republican candidates: U.S. Rep. Bob Good of Campbell County and state Sen. John McGuire of Goochland County

• Read about Rep. Bob Good’s voting record and past policy positions.
• Read about John McGuire’s voting record.

The primary between Bob Good and John McGuire is set to be one of the most viciously fought in history. 

Bob Good is chairman of the Freedom Caucus and therefore one of the most conservative members of Congress. He also was involved in bringing down former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. John McGuire is trying to run to Good’s right, by saying that Good is insufficiently supportive of former President Donald Trump. Good initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president, prompting Trump’s campaign manager to declare that: “Bob Good won’t be electable when we get done with him.” Good backed Trump once DeSantis dropped out.

In effect, both candidates are trying to run in the same ideological lane.

Recent Cardinal News stories on Bob Good:

• Good trails McGuire by 14% in 5th District GOP primary, new polling data shows
• The shadow of Trump looms large in viciously fought GOP primary battle in the 5th District
• Opinion: The key to the Good-McGuire primary could be Haley voters in Charlottesville and Albemarle
• Opinion: Campaign finance reports suggest McGuire’s challenge to Good is serious
• Opinion: Trump’s campaign manager targets Good for disloyalty. How will that play out?
• Rep. Bob Good endorses Trump after DeSantis ends his campaign
• Republican primary battle between McGuire and Good heats up
• Rep. Good booted from Trump store in Farmville; campaign calls 911
• At Wintergreen, a gravel road to nowhere prompts a bill in Congress
• Opinion: Rep. Good says ‘the other side is pure evil.’ It doesn’t seem that way in Richmond, though.
• Good, Throneburg spar in Farmville

Recent Cardinal News stories on John McGuire:

• McGuire says he won’t participate in sole debate set in 5th District GOP primary
• Good trails McGuire by 14% in 5th District GOP primary, new polling data shows
• The shadow of Trump looms large in viciously fought GOP primary battle in the 5th District
• Opinion: The key to the Good-McGuire primary could be Haley voters in Charlottesville and Albemarle
• Opinion: Campaign finance reports suggest McGuire’s challenge to Good is serious
• Republican primary battle between McGuire and Good heats up
• Newly elected state Sen. John McGuire announces challenge to Rep. Bob Good in 2024 Republican primary
• Opinion: How political infighting among Lynchburg Republicans could open way for a primary challenge to Rep. Good

Democratic candidates: Paul Riley, Gary Terry, Gloria Witt

7th Congressional District

Which party is holding a primary? Both Democrats and Republicans will be holding primaries to choose candidates for the seat being vacated by the retirement of Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor in 2025. There are six Democrats and eight Republicans running. 

Candidates:

Democrats:

• Andrea Bailey: See her campaign page.
• Carl Bedell: See his campaign page.
• Margaret Franklin: See her campaign page.
• Del. Elizabeth Guzman: See her campaign page and voting record.
• Clifford Heinzer: See his campaign page.
• Del. Briana Sewell: See her campaign page and voting record.
• Eugene Vindman: See his campaign page.

Republicans:

• Derrick Anderson: See his campaign page.
• Cameron Hamilton: See his campaign page.
• Maria Martin: See her campaign page.
• Jonathon Myers: See his campaign page.
• John Prabhudoss: See his campaign page.
• Terris Todd: See his campaign page.

10th Congressional District

Which party is holding a primary? Both Democrats and Republicans will be holding primaries to choose candidates for the seat being vacated by the retirement of Rep. Jennifer Wexton. There are 12 Democrats and four Republicans seeking primary nominations. 

Candidates:

Democrats:

• Jennifer Boysko: See her campaign page.
• Marion Devoe: See his campaign page.
• Eileen Filler-Corn: See her campaign page and voting record.
• Del. Dan Helmer: See his campaign page and voting record.
• Krystle Kaul: See her campaign page.
• Mark Leighton: See his campaign page.
• Del. Michelle Maldonado: See her campaign page and voting record.
• Travis Nembhard: See his campaign page.
• Adrian Pokharel: See his campaign page.
• Atif Qarni: See his campaign page.
• Del. David Reid: See his campaign page and voting record.
• State Sen. Suhas Subramanyam: See his campaign page and voting record.

Republicans:

• Manga Anantatmula: See her campaign page.
• Aliscia Andrews: See her campaign page.
• Mike Clancey: See his campaign page.
• Alexander Isaac: See his campaign page.

Congressional races without primaries

3rd Congressional District

Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, is unopposed for re-election.

4th Congressional District

Rep. Jennifer McClennan, D-Richmond, faces Republican William “Bill” Moher in November.

6th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt County, will face Ken Mitchell, D-Rockingham County.

8th Congressional District

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Alexandria, faces Republican Heerak Kim in November.

9th Congressional District

Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, will face Karen Baker, D-Floyd.

11th Congressional District

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax County, faces Republican Mike VanMeter in November.

Senate race

Candidates: Five Republicans are seeking the party’s nomination for the right to run against U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine.

• Hung Cao, see his campaign page
• Jonathan Emord, see his campaign page
• Eddie Garcia, see his campaign page
• Scott Parkinson, see his campaign page
• Chuck Smith, see his campaign page

Local primary elections

We won’t have a complete list of local races until June, but candidates have filed for party nominations in several localities. So far, primaries are set in Lynchburg and Roanoke.

Lynchburg City Council

Republicans in Ward IV will choose between incumbent Chris Faraldi and challenger Peter Alexander.

Existing candidates:

Ward I: Randy Smith (D) vs. Jacqueline Timmer (R). Open seat; MaryJane Dolan retiring.

Ward II: Sterling Wilder (D-incumbent) vs. Rodney Hubbard (R).

Ward III: James Coleman (D) vs. Jeff Helgeson (R-incumbent).

Ward IV: April Watson (D) vs. the winner of the June 18 Republican primary between Chris Faraldi (incumbent) and Peter Alexander.

Roanoke City Council

Democrats will pick three at-large nominees from among four candidates:

• Terry McGuire
• Jamaal Jackson
• Phazon Nash
• Benjamin Woods

The three winners will face Republicans Jim Garrett and Nick Hagen for three seats.

Local general elections

Roanoke mayoral race

Mayor Sherman Lea is retiring, leaving a 3-way race between Joe Cobb (D), David Bowers (R), and Stephanie Moon Reynolds (I).

Salem City Council

Salem has three council seats on the ballot this fall.

Candidates: Two Republicans have filed – incumbent Jim Wallace and former council member John Saunders. Ann Marie Green has filed as an independent but the deadline for other independents to file isn’t until June 18.