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Here's your guide to Virginia's primary elections

Early voting for the June 8 primary elections in Virginia begins April 23. Here's everything you need to know about the candidates.
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Man in medical mask showing I voted by mail sticker with US flag as background - Concept of mail in voting at USA election

VIRGINIA, USA — The first day of in-person absentee voting, also called early voting, for the June 8 primary elections begins on Friday. April 23, 2021 in Virginia. The last day of in-person absentee voting at your local registrar’s office is Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 5 p.m.

Find Your Local Registrar’s Office

Absentee and Early Voting Information

Democrats are picking their nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Republicans are holding a convention on May 8 to pick their nominees for these offices; however, candidates from both parties will be on the primary ballot in the House of Delegates and some local offices.

The deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration is Monday, May 17, 2021.

Register to Vote, Update Current Voter Registration, Apply to Vote Absentee by Mail,  Find Your Polling Place

The deadline to request an absentee ballot to be mailed to you is Friday, May 28, 2021. Your request must be received by your local registrar by 5 p.m.

If you plan on voting on Primary Day -- which is June 8, 2021 -- the polls will be open 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.

How to vote on Primary Day, June 8

Here is a list of the candidates who are running in contested races for the Virginia primary:

GOVERNOR
Democratic
Vote 1

Jennifer Carroll Foy
Born and raised in Petersburg, Virginia, Carroll Foy is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, who represented Prince William County. She stepped down from this office to concentrate on running for governor. She has served as a magistrate judge and public defender. She is one of the first women to graduate from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI).
Website: https://jennifercarrollfoy.com/

Jennifer McClellan 
Born in Petersburg, Virginia, McClellan has served in the Virginia State Senate since 2017. Before that she served in the House of Delegates for 11 years. She is also an attorney for Verizon. She chairs the Virginia Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission.
Website: https://www.jennifermcclellan.com/

Justin Fairfax 
Fairfax is currently Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He has held this office since 2018. He did much of his growing up in D.C., and attended DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. Previously he served as an Assistant US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in the Major Crimes and Narcotics Unit of the Alexandria Division.
Website: https://justinfairfax.com/

Lee Carter 
Carter has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2017, representing District 50/Manassas. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in the Middle East and the Mediterranean as part of the Global War on Terror.
Website: https://carterforvirginia.com/

Terry McAuliffe 
This is McAuliffe's second run for Virginia Governor. He first served as Governor of Virginia from 2014-2018. Before that he was the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Website: https://terrymcauliffe.com/

LIEUTEANT GOVERNOR
Democratic
Vote 1

Andria McClellan 
McClellan is a Norfolk City Councilmember. She served as chair of the Virginia Small Business Advisory Board and is the former vice chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia (2014-2015).
Website: https://andriaforvirginia.com/

Elizabeth Guzman 
In April Del. Guzman announced she is dropping out of the race for lieutenant governor; however, her name will still appear on the ballot. Instead, she will be running again for the Virginia House of Delegates.
Website: https://www.elizabethguzmanforvirginia.com/

Hala Ayala
Ayala is currently a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Prince William County. She was elected to this office in 2017. She is a cybersecurity specialist at the Department of Homeland Security.
Website: https://www.halaforvirginia.com/

Mark Levine 
Levine has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2016. He represents Alexandria and portions of Arlington and Fairfax counties.
Website: https://www.levineforvirginia.com/

S. "Sam" Rasoul
Rasoul has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2014. He represents Roanoke. He has a background in healthcare.
Website: https://www.sam4va.com/

Sean Perryman 
Perryman is an attorney and former president of Fairfax County's NAACP chapter.
Website: https://perrymanforvirginia.com/

Xavier JaMar Warren 
Warren is a partner with a DC lobbying firm that has helped corporations and non-profits get grants. He was also an agent for NFL players.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/xavierforvirginia/

ATTORNEY GENERAL
Democratic
Vote 1

Jerrauld "Jay" Jones 
Jones has been a member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2017 representing portions of Norfolk. He is also a practicing attorney.
Website: https://jayjones.com/

Mark Herring 
Herring is the incumbent and has held this office since 2014. Previous to that he served in the Virginia State Senate and on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.
Website: https://herringforag.com/

ALEXANDRIA CITY MAYOR
Democratic
Vote 1

Allison Silberberg 
Silberberg held this office from 2016 to 2018, before she was defeated by Justin Wilson, the current officeholder. She is also a government relations consultant.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonSilberbergPolitician/

Justin Wilson 
Wilson is the incumbent and was first elected to this office in 2018. Before that, he was vice mayor under Silberberg.
Website: http://www.justin.net/

ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCIL
Democratic
Vote 6

Alyia Smith-Parker Gaskins 
Gaskins is a public health strategist and urban planner.

Amy Jackson 
Jackson is an incumbent who also worked for the Fairfax County School system for 16 years.
Website: https://amyjacksonva.com/

Canek Aguirre 
Canek is running for a second term. He also serves as vice chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.
Website: https://www.canekforcouncil.com/

James Lewis, Jr.
Lewis works for the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and is the vice chair of Alexandria's Traffic and Parking Board.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/jameslewisva/

John Taylor Chapman 
Chapman is an incumbent who has also served on the Alexandria Public School Board's Budget Advisory Committee.
Website: https://www.chapman4council.com/

Kevin Harris 
He is a minister, community organizer and local business owner.
Website: https://www.voteforkevinharris.com/

Mark Leo Shiffer 
Shiffer is a tech executive and former professor.
Website: http://markshiffer.info/

