RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell plans to call special elections on Sept. 4 for two Democratic legislative seats — one vacated by a senator’s death, another by a delegate’s resignation.
McDonnell announced his intention Wednesday, but won’t issue an official writ of election until Monday “to give political parties time to prepare for the nomination process.”
The short-notice election falls on the first Tuesday after Labor Day, the earliest possible date. It will involve voters in the Norfolk-based 5th Senate District and the 45th House District in Alexandria.
The seats were left vacant by the July 3 death of Sen. Yvonne Miller, the first black woman elected to Virginia’s General Assembly, and the resignation of Del. David Englin, who admitted an extramarital affair earlier this year.
McDonnell spokesman J. Tucker Martin said McDonnell set the special election as expeditiously as possible “to ensure Virginians in these districts have full representation in Richmond and at home.”
But the early date also allows for a likely second special election.
Del. Kenneth Alexander, D-Norfolk, is the early favorite to win Miller’s old seat in the heavily Democratic district. Should Alexander win, an election to fill his House of Delegates seat could be added to the ballot for the Nov. 6 presidential election.
