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Virginia Democrats are moving toward the November general election with Ghazala F. Hashmi as their nominee for lieutenant governor and Jay C. Jones as their choice for attorney general, according to unofficial primary results released Tuesday, June 17.
Hashmi and Jones are set to join Abigail Spanberger, the uncontested Democratic nominee for governor, in the contest for Virginia’s three top statewide offices. Results remain unofficial until certified.
Hashmi emerged from a six-candidate lieutenant governor field with 131,367 votes, or 27.29 percent. Former Richmond Mayor Levar Marcus Stoney followed with 127,331 votes, or 26.65 percent, while Aaron R. Rouse received 124,991 votes, or 26.16 percent.
The Department of Elections’ 10:57 p.m. update put 3,996 votes between Hashmi and Stoney. That margin appeared to fall within 1 percent of the combined total for the two leading candidates, potentially allowing the defeated candidate to request a recount under Virginia law.
Hashmi declared victory on social media shortly after 10 p.m., saying she was honored to become the Democratic nominee. She called the result historic and said voters had rejected efforts to push Virginia backward amid turmoil in Washington.
Stoney did not immediately concede. Speaking at his election-night gathering, he said votes remained to be counted and that his campaign would wait for a complete tally. Stoney served as Richmond’s mayor from 2017 through the end of 2024.
Provisional ballots and other post-election arrivals had not yet been reported, according to the state elections agency.
In Fairfax County, election officials listed 100 precincts reporting and turnout at 9 percent. A total of 75,319 ballots were cast among 802,223 registered voters.
Hashmi is expected to face John Reid, a conservative Richmond radio host who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination.
The Democratic attorney general primary was also close. Jones, a former state delegate from Norfolk, received 242,318 votes, or 50.94 percent. Shannon L. Taylor collected 233,380 votes, or 49.06 percent.
Jones said his November campaign would focus on preventing powerful corporations and special interests from controlling state government and returning power to Virginia residents. He is set to challenge Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares.
At the top of the ticket, Spanberger will face Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Regardless of which candidate wins in November, Virginia will elect a woman as governor for the first time.