The Virginia 10th Senate District special election is scheduled to take place on Jan. 7, one day before the start of the 2025 legislative sessions.
The Senate leadership could not set a date until John McGuire, a state senator, formally resigned his seat in order to run for Congress next year. McGuire announced his resignation on Tuesday.
In a letter he shared with Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) after sending his resignation letter. McGuire cited his bipartisan work as a state senator and member of the House of Delegates during his time at the General Assembly.
McGuire said that he decided to run after receiving a number of complaints from the 5th Congressional District regarding our outgoing congressman, Bob Good, R. Farmville, for his lack of respect towards fellow constituents.
McGuire defeated Good by 370 votes in a fiercely contested primary and subsequent recount. McGuire was elected to Congress for the solidly Republican Fifth District.
Why did McGuire delay in resigning?
McGuire’s decision to formally leave the Senate more than one month after the November 5 election, and over a week after election results were certified Dec. 2, is unclear. Sean Brown, a Congressional campaign spokesperson, said he didn’t know why McGuire waited to submit his resignation until December 10.
In November, the date of the special elections for the 32nd Senate District as well as the 26th House of Delegates District were determined. These elections will also take place on January 7.
McGuire stated in his statement that a nomination process had been scheduled by the Republican Party to choose his successor. This process will take place at a Friday mass meeting.
Seven candidates are vying for the Republican nomination
McGuire’s late resignation didn’t stop seven candidates from seeking the Republican nomination for the next race.
The candidates are listed alphabetically: Duane Adam, chair of Louisa County Board of Supervisors, Amanda Chase, former state senator, who lost the primary race in the 12th District to Sen. Glen Sturtevant, Alex Cheatham a recent graduate who says he wants to motivate young Republicans, Luther Cifers a businessman and founder of YakAttack, Jean Gannon a former chair of Powhatan County Republican Party, Bryan Hamlet a member of Cumberland County Board of Supervisors
The deadline to register to run for the 10th Senate District race is December 16, 5 p.m.
The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Jack Trammell. Virginia’s 10th Senate District has been a Republican stronghold for many years.
The Republican mass meeting will take place on Friday
The Goochland Sports Complex will host a mass meeting on Friday to decide the GOP nominee. Residents from the 10th District can register to participate in the process between 4:30 and 6:30 pm on Friday at the Goochland Sports Complex.
Mass meeting attendees will be given credentials when they register. They can vote for one candidate in each round, until the candidate with the most votes wins.
Appomattox County, Amelia County, and Louisa county are all included in District 10.
