It’s official: Virginia’s governor’s race will pit Democrat Abigail Spanberger against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, all but guaranteeing that the state will have its first female governor.
The Republican Party of Virginia announced Saturday that would-be challenger Amanda Chase had not submitted enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, meaning that Winsome Earle-Sears, the state’s lieutenant governor, is now automatically the party’s nominee for governor. Spanberger, a former member of the U.S. House, was the only Democrat to file by Thursday’s deadline, making her that party’s candidate.
Earle-Sears had faced two prospective challengers. One of them, former Del. David LaRock, announced Thursday he had fallen short in his petition drive. Chase, a former state senator, submitted petitions but acknowledged Thursday she wasn’t sure if she had enough.
A Republican spokesman said Saturday that a count found that Chase had only submitted 6,195 signatures, short of the 10,000 required. The spokesman said petitions for two of the three Republican candidates who filed for lieutenant governor were still being counted and it would be Monday before the party could verify who had made the ballot for a June 17 primary in that race; Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity has already been confirmed. Six Democrats have qualified for the ballot for lieutenant governor as well as two candidates for attorney general. Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is seeking re-election, is already the Republican nominee.
Meanwhile, party officials confirmed that Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt County, will face a primary challenge in one of three Republican primaries for House of Delegates nominations across Southwest and Southside Virginia.
There could also be as many as two Democratic primaries in the western part of the state. Democratic officials are still working to verify signatures on their side. Thursday was the deadline for candidates to file signatures for party nominations. Tuesday is the deadline for parties to verify those signatures. Sometime after that the State Board of Elections will produce the official list of which candidates have qualified for the June 17 primary (for which early voting begins May 2).
Here are the three Republican primaries for House seats in Southwest and Southside Virginia:
Austin will face Austen Schwend of Botetourt County in the 37th District that covers Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Buena Vista, Covington, Craig County, Lexington and part of Rockbridge County. As one of a select group of budget negotiators, Austin is one of the most powerful members of the House Republican delegation. Based on a preliminary list posted on the Virginia Public Access Project, he may be the only House Republican incumbent to draw a challenger.
Grayson County Supervisor Mitchell Cornett and 9th Congressional District Republican chair Adam Tolbert will face each other in a primary in the 46th District that covers Grayson County, Smyth County, Wythe County and part of Pulaski County. This is an open seat; Del. Jed Arnold, R-Smyth County is retiring.
Danville council member Madison Whittle and Concerned Women for America activist Vanessa Scearce will face each other in a primary in the 49th District that covers Danville and parts of Halifax and Pittsylvania County. This is also an open seat; Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, is retiring.
It’s possible there will also be a Democratic primary in that district. Two candidates have filed for the nomination — Danville council member Gary Miller and local activist Jasmine Lipscomb — but party officials have not verified yet that both have made the ballot.
It’s also possible there will be a Democratic primary in the Roanoke Valley in House District 40, which covers Salem and parts of Roanoke County. That district is currently represented by Del. Joe McNamara, R-Roanoke County. Three Democratic candidates have filed to run, but party officials have not yet verified whether Donna Littlepage, Kiesha Preston and Misty Vickers have qualified.
For more on the primaries and other election information, see our Voter Guide. We’ll be updating that as more information becomes available.