Primary results set up key House matchups in Virginia
By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Virginia voters selected party nominees Tuesday in a dozen contested House of Delegates districts, setting the stage for high-stakes legislative races this November.
Democrats currently hold a narrow 51–49 majority in the House. Most of the 100 House seats had uncontested primaries.
Democrat races
In House District 1, Del. Patrick Hope defeated Arjoon Srikanth and Sean Epstein in Arlington, securing the nomination.
In House District 40, covering parts of Roanoke, Donna Littlepage beat Kiesha Preston with roughly 63% of the vote. In House District 49, which includes Danville and Pittsylvania County, Gary Miller won the Democratic nomination.
In House District 57, which includes parts of Henrico, May Nivar defeated Andrew G. Schear.
In House District 72, located in Southside Virginia, Randolph Critzer Jr. topped Bilal Raychouni with more than 60% of the vote. In House District 73, anchored in Chesterfield, Leslie Mehta defeated Justin Woodford.
In House District 75, covering Hopewell and parts of Prince George and Chesterfield counties, Lindsey Dougherty won over Dustin Wade and Stephen Miller-Pitts.
In House District 81, Del. Delores McQuinn defeated Alicia Atkins. In House District 89, covering parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk, Karen Robins Carnegie won the Democratic nomination.
Republican races
In House District 21, based in Prince William County, Gregory Lee Gorham won a three-way race to challenge Del. Josh Thomas in November.
In House District 37, covering Botetourt and surrounding counties, Del. Terry Austin defeated challenger Austen Schwend. In House District 46, Mitchell D. Cornett won the nomination.
In House District 49, which includes Danville and Pittsylvania County, Madison John Redd Whittle won the Republican nomination with more than 85% of the vote.
In House District 62, Karen Hamilton defeated Clay Jackson in the GOP primary to replace retiring Del. Nick Freitas.
In House District 70, based in Newport News, Cynthia Scaturico won with more than 74% of the vote and will face Del. Shelly Simonds this fall.
In House District 89, covering parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk, Mike Lamonea won the Republican nomination, and in House District 97, based in Virginia Beach, former Del. Tim Anderson defeated Christina Miriam Felder with more than 90% of the vote.
Unofficial results are being reported by the Virginia Department of Elections and VPAP, and will be certified in the coming days. Winners will appear on the Nov. 4 general election ballot alongside races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.