Former ACLU attorney Charlie Schmidt will be the Democratic nominee for the vacant seat in the Virginia House of Delegates in District 77 after winning a firehouse primary held on Sunday.
Schmidt finished with 639 votes, compared to 488 votes for former Richmond City Council member and mayoral candidate Michelle Mosby. Carpenter Greg Powers received 32 votes.
In a heavily Democratic-leaning district, Schmidt will be favored to prevail in the special election on Jan. 6 for the seat vacated by Del. Mike Jones, who is running for State Senate.
“Charlie Schmidt ran on providing dignity, safety, and opportunity to all Virginians,” DPVA Chair Senator Lamont Bagby said in a statement. “His legal and community experience will serve him well in the House of Delegates and I look forward to welcoming him to both the General Assembly and to the Richmond delegation.”
Reflecting his history in left-leaning activism, Schmidt laid out a progressive policy platform emphasizing more accountability for law enforcement, protections for immigrant communities targeted by federal authorities, energy affordability and repealing Virginia’s right-to-work law that limits union power.
“Throughout my life and my legal career, I have worked to protect the vulnerable, seek justice, and ensure our government is accountable to the people,” Schmidt said in a news release announcing his campaign. “Now I want to take that experience to the General Assembly.”
Contact Michael Phillips at [email protected].
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