Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Republican Del. Scott Wyatt has been reelected by voters to represent House District 60 for another two years. Preliminary results indicate that Wyatt, of Mechanicsville, defeated Democrat and political newcomer Andrew Ward by a margin of approximately 25% in the heavily conservative district. Wyatt will be serving his fourth term in the House of Delegates. District 60 includes roughly the eastern half Hanover County and the western half of New Kent County. Wyatt ran on a platform of conservative governance. In past sessions he carried legislation that increased the state tax deduction for members of the National Guard and required school personnel to report threats of violence and crimes to law enforcement. Prior to the election, he said that if voters gave him another term he would reintroduce legislation to require age verification for minors’ social media accounts — a measure that failed in a previous session — and work with colleagues across the aisle to promote meaningful economic development. Ward, who lives in Hanover County, described himself as a former Republican who left the party because of its takeover by far-right extremists. As a high school teacher in Chesterfield, Ward made education one of his top priorities on the campaign, seeking to boost funding for public schools. He also championed elected rather than appointed school boards in Virginia to ensure accountability among those making consequential decisions around education. Ward also advocated for campaign finance reform, which would allow everyday citizens to stand up against what he described as big-moneyed interests in political campaigns. Ben Swenson, ben.swenson05@gmail.com
