Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Republican Del. Keith Hodges will return to Richmond for an eighth term in the Virginia House of Delegates next year. Hodges, of Urbanna, defeated Democrat Elaine Walters by a margin of more than 35% in the 68th House District, according to preliminary results. The district encompasses the vast majority of Gloucester County, and all of Essex, King and Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties. Hodges is a longtime pharmacist and works at King William’s UMT Pharmacy, operated by the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe. He touted his decades of experience providing medications as an important qualification in the General Assembly, which often considers legislation that affects health care. He said pharmacy deserts are especially problematic in parts of Virginia and often lead to hospital readmissions when people don’t have easy access to their medications. In previous General Assembly sessions, Hodges worked to foster economic development in the rural counties and towns along the Chesapeake Bay, a region he termed “rural coastal Virginia.” Among his priorities are attracting business investment in the region and tackling the issue of flooding resiliency — initiatives that he said will become more important for his district as companies seek to relocate inland from more easterly areas. Walters, of Essex County, launched her first-ever bid for political office after returning from her work as a marine biologist in Africa. She felt compelled to effect positive change in her community, and when no one else stepped in to challenge Hodges, she said she decided to offer voters a fresh perspective. Much of her campaign focused on environmental awareness and sustainability in the largely rural district where she has lived her entire life. She also ran on a platform of supporting the local economy, protecting equal rights and supporting education. Ben Swenson, ben.swenson05@gmail.com