Meronne Teklu 
Teklu is a management consultant and helps organizations design and launch digital products and services.
Website: https://www.meronneforcouncil.com/

Patrick Moran 
Moran owns a company that provides Eco-City improvements, such as stormwater management to property owners. He is the son of former Northern Virginia Congressman and Alexandria Mayor Jim Moran.
Website: https://patrickmoran.org/

R. Kirk McPike 
Kirk is the Chief of Staff to Congressman Mark Takano (D-California). He is also the former chair of the Alexandria Economic Opportunities Commission.
Website: https://www.kirkmcpike.com/

Sarah Bagley
Bagley holds a law degree and is the executive director of a non-profit in DC.
Website: https://sarahforcitycouncil.com/

William C. Rossello
Rossello has served on the Alexandria Budget & Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee and has spent his career advising Fortune 500 companies and major banks.
Website: https://www.billforalexandria.com/

William E. Campbell 
He is a two-term member of the Alexandria City School Board.
Website: https://www.campbell4council21.com/

ARLINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Democratic
Vote 1

Chanda Choun 
He is a U.S. Army veteran and tech entrepreneur.
Website: https://chandachoun.com/

Takis Karantonis 
He is an incumbent and an economist and public planner.
Website: https://www.takisforarlington.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 2
Democratic
Vote 1

Pam Montgomery 
Montgomery serves as Chief of Staff to Prince William County Supervisor Margaret Franklin. Previously she worked in legal services and the US Army JAG Corp.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/montgomeryfordelegate/

Candi P.M. King 
King has held this office since January 2021, after winning a special election. She has worked in community relations and has served as a special needs parent advocate.
Website: https://candiking.squarespace.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 31
Democratic
Vote 1

Idris Jibowu-O'Connor 
O'Connor is the president of the Prince William County Young Democrats, a member of the Prince William County Social Service Advisory Board and the chair of the Cooperative Council of Ministries, a network of churches in Prince William County providing services to the poor.
Website: https://idrisforvirginia.com/

Kara Pitek 
Pitek is a project manager for a federal contracting firm. She serves on the board of Prince William Housing and is a former Commissioner of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Website: https://www.karapitek.com/

R.D. "Rod" Hall 
Hall is a transportation policy advisor. Before this he headed up the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Legislative Affairs.
Website: https://rodhallforva.com/

Elizabeth Guzman 
Guzman is running for a 3rd term. She is a social worker and public administrator.
Website: https://www.elizabethguzmanforvirginia.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 34
Democratic
Vote 1

Jennifer Adeli 
Adeli is a small business consultant. In 2019 she oversaw the county Democratic Party committee's election efforts. She has also worked on Capitol Hill.
Website: https://www.jenniferadeli.com/

Kathleen Murphy
Murphy has held this office for the past 6 years. Prior to serving in the House of Delegates, she worked for a consulting firm providing strategic counseling and legislative strategies for companies and non-profit organizations.
Website: https://www.murphyfordelegate.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 36
Democratic
Vote 1

Mary "Red" Barthelson 
Barthelson is a security engineer. Previously she worked as a data analyst.
Website: https://barthelsonforvirginia.com/

Kenneth "Ken" Plum 
Plum has held this office since 1982. He is a retired teacher and school administrator.
Website: https://www.kenplum.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 38
Democratic
Vote 1

Holly Hazard
She is an attorney who has worked years fighting animal abuse. She also has a background as an economist.
Website: https://www.hollyhazard.org/

L. Kaye Kory 
Kory has held this office since 2010. She has also worked as a program manager and analyst.
Website: https://www.kayekoryva.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 45
Democratic
Vote 1

Elizabeth Bennett-Parker 
Bennett-Parker is Alexandria's Vice-Mayor.
Website: https://www.elizabethforalx.com/

Mark Levine 
Levine is the incumbent and has held this office since 2015.
Website: https://www.markfordelegate.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 49
Democratic
Vote 1

Karishma Mehta
Mehta is a pre-school teacher.
Website: https://karishmaforvirginia.com/

Alfonso Lopez
Lopez is running for a 6th term. He serves as the Majority Whip of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus.
Website: https://www.alfonsolopez.org/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 50
Democratic
Vote 1

Helen Anne Zurita 
Zurita is an auditor and community activist. She also runs a food bank for families in need.
Website: https://www.helenzuritafordelegate.com/

Michelle Lopes-Maldonado 
Lopes-Maldonado has a background as a corporate attorney. She is now a small business owner.
Website: https://www.michelle4va.com/

Lee Carter
Carter has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2017, representing District 50. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in the Middle East and the Mediterranean as part of the Global War on Terror.
Website: https://carterforvirginia.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 86
Democratic
Vote 1

Irene Shin 
Shin is the Executive Director of a non-profit which trains progressive activists.
Website: https://www.ireneforva.com/

Ibraheem Samirah
Samirah was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2019. He is also a dentist.
Website: https://www.samirah4delegate.com/

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: DISTRICT 51
Republican
Vote 1

Jeffery Dove, Jr.
Dove is a U.S. Army veteran and works in information technology for a defense contractor.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/JeffDoveforDelegate/

Tim Cox 
Cox is a Navy veteran and currently serves in the Navy Reserve.
Website: https://timcoxforvirginia.com/

STAFFORD COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Aquia District
Republican
Vote 1

Cindy C. Shelton
Shelton is running for a second term. She currently is the Vice Chair on the Board.
Website: https://staffordcountyva.gov/directory.aspx?eid=395

Paul V. Milde, III
Milde is a former Supervisor. He represented the district from 2006-2017.
Website: https://paulmilde.com/

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