2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election

For broader coverage of this topic, see Virginia's 4th congressional district.

The 2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election was a special election to the U.S. House of Representatives that was held to fill Virginia's 4th congressional district for the remainder of the 118th United States Congress. The seat became vacant after incumbent Democrat Donald McEachin died on November 28, 2022, of colorectal cancer.^[1][2] State Senator Jennifer McClellan was declared the victor shortly after the polls closed, winning in a landslide against her Republican opponent.

2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election

← 2022 February 21, 2023 2024 →
Virginia's 4th congressional district
Nominee Jennifer McClellan Leon Benjamin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 82,040 28,083 Percentage 74.41% 25.47%
County and independent city results Precinct results McClellan:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Benjamin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Tie:      40–50%      No Votes
U.S. Representative before election Donald McEachin Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Jennifer McClellan Democratic

In the United States, vacancies in the House must be filled by special elections. Under Virginia law, the governor schedules the special election and political parties handle their nominating processes themselves. On December 12, 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the special election would take place on February 21, 2023.^[3] According to the writ of election, party nominees and other prospective candidates had until December 23 to file to run in the special election.^[4]

Democratic primary

The Fourth Congressional District Democratic Committee, responsible for choosing a nominee by December 23, organized an unassembled caucus, or "firehouse primary," on December 20 with a filing deadline of December 16.^[5] According to the Democratic Party of Virginia, the race saw the highest turnout in a "firehouse primary" in Virginia history.^[6]

The solid Democratic lean of the district meant that victory in the primary was seen as tantamount to election. Political analysts perceived the short timeline between the writ of election and the primary date as beneficial to candidates with institutional support. The major candidates in the primary were state senators Jennifer McClellan, who was considered to be the establishment favorite, and "firebrand" Joe Morrissey. Morrissey criticized the lack of polling locations in his Senate district and his campaign paid for a radio ad encouraging Republicans to vote for him.^[7]

McClellan won with 85% of the vote to Morrissey's 14%.^[8]

Candidates

Nominee

• Jennifer McClellan, state senator from the 9th district (2017–present) and candidate for Governor of Virginia in 2021^[9]

Eliminated in primary

• Tavorise Marks, insurance business owner and candidate for Virginia's 62nd House of Delegates district in 2019^[10]
• Joe Morrissey, state senator from the 16th district (2020–present) and candidate for Mayor of Richmond in 2016^[11]
• Joseph Preston, former state delegate from the 63rd district (2015–2016)^[12]

Withdrawn

• Lamont Bagby, state delegate from the 74th district (2015–present) and chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus^[13][14] (endorsed McClellan)

Declined

• Lashrecse Aird, former state delegate from the 63rd district (2016–2022)^[10]
• Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney and widow of Donald McEachin^[15] (endorsed McClellan)
• Levar Stoney, Mayor of Richmond (2017–present) and former Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014–2016)^[15] (endorsed McClellan)
• Treska Wilson-Smith, Petersburg city councilor^[16]

Endorsements

Lamont Bagby (withdrawn)

State legislators

• Delores McQuinn, state delegate from the 70th district (2009–present)^[10] (switched endorsement to McClellan after Bagby withdrew)^[17]
• Luke Torian, state delegate from the 52nd district (2010–present)^[18]

Local officials

• Levar Stoney, Mayor of Richmond (2017–present) and former Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014–2016)^[10] (switched endorsement to McClellan after Bagby withdrew)^[19]

Jennifer McClellan

U.S. senators

• Tim Kaine, U.S. senator from Virginia (2013–present), former governor of Virginia (2006–2010), and former mayor of Richmond (1998–2001)^[20]
• Mark Warner, U.S. senator from Virginia (2009–present) and former governor of Virginia (2002–2006)^[19]

U.S. representatives

• Don Beyer, U.S. representative from Virginia's 8th congressional district (2015–present) and former lieutenant governor of Virginia (1990–1998)^[21]
• Gerry Connolly, U.S. representative from Virginia's 11th congressional district (2009–present)^[21]
• Maxwell Frost, U.S. representative from Florida's 10th congressional district (2023–present)^[22]
• Elaine Luria, U.S. representative from Virginia's 2nd congressional district (2019–2023)^[19]
• Nancy Pelosi, U.S. representative from California's 11th congressional district (1987–present) and Speaker of the House (2007–2011, 2019–2023)^[23]
• Abigail Spanberger, U.S. representative from Virginia's 7th congressional district (2019–present)^[19]
• Jennifer Wexton, U.S. representative from Virginia's 10th congressional district (2019–present)^[21]

State officials

• Viola Baskerville, former Virginia Secretary of Administration (2006–2010) and former state delegate from the 71st district (1998–2005)^[21]

