By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Voters in parts of Richmond and Chesterfield County elected Democrats in two special elections Tuesday.
In Senate District 15, voters chose Democrat Mike Jones to fill the seat vacated by Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi. Unofficial election night results from the Virginia Department of Elections showed Jones receiving 69% of the vote, defeating Republican John Thomas, who received 30%.
The Senate vacancy was created after Hashmi was elected lieutenant governor and prepared to step down from her Senate seat later this month. To run for the open Senate position, Jones resigned his House of Delegates seat, where he had represented House District 77.
Senate District 15 includes large portions of Richmond and parts of Chesterfield County.
In a statement Tuesday night, Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman Lamont Bagby congratulated Jones on the win, calling the result decisive and pointing to Jones’ record in elected office and community leadership.
“Together, these victories send a clear message: when we remain laser-focused on making Virginia more affordable and a place where all can thrive, we can win and will keep winning,” said Bagby.
Jones also thanked voters in a statement Tuesday night, saying he was ready to get to work in the Senate and emphasized lowering costs, creating jobs, expanding health care access and funding public schools.
Jones’ move to the Senate triggered a second special election Tuesday to fill his former House seat.
In House District 77, voters elected Democrat Charlie Schmidt to succeed Jones. Election night results showed Schmidt receiving 79% of the vote, defeating Republican Richard Stonage, who received 20%. Write-in candidates accounted for a small share of the vote.
Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Richmond next week for the start of the 2026 General Assembly session.