Incumbent Republicans were reelected in four Lynchburg races Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.
The race for treasurer was the only Hill City race to not feature an incumbent Republican, as current Treasurer Robert Bailey is retiring. As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, the race for treasurer was too close to call.
Lynchburg, which voted for Donald Trump in 2024 and holds a six-to-one Republican majority on its city council, was expected to lean Republican this election cycle.
Here’s a breakdown of how the more than 25,000 votes fell in each of the five Lynchburg races.
Treasurer: Brian Witt vs. Brian Triplett
Lynchburg will have a new treasurer for the first time in 10 years because incumbent Robert Bailey is stepping down. As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, the race was too close to call, with fewer than 500 votes separating Republican Brian Triplett, in the lead, and independent Brian Witt.
Witt, the current deputy treasurer, fears that institutional knowledge will be lost at the treasurer’s office if he doesn’t win his race. Because Bailey did not seek re-election, Witt is the only person who understands the ins and outs of the two-person office, he said. He campaigned on his ability to “hit the ground running on day one.”
Triplett, who’s been a public school teacher for about 20 years and has served as treasurer for various political and civic organizations, said he’s committed to maintaining Bailey’s legacy of accuracy and integrity and could adapt fast.
House District 52: Wendell Walker vs. Risë Hayes
Republican incumbent Del. Wendell Walker was reelected, taking home about 55% of the votes in House District 52 as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.
Walker has represented the district, which covers all of Lynchburg and part of Campbell County, since 2019. The last time the District 52 seat was up for grabs in 2023, Walker also won about 55% of the votes.
“I’m deeply humbled by the trust the people of Central Virginia have once again placed in me to represent them,” said Walker in a press release Tuesday night. “Serving our community is one of the greatest honors of my life, and I’ll continue working every day to deliver meaningful results our region can count on.”
Walker campaigned on strengthening workforce development opportunities and protecting right-to-work legislation, investing in a diversified energy portfolio and empowering parent choice in the state’s education system, among other initiatives.
“This campaign was focused on what matters most to the people of Central Virginia: strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and an economy that works for everyone,” said Walker in the release. “I’m grateful to the people who believed in that message and to everyone who helped make this victory possible.”
His Democratic opponent, Risë Hayes, campaigned on repealing the right-to-work law to better protect workers, advocating for renters’ rights and strengthening public school funding. She won about 45% of the vote, as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night.
While handing out sample ballots at the Linkhorne Middle School polling place Tuesday afternoon, Hayes said she’s walking away from the race with a newfound understanding of and appreciation for Lynchburg’s block of Democratic voters.
“Win or lose, I’ve learned that there’s more community out here than I thought, than everyone thought,” she said. “There are a lot of Democratic voters here, and we have to keep supporting each other.”
Commonwealth’s attorney: Bethany Harrison vs. Chris White
Incumbent Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison was reelected, winning about 77% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections as of 11:30 p.m.
Harrison, who ran as a Republican, kept her experience at the center of her campaign: She has worked in the commonwealth’s attorney’s office for 18 years, first as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney. She was elected to the top job in 2017 and reelected in 2021.
In that time, she’s created an early intervention screening program for domestic violence, built relationships with state legislators to help shape the future of criminal law, and started the region’s first behavioral health docket.
Harrison’s challenger, independent candidate Chris White, took home about 22% of the vote, according to unofficial counts Tuesday night.
White, a self-employed attorney who specializes in personal injury and criminal defense law, said he ran for commonwealth’s attorney to hold Harrison accountable for what he sees as concerning conduct in her office. Those concerns were documented in a federal lawsuit, which was dismissed in 2023.
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White’s campaign later became defined by another lawsuit — one brought against the Virginia Department of Elections because White was listed on the ballot with his full first name, “Christopher,” and not the “Chris” he asked for. Last month, a Lynchburg judge dismissed both the lawsuit and an amended complaint brought against the registrar.
Other constitutional offices
Two constitutional offices on Lynchburg’s ballot were uncontested by Republican incumbents.
Donald Sloan was reelected as sheriff, and Mitchell Nuckles was reelected as commissioner of the revenue, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.