Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Democrat Mark Downey appears to have been elected for the first time to the Virginia House of Delegates. Downey was ahead of his two contenders — incumbent Republican Del. Chad Green and independent Valerie Beverley — to represent House District 69, which includes parts of Newport News and York, James City and Gloucester counties. According to preliminary results, Downey eked out a narrow victory, with a margin of about 3 percentage points separating between him and Green. Beverley received less than 5% of the vote. Absentee and provisional ballots will still be counted, a process that typically takes about eight days. Statewide Democrats identified House District 69 as one of 14 they hoped to flip in the 2025 election. Downey’s campaign received significant party support, with more than $1.1 million coming from the House Democratic Caucus and more than $180,000 coming from the Democratic Party of Virginia. All told, Downey raised over $1.7 million — more than twice Green’s approximately $800,000. Beverley’s campaign ran on a shoestring budget, netting just above $2,500, although she said she was proud not to have aligned with one of the major parties because it meant she was campaigning for the good of the citizens and not a party line. Green, an attorney, said he was dismayed to take time off the campaign trail the week before Election Day when House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, called a special session to consider what Green called a “partisan redistricting amendment.” Nevertheless, Green said, his campaign’s messaging stayed strong ahead of the election, focusing on three areas — support for public safety and public schools and reigning in skyrocketing costs for essential items, including repealing the personal property tax on automobiles. Green also highlighted his efforts to ban transgender athletes from competing against others who do not share their sex assigned at birth. In October, he appeared in Williamsburg alongside Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears at a campaign stop in which she vowed to prohibit biological males from competing against girls. Beverley, who owns an insurance firm, said that her campaign went well, and that she engaged with many voters both online and in person. She said that she spent a significant amount of time listening to what District 69 constituents wanted and that her independent affiliation was what attracted many voters to her bid for the seat. Health care costs, collective bargaining, women’s reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues formed the core of Beverley’s campaign. She said she did not jump on any bandwagons just because she thought that’s what people wanted to hear. When other candidates said they wanted to repeal the car tax, she acknowledged that as a worthy goal, but said policymakers had to find a substitute for the $3 billion in revenue it generates first. “I kept my integrity and character throughout,” she said. “I don’t feel like I’ve been giving just talking points.” For his third campaign for the House of Delegates, Downey, a York County native and Williamsburg pediatrician, leaned heavily on his expertise in the health care field. He said he and his team of volunteers knocked on some 45,000 doors in District 69 and heard concerns from many constituents about looming changes to health care. “Many people are feeling the squeeze from the cost of health care and accessibility, especially with the upcoming cuts to Medicaid and the increase in premiums on the horizon,” he said. Downey also said he talked to voters about the importance of protecting childhood vaccines and received support especially from older people who remember the devastating effects of diseases such as measles and polio. Some observers predicted that Beverley’s candidacy would split the Democratic vote, ultimately hurting Downey’s chances for victory, but he said that he enjoyed enough crossover support from voters attracted to his priorities to secure victory. Gathering in Williamsburg Tuesday night, Downey thanked supporters and said he would fight for those who have been overlooked. “We’re here to be the voice of the people who don’t have a voice,” he said. “That’s what I plan to do come January 14th.” Ben Swenson, ben.swenson05@gmail.com