State legislators

• Dawn Adams, state delegate from the 68th district (2018–present)^[21]
• Lamont Bagby, state delegate from the 74th district (2015–present), chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and withdrawn candidate in this election^[24]
• Mamie Locke, state senator from the 2nd district (2004–present) and former mayor of Hampton (2000–2004)^[20]
• Louise Lucas, President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia (2020–present) from the 18th district (1992–present)^[20]
• Delores McQuinn, state delegate from the 70th district (2009–present)^[17]
• Rodney Willett, state delegate from the 70th district (2020–present)^[21]

Local officials

• Colette McEachin, Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney and widow of Donald McEachin^[25]
• Levar Stoney, Mayor of Richmond (2017–present) and former Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014–2016)^[19]

Organizations

• Congressional Progressive Caucus^[26]
• Democratic Majority for Israel^[27]
• EMILY's List^[28]
• Human Rights Campaign^[29]
• League of Conservation Voters^[30]
• NARAL^[31]
• New Democrat Coalition^[7]

Results

Democratic firehouse primary results^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jennifer McClellan	23,661	84.8
	Democratic	Joe Morrissey	3,782	13.6
	Democratic	Tavorise Marks	217	0.8
	Democratic	Joseph Preston	174	0.6
		Unallocated	66	0.2
Total votes			27,900	100.0

Republican primary

The Fourth Congressional District Republican Committee, responsible for choosing a nominee by December 23, held a canvass event in Colonial Heights on December 17.^[32]

Candidates

Nominee

• Leon Benjamin, pastor, U.S. Navy veteran, and nominee for this seat in 2020 and 2022^[33]

Eliminated in primary

• Derrick Hollie, marketing executive^[32]
• Dale Sturdifen, former chair of the Mecklenburg County Public Schools Board and candidate for Virginia's 15th Senate district in 2019^[10]

General election

Analysis

Despite already being regarded as a safe seat, McClellan still managed to widen the margin from the previous election in the district, winning with the largest percentage of votes in any federal election in the state since 2020 and the largest of any special election since 1946. Being a special election in an off year that comes with turnout downturn, McClellan won about three quarters of the total vote, while Benjamin slid to just a quarter of the vote, losing for the third time in a row. McClellan swept every county in the district except for Colonial Heights City and Prince George County.

After winning the special election, McClellan was sworn in on March 7, 2023, becoming the first black congresswoman from the Commonwealth of Virginia.^[34][35]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[36]	Solid D	December 22, 2022
Inside Elections[6]	Solid D	December 22, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[37]	Safe D	December 20, 2022

Results

2023 Virginia's 4th congressional district special election^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jennifer McClellan	82,040	74.41%	+9.49
	Republican	Leon Benjamin	28,083	25.47%	−9.43
	Write-in		129	0.12%	−0.06
Total votes			110,252	100.00%
	Democratic hold

By county and independent city

County Jennifer McClellan Democratic Leon Benjamin Republican Write-in Margin Total votes # % # % # % # % Brunswick 1,631 65.14% 872 34.82% 1 0.04% 759 30.32% 2,503 Charles City 1,113 72.32% 426 27.68% 0 0.00% 687 44.64% 1,539 Colonial Heights 790 32.38% 1,645 67.42% 5 0.20% −855 −35.04% 2,440 Chesterfield 17,494 65.50% 9,174 34.35% 39 0.15% 8,320 31.18% 26,707 Dinwiddie 2,000 52.87% 1,781 47.08% 2 0.05% 219 5.79% 3,783 Emporia 513 65.60% 269 34.40% 0 0.00% 244 31.20% 782 Greensville 1,010 55.13% 821 44.81% 1 0.05% 189 10.32% 1,832 Henrico 18,658 81.24% 4,282 18.64% 26 0.11% 14,376 62.60% 22,966 Hopewell 1,313 62.08% 801 37.87% 1 0.05% 512 24.21% 2,115 Petersburg 3,687 91.53% 331 8.22% 10 0.25% 3,356 83.32% 4,028 Prince George 2,410 46.84% 2,726 52.98% 9 0.17% −316 −6.14% 5,145 Richmond 28,991 90.10% 3,152 9.80% 34 0.11% 25,839 80.30% 32,177 Southampton 494 56.98% 373 43.02% 0 0.00% 121 13.96% 867 Surry 968 59.72% 653 40.28% 0 0.00% 315 19.43% 1,621 Sussex 968 55.44% 777 44.50% 1 0.06% 191 10.94% 1,746 Total 82,040 74.41% 28,083 25.47% 129 0.12% 53,957 48.94% 110,252 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Dinwiddie (largest municipality: McKenney) Sussex (largest municipality: Jarratt) Southampton (largest municipality: Courtland)

See also

• 2023 United States House of Representatives elections
• 2023 Virginia elections
• 118th United States Congress
• List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives