By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Del. Mike Jones, D-Richmond, won a Democratic firehouse primary Sunday for Virginia’s 15th Senate District, setting up a Jan. 6 special election to fill Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi’s seat.
Jones defeated Del. Debra Gardner, D-Chesterfield, in an unassembled caucus run by local Democrats, according to his campaign.
According to his team, 4,107 ballots were cast, with Jones receiving 2,913 votes, or 70.9%, to Gardner’s 1,207 votes, or 29.4%.
The Senate seat covers parts of Chesterfield County and Richmond. Recent statewide and federal election results show the district consistently voting Democratic by wide margins, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Jones currently represents House District 77.
In a statement, Jones outlined what he sees as the stakes in the upcoming special election.
“This election is especially important because the margin in the State Senate is tiny and, if we lose this race, we could lose the ability to make impactful, progressive change for the Commonwealth,” Jones said.
Jones said he will be dedicated to continuing to fight for all Virginians, and for “making the cost of living affordable, for reducing housing costs, for fully funding all public schools, for insisting on access to healthcare for all, and for protecting reproductive care.”
His campaign has also announced recent endorsements from three Richmond construction trade unions: Ironworkers, Electrical Workers and the Plumbers and Pipefitters union.
Voters in SD-15 will now choose between Jones and Republican John Thomas in the Jan. 6 special election.
The winner will serve the remainder of Hashmi’s Senate term after she is sworn in as lieutenant governor on Jan. 17.