2020 Richmond, Virginia, mayoral election

Richmond, Virginia, held a general election on November 3, 2020. Voters elected the Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, members of the Richmond City Council, as well as several other local officials. The incumbent, Levar Stoney, who was elected in 2016 ran for reelection facing five challengers. While local races in Virginia are officially nonpartisan elections, four candidates (Stoney, Gray, Rodgers, and McLean) identified with the Democratic party while Griffin ran as an independent. Stoney won the most votes in six out of nine city council districts and therefore won reelection. In order to win election a candidate must receive the most votes in five or more districts.^[1]

2020 Richmond, Virginia, mayoral election

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Nominee Levar Stoney Alexsis Rodgers Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 41,145 28,885 Percentage 37.7% 26.5%   Nominee Kim Gray M. Justin Griffin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 24,478 7,786 Percentage 26.1% 7.1%

Precinct Results Stoney:      30-40%     40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Rodgers:      30-40%     40-50%      50-60% Gray:      30-40%     40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Griffin:      30-40%

Mayor before election Levar Stoney Democratic Elected Mayor Levar Stoney Democratic

Background

Incumbent Democrat Levar Stoney was eligible to seek re-election. The election was the fifth citywide election for mayor through popular vote. The election is nonpartisan meaning no candidate can be affiliated with any party on the ticket.

Leading up to the election, the incumbent mayor, Stoney, had received criticism for his handling of the Navy Hill project,^[2] along with the COVID-19 pandemic,^[3] and his handling of the George Floyd protests.^[4]

In his reelection campaign, Stoney championed his accomplishments during the first four years in office, including a halt on evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, free eyeglasses for students in Richmond Public Schools, and increased RPS funding. Stoney also noted his accomplishments of public transportation, such as the opening of the GRTC Pulse transit line, which opened during his second year as mayor.^[5]

Challenger Justin Griffin ran a campaign premised on the idea that the residents of Richmond deserved better than they got from the city government. His campaign used the slogan "We Deserve Better."^[6] His top discussed issues are "better schools, better roads, better city services."^[7]

Candidates

Declared

• Kimberly Gray, 2nd District City Councilwoman^[8]
• Justin Griffin, Small Business Attorney^[9]
• Tracey McLean, small business owner^[10]
• Alexsis Rodgers, National Domestic Workers Alliance state director and former policy director of Ralph Northam^[10][11]
• Levar Stoney, incumbent Mayor

Withdrawn

• Michael Gilbert, economics professor at VCU (withdrew on September 15)^[10][12]

Endorsements

Alexsis Rodgers^[13]

Organizations

• Justice Democrats
• LGBTQ Victory Fund^[14]
• Run for Something^[15]
• Sierra Club^[16]
• New Virginia Majority
• Our Revolution RVA^[17]
• Victory Fund^[18]

City Councilmen

• Andria McClellan, Norfolk City Council
• Selonia Miles, Dumfries Town Council

County Supervisors

• Margaret Angela Franklin, Prince William Board of County Supervisors
• Kenny Boddye, Prince William Board of County Supervisors

State Delegates

• Dawn Adams, (68)^[14]
• Lashrecse Aird, (63)
• Jennifer Carroll Foy, (2)
• Lee J. Carter, (50)^[19]
• Joshua G. Cole, (28)
• Marcia Price, (95)
• Sam Rasoul, (11)
• Danica Roem, (13)
• Ibraheem Samirah, (86)

Individuals

• Yanet Amado, Founder, UndocuRams
• Nathan Burrell, Environmental Justice Advocate
• Milondra Coleman, Richmond Public Schools teacher
• Lacette Cross, Pastor, Restoration Fellowship RVA
• Margaret Doyle, Owner, Espresso-A-Go-Go
• Emily Francis, Environmental advocate
• Ali Greenberg, Founder of the Broad
• Aurora Higgs, LGBTQ advocate
• Chelsea Higgs Wise, Executive Director, Marijuana Justice
• Josie Mace, Human Rights and Community Advocate
• Melissa Marrion, Professor Emerita of Music, VCU
• Paulette McElwain, CEO, Virginia League for Planned Parenthood
• Joseph Papa & JS Fauquet, Community volunteers and advocates
• Amanda Pohl, 2019 candidate, SD-11
• Charlie Schmidt, Civil Rights Attorney
• Genet Semere, Owner, C'est Le Vin
• Mary Jo Sheeley, 2017 candidate, HD-68
• Ruth Twiggs, Community activist
• Harrison Wallace, Environmental justice advocate
• Edwuan Whitehead, Community organizer
• Jennifer Wicker, Government relations professional and healthcare advocate
• Lee Williams, Co-chair, Green New Deal VA

Levar Stoney

Governors

• Ralph Northam, Governor of Virginia^[20]

State Delegates

• Lamont Bagby, (74)^[21]

Kim Gray

Organizations

• Richmond Crusade for Voters^[22]

Governors

• L. Douglas Wilder, former Governor of Virginia^[23]

Statewide officials

• Viola Baskerville, former Virginia Secretary of Administration, former State Delegate (71)^[24]

City councilmen

• Jon Baliles, former Richmond City Councilman and 2016 mayoral candidate^[25]

Local officials

• Jack Berry, former Richmond budget director, former Richmond deputy city manager, former Hanover County Administrator, and 2016 mayoral candidate^[26]
• C.T. Woody, Jr., former Richmond city sheriff^[25]

Individuals

• Jerome Legions, President of the Carver Area Civic Improvement League^[27]
• Meg Lawrence, former President of the Ginter Park Residents Association^[28]

