New district lines had put him in the same district as Deputy House Majority Leader Israel O’Quinn, both R-Washington County.

Markus Schmidt
Markus Schmidt is a reporter for Cardinal News. Reach him at markus@cardinalnews.org.
The party nomination battles shaping up in Southwest and Southside
Thursday is the filing deadline to get on the ballot for the June 20 primary. The races appear to be set in all but two districts.
Fariss, who faces legal troubles, misses his party’s deadline to run for reelection
Former Campbell County Supervisor Eric Zehr is now the Republican nominee by default.
Sen. Hanger sends campaign-style mailing to new district but says he hasn’t decided whether to move yet
The longtime Augusta County legislator has until April 6 to decide whether he will move into a new district, which would set up a contest for the Republican nomination with Del. Chris Head.
Judge orders primary in Brewer-Sadler contest for Republican state Senate nomination in Southside
A Republican official sued the Virginia Department of Elections, claiming that Gov. Glenn Youngkin strong-armed the agency into changing the nomination process from a primary to a convention to benefit his preferred candidate.
Court weighs emergency injunction in intraparty GOP election feud
A Republican official from the 17th state Senate District is suing the Virginia Department of Elections, claiming that Gov. Glenn Youngkin strong-armed the agency into changing the nomination process from a primary to a convention to benefit his preferred candidate. A lawyer for the state called her a “low-level official who went rogue.”
Lawsuit alleges Youngkin pushed Dept. of Elections to change a Southside state Senate nomination process
A GOP official from the newly created 17th state Senate District is suing the Virginia Department of Elections, claiming that Gov. Glenn Youngkin strong-armed the agency into changing the nomination process from a primary to a convention to benefit Del. Emily Brewer over former NASCAR driver Hermie Sadler.
Fariss’ arraignment pushed back to May
The Campbell County legislator has been charged with two felonies stemming from a traffic incident.
Sen. Steve Newman to retire after 35 years in politics
The senator from Bedford County began his tenure in public service in 1988, when he was the youngest ever to be elected to the Lynchburg City Council.
Trish White-Boyd becomes second Democrat to enter race following Edwards’ retirement
She joins Luke Priddy in seeking the Democratic nomination for the state Senate. The winner will face state Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County.