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Virginia Democrats have set a new record for early voting in a state-level primary, with more than 189,000 Democratic ballots cast ahead of the June 18 election to nominate their candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
That is a sharp increase from the 124,491 early ballots cast in the party’s 2021 primary, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Statewide, more than 204,000 early ballots were submitted across both parties, including 15,610 in the Republican primary. Among Democratic voters, 90,315 cast ballots in person and 98,772 voted by mail. Republican early voting included just over 10,900 ballots in person and about 4,700 by mail.
The difference in turnout between parties is due to Republicans not holding contested primaries for the three statewide offices, as only one candidate qualified in each race. GOP voters instead focused on down-ballot legislative and local contests.
In 2021, Republicans also bypassed the state-run primary process entirely, opting to nominate their statewide candidates—including gubernatorial candidate and eventual winner Glenn Youngkin—through a party-run convention.
The Democratic turnout spike this year is tied to competitive races for attorney general and lieutenant governor, which will complete the party’s statewide ticket heading into November.
“This record turnout in early Democratic primary voting is evidence Virginians are fired up like never before and ready to elect leaders who will stand up to Trump’s dangerous agenda,” Virginia Democratic Party Chair Lamont Bagby said in the statement emailed to The Epoch Times.
“That energy is what’s going to carry us to victory in November, when we will elect leaders who will deliver on our agenda to strengthen and protect our public education system, health care, public safety, environment, and so much more.”
The Virginia Republican Party did not respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment before publication.
The June 17 results will finalize the Democratic ticket, which already includes gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger. The former congresswoman secured the nomination unopposed after prospective challengers declined to enter the race.
Spanberger will face Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in November. Earle-Sears became the GOP nominee after her primary challengers failed to submit enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. Either candidate will become the first female governor to lead the state.
The other candidates for the GOP ticket are conservative radio host John Reid for lieutenant governor and incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares. No primaries were held because only one candidate qualified in each race.
Virginia’s gubernatorial system is unique in that candidates are barred from seeking consecutive terms—a rule in place since 1830—meaning incumbent Glenn Youngkin cannot run in 2025.
On the Democratic side, six candidates are competing for the lieutenant governor nomination, and two are running for attorney general. The candidates largely agree on key issues such as abortion, affordable health care, and education, and have focused their campaigns on contrasting themselves with President Donald Trump and national Republican policies.
The attorney general primary features Henrico County prosecutor Shannon Taylor and former Delegate Jay Jones, who previously ran for the position in 2021.
Virginia is one of only two states holding statewide elections this year, along with New Jersey. Both contests are being closely watched as early indicators of voter sentiment under a second Trump administration and a Republican-led Congress.
All 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are also up for election in November, adding to the stakes of this week’s primaries.
Chase is an award-winning journalist. He covers national politics for The Epoch Times. For news tips, send Chase an email at [email protected] or connect with him on X.