Polling

Poll source	Date	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Kim Gray (D)	Justin Griffin (I)	Tracey McLean (D)	Alexsis Rodgers (D)	Levar Stoney (D)	Undecided
Christopher Newport University/Richmond Times-Dispatch	September 22 – October 5, 2020	601 (LV)	± 4.3%	16%	3%	1%	15%	36%	30%
ARG/Anonymous Sponsor	September 23–27, 2020	540 (RV)	± 4.5%	33%	11%	3%	13%	37%	2%
ARG	July 16–21, 2020	540 (RV)	± 4.2%	31%	11%	–	16%	36%	–

Results

Richmond mayoral election, 2020^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Levar Stoney (incumbent)	41,145	37.72
	Democratic	Alexsis Rodgers	28,885	26.48
	Democratic	Kimberly Gray	28,478	26.11
	Republican	M. Justin Griffin	7,786	7.14
	Independent	Michael Gilbert (withdrawn)	1,473	1.35
	Democratic	Tracey McLean	1,099	1.01
	Write-in		220	0.20
Total votes			109,086	100
	Democratic hold

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

References

1. "Mayor". City of Richmond. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
2. Freeman, Vernon Jr.; Sears, Tracy (January 27, 2020). "Majority of Richmond City Council asks Stoney to withdraw Navy Hill plans". WTVR-TV. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
3. "Republican Party of Virginia calls for Mayor Stoney resignation". WWBT. nbc12.com. June 17, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
4. Thorson, Alex; Mirshahi, Dean (June 18, 2020). "Richmond police officers share frustrations in impromptu meeting with Stoney". WRIC. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
5. "Mayor Stoney's Record". stoneyforrva.com. August 18, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
6. . griffinformayor.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
7. "Richmond mayoral candidate Justin Griffin answers your questions". WTVR-TV. October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
8. "Richmond Councilwoman Kim Gray Announces Bid For Mayor". Virginia Public Media. vpm.org. March 1, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
9. "Justin Griffin announces run for Richmond mayor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. richmond.com. April 6, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
10. Mirshahi, Dean (October 20, 2020). "Campaign finance reports show which candidate for Richmond mayor is winning the money race". abc8news. Nexstar Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
11. "Alexsis Rodgers announces last-minute candidacy in Richmond's mayoral race". WRIC. wric.com. June 6, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
12. Mirshahi, Dean (September 21, 2020). "VCU professor drops out of race for Richmond mayor". abc8news. Nexstar Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
13. "Endorsements - Alexsis Rodgers". alexsisrodgers.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
14. Timmins, Greta (September 2, 2020). "LGBTQ Victory Fund Endorses Richmond Mayoral Candidate Alexsis Rodgers". RVA Magazine. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
15. "Run For Something Endorses Alexsis Rodgers for Richmond City Mayor". AlexsisRodgers.com. July 28, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
16. Shannon, Sheri. "Sierra Club Endorses Alexsis Rodgers for Richmond City Mayor". alexsisrodgers.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
17. "Our Revolution RVA is excited to announce our endorsement of @alexsisrodgers for mayor of Richmond, VA!". Our Revolution RVA. Instagram. August 22, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
18. @aerodgers (August 26, 2020). "NEW: I'm so honored to be endorsed by @VictoryFund!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
19. @carterforva (May 8, 2020). "So much would be different, it's almost unimaginable" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
20. "Gov. Northam endorses Richmond Mayor Stoney for re-election". WWBT. August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
21. @LevarStoney (August 31, 2020). "They're on board! I'm incredibly honored to have both @GovernorVA and Black Caucus Chair @delegatebagby joining me for our campaign kickoff tomorrow evening" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
22. "Richmond Crusade for Voters announces endorsements for city races".
23. Gray, Kim [@kimgray4rva] (October 29, 2020). "I am so honored to have the endorsement of Former Governor and Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. He led our city to great heights as Mayor and will be a great source of wisdom as I lead us to a brighter future to bring unity, vision, and direction as the next Mayor. https://t.co/scHwRKw27p" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
24. Gray, Kim [@kimgray4rva] (October 19, 2020). "Viola Baskerville's record of service not only to Richmond but to the state of Virginia should inspire us all. She has fought for equality at every opportunity and I am proud to receive her endorsement of my campaign. https://t.co/a81MmW8G3S" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
25. Gray, Kim [@kimgray4rva] (October 27, 2020). "CT Woody Jr. is a retired sheriff for the city of Richmond. After serving the city for much of his life, he knows very well what we need to do to make Richmond a safer city for all. Thank you for your support CT, I'm grateful to have someone so ingrained in Richmond endorsing me. https://t.co/nRGH1rRSmj" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
26. Gray, Kim [@kimgray4rva] (October 29, 2020). "I am grateful to receive an endorsement from Jack Berry. As a former deputy city manager and budget director for Richmond, he understands the needs of our city from an economic perspective and its potential to grow looking ahead. https://t.co/7KjqQWRsf8" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
27. Gray, Kim [@kimgray4rva] (October 12, 2020). "I am glad to have the support from Richmond community leaders such as Jerome Legions. I am grateful for not only his endorsement of my campaign by everything he has done for RVA through the Carver Civic Association. https://t.co/ecE9KwfLoy" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
28. Gray, Kim [@kimgray4rva] (October 22, 2020). "Meg Lawrence knows as well as anyone the needs of Richmond and she knows I will meet those needs and make a more equitable Richmond. She has valuable insight as a 3rd District resident and former President of the Ginter Park Residents Association. Thank you for supporting me Meg! https://t.co/DIPtxaErPX" (Tweet). Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
29. "2020 November General Official Results". Virginia Board of Elections. Retrieved December 3, 2020.