Virginia’s June 2025 primary wasn't exactly the explosive, multi-car pileup some pundits predicted. Honestly, if you were looking for a high-drama showdown at the top of the ticket, you probably walked away a little bored. Both Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears essentially cruised through their respective party camps without a scratch because, well, they didn't have any real competition.
But here's the thing.
While the "main event" was a foregone conclusion, the undercard was where the real blood, sweat, and tears happened. We saw a wild, six-candidate scramble for the Democratic Lieutenant Governor spot and some serious "incumbent vs. challenger" vibes in the House of Delegates that actually tell us more about where Virginia is heading than the big names do. If you're just looking at the surface, you're missing the shift in the state's political tectonic plates.
The Quiet Top: No Primary for Governor?
It’s rare. Usually, a wide-open seat—since Governor Glenn Youngkin couldn't run again due to Virginia’s unique term-limit rules—triggers a massive internal brawl. Not this time.
The Virginia primary 2025 results for the governor's race were settled long before June 17. On the Democratic side, former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger cleared the field so effectively that she didn't even face a primary opponent. Same story for the Republicans: Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears was the only one who made the ballot.
Basically, the state parties decided to save their ammunition for the November general election. This meant the June primary was all about the "down-ballot" drama.
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The Democratic LT. Governor Scramble: A Total Nail-Biter
If the governor's race was a nap, the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor was a triple-espresso shot. Six candidates. One spot. And the results were so tight that the Associated Press couldn't even call it on Tuesday night.
State Senator Ghazala Hashmi eventually emerged as the winner, but it was a "blink and you'll miss the margin" kind of victory. She pulled in about 27.47% of the vote. Right on her heels were former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (26.69%) and state Senator Aaron Rouse (26.15%).
Think about those numbers for a second.
A difference of less than one percentage point separated the top three finishers. Hashmi, who represents parts of Richmond and Chesterfield, leaned heavily on her legislative record and her status as a trailblazer—she was the first Muslim woman elected to the Virginia Senate. Her win set the stage for a historic statewide ticket.
Meanwhile, on the GOP side, things were way more chill. John Reid, a talk-radio host, was the only Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor. He didn't have to break a sweat in June, though he later faced some heat from Governor Youngkin regarding some social media controversies that popped up during the summer.
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Jay Jones and the Attorney General Race
Over at the Attorney General’s office, things got a bit spicy too. Former Delegate Jay Jones faced off against Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor.
Jones won that one with about 51% of the vote. It was a solid win, but Taylor didn't make it easy for him. Jones had the backing of a lot of the Democratic establishment, positioning himself as the guy to take on incumbent Republican Jason Miyares.
"We are united in our focus on the issues that matter to our fellow Virginians," Jones said in a joint statement with Spanberger and Hashmi after the June dust settled.
What Happened in the House of Delegates?
This is where the "real" Virginia lives—in the 100 districts that make up the House of Delegates. Most people ignore these results, but they’re the best indicator of a party's "ground game."
In 2025, there weren't many major upsets, but there was plenty of activity.
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- Patrick Hope (District 1) survived a three-way primary in Arlington with a massive 71% of the vote.
- Delores McQuinn and Terry Austin also managed to fend off challengers.
However, the real story wasn't who lost, but who was leaving. Several high-profile Republicans, like Todd Gilbert and Nick Freitas, had already signaled they were moving on or retiring, leaving open seats that became the primary battlegrounds of June. In Prince William County (District 21), Gregory Gorham won a three-way GOP primary to try and flip a seat back from the Democrats.
Why These Results Actually Mattered
You might think, "Okay, so a bunch of people I’ve barely heard of won some local races. So what?"
Well, the Virginia primary 2025 results created the "Trifecta" opportunity. Because Democrats held their ground in the primaries and selected a cohesive ticket, they were able to head into the November general election with a unified message.
And we saw how that turned out.
The primary was the filter. It filtered out the more "extreme" or "untested" candidates and gave us the Spanberger-Hashmi-Jones ticket. This trio would eventually go on to sweep the November elections, making Spanberger the first female governor in Virginia's history and Hashmi the first Muslim woman in statewide office.
Actionable Takeaways: What You Should Do Now
Primary results are more than just numbers on a screen; they’re a roadmap for the next two to four years of policy. If you're a Virginian—or just someone who cares about where the country is headed—here’s how to stay ahead:
- Check the "Firehouse Primaries": Even after the June primary, special elections pop up. For example, Elizabeth Bennett-Parker just won a "firehouse primary" for Senate District 39 because of vacancies created by the new administration. Stay plugged into your local party committees so you don't miss these sudden votes.
- Watch the 2026 Redistricting Fight: Now that the 2025 cycle is over, the winners are looking at redrawing maps. Governor-elect Spanberger has already hinted that flipping more House seats is a priority. Keep an eye on the Virginia Department of Elections website for proposed map changes.
- Track the Legislative Session: The candidates who won their primaries in June 2025 are now the ones sitting in Richmond. Look up your specific Delegate on the Virginia General Assembly portal to see what bills they're actually sponsoring. Did they stick to their primary campaign promises?
Primary elections are where the direction of the party is decided, but the work doesn't stop once the votes are certified. It's basically just the starting gun for the real governance that happens in the halls of the Capitol.