Democratic candidates Candi King and Angelia Williams Graves emerged victorious Tuesday night from special elections for the 2nd and 90th Districts of the Virginia House of Delegates, defeating Republican underdogs Heather Mitchell and Sylvia Bryant.
In the 2nd District, which encompasses the eastern edge of Prince William County along the Potomac River and the northern section of Stafford County, King narrowly won by receiving 51.50 percent or 4,386 of the total votes compared to 48.41 percent or 4,123 for Mitchell, according to election results tabulated by the Virginia Department of Elections.
“I want to thank the voters of HD2, and I’m honored that they have chosen me to represent them in Richmond,” King wrote on Twitter Tuesday night after results had been reported. “I am ready to hit the ground running for them on Day One. I will always be a voice for working families.”
I want to thank the voters of HD2, and I’m honored that they have chosen me to represent them in Richmond. I am ready to hit the ground running for them on Day One. I will always be a voice for working families. https://t.co/l8BZc6TAkP
— Candi King (she/her) (@CandiKingForHD2) January 6, 2021
Specifically, King was able to get more than 1,400 votes, a fairly wide margin for a special election, more than Mitchell in Prince William, a county that leans Democratic and holds almost 60 percent of the district’s voters, according to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP).
King is a local advocate, former small business owner and works as a program assistant with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. King lives in Prince William County with her three children and husband, Joshua, who is a veteran of the Iraq War and currently serves as deputy sheriff in Fairfax County, according to her website.
Down in the 90th District, which includes the eastern section of Norfolk City and a very small part of Virginia Beach, the race was not as close. Graves won by securing 63.49 percent or 3,668 of the votes, while Bryant got 36.40 percent or 2,103, according to the department of elections.
Graves won the race fairly easily because she had the upper hand in Norfolk with a 1,556-vote advantage in the city, which makes up 99.82 percent of the district that is considered strong Democratic, according to VPAP.
“WE DID IT!” Graves wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to the voters of the 90th District for believing in me. I am excited to be your next delegate!”
WE DID IT! Thank you to the voters of the 90th District for believing in me. I am excited to be your next delegate!
— Angelia Williams Graves (@AWGNorfolk) January 6, 2021
Graves has served on the Norfolk City Council since 2010, representing the residents of Superward 7, and as vice-mayor from 2013-2016. Graves is also a member of the Norfolk Democratic Committee and the Principal Broker and Owner of Homes by Angelia Realty Company. Graves lives in the District with her husband, Tommy, and two step sons, according to her bio.
Both Democratic victors raised significantly more money than their Republican opponents during the races. King raised $102,931 compared to Mitchell’s $27,450 and Graves brought in $104,769 versus just $10,724 for Sylvia, according to VPAP.
The 90th and 2nd Districts only became vacant in the past months thanks to resignations by the two Democratic legislators – Joe Lindsay and Jennifer Carroll Foy- who occupied those seats.
Lindsay resigned from the House on November 15 after he was appointed as a Fourth Judicial Court Judge in Norfolk, while Carroll Foy stepped down on December 8 to put all of her focus on securing the Democratic nomination for governor amidst tough competition.
Both Democratic candidates winning is certainly not ideal for House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) and the Republican caucus in their ongoing effort flip the chamber red.
Graves and King will serve in the House until January 2022, which is when Carroll Foy’s and Lindsey’s terms were originally set to end, and will have to immediately start legislative work since the General Assembly convenes for its regular session next Wednesday.
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Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “House of Delegates” by the Virginia House of Delegates.
