Virginia politics is basically a contact sport. If you’ve lived in the Commonwealth long enough, you know we don't do "off years." While the rest of the country was catching its breath after the 2024 presidential cycle, Virginia was already gearing up for its June 17, 2025 primary. Honestly, this cycle felt a bit different. Usually, there's a crowded stage of people shouting for attention, but for the top job, things got quiet remarkably fast.
If you’re looking for the breakdown of who are the candidates in the Virginia primary 2025, you have to look at how the dominoes fell early on. We saw major heavyweights clear the field, a few intense scuffles for the "number two" spot, and a high-stakes rematch for the state’s top lawyer.
The Governor's Race: A Primary That Never Was
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. For the first time in forever, the primary for Governor was effectively canceled. Both parties settled on their standard-bearers way before the June primary date even rolled around.
On the Democratic side, Abigail Spanberger—the former CIA officer and U.S. Representative—basically cleared the deck. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney originally jumped into the race, but he eventually realized the math wasn't adding up. He dropped his bid for Governor in April 2025 and pivoted to the Lieutenant Governor’s race instead. That left Spanberger as the undisputed nominee. She didn't even have to break a sweat on primary day.
The Republicans had a similar situation, though it was a bit more dramatic behind the scenes. Winsome Earle-Sears, the sitting Lieutenant Governor, was the heavy favorite from day one. There were some attempts to challenge her from the right—former State Senator Amanda Chase and former Delegate Dave LaRock both made noise about running. They tried to frame themselves as the "true" Trump-aligned candidates, but neither of them actually managed to qualify for the ballot by the April deadline. Because no one else made the cut, Earle-Sears became the nominee by default.
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The Real Action: The Battle for Lieutenant Governor
Since the top of the ticket was a snooze-fest in June, all the oxygen went into the race for Lieutenant Governor. This is where things got messy and interesting.
The Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor was a total "choose your own adventure" for voters. You had six candidates on the ballot, and the results were razor-thin. Ghazala Hashmi, a State Senator from Chesterfield, ultimately pulled off the win with about 27.5% of the vote. It was a nail-biter. She barely edged out Levar Stoney (26.5%) and State Senator Aaron Rouse (26.2%). Seriously, a few thousand votes in either direction would have changed the whole trajectory of the state party.
On the GOP side, the primary was also canceled because John Reid, a well-known radio host, was the only one who ended up qualifying. He’s a bit of a history-maker himself, being the first openly gay statewide nominee for the Republican party in Virginia.
Attorney General: The Rematch No One Saw Coming
If you want to talk about who are the candidates in the Virginia primary 2025 that actually had to fight a traditional campaign, look at the Attorney General's race.
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Jay Jones, a former Delegate from Norfolk, decided to take another shot at the office after losing the primary back in 2021. This time, he faced off against Shannon Taylor, the Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney. It was a classic "Northern Virginia vs. Hampton Roads" vibe. Jones won with roughly 51% of the vote. He ran a campaign focused heavily on being a "last line of defense" against federal policies, which really resonated with the base.
Meanwhile, the Republican incumbent Jason Miyares didn't face a primary challenge. He cruised straight to the general election, setting up a massive showdown with Jones that turned into one of the most expensive AG races we've ever seen in Virginia.
Don't Forget the House of Delegates
While statewide offices get the headlines, the House of Delegates is where the actual law-making happens. All 100 seats were up. Most incumbents had an easy path, but three of them actually had to fight off primary challengers on June 17:
- Delores McQuinn (Democrat)
- Patrick Hope (Democrat)
- Terry Austin (Republican)
Interestingly, all three incumbents won their primaries. Voters seemed to prefer experience over fresh faces this time around. This set the stage for a November where Democrats eventually expanded their majority to 64 seats, a massive shift from the razor-thin margins of the previous term.
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Why This Cycle Felt Different
Usually, Virginia primaries are a free-for-all. But in 2025, the "referendum" energy was off the charts. Candidates weren't just talking about potholes and school boards; they were talking about national politics, federal layoffs, and constitutional amendments.
Spanberger’s ability to consolidate the Democratic party so early was a signal that the party wanted stability. On the flip side, the Republican side’s lack of a primary for the top spots showed a party that was ready to circle the wagons around Earle-Sears and Miyares without the bruising internal fights that usually define June.
Practical Steps for Virginia Voters
If you're following the fallout of these races or preparing for the next cycle, here is what you should actually do:
- Check your registration status: Even if you voted in the primary, Virginia cleans its rolls often. Use the Virginia Department of Elections portal to stay updated.
- Track the money: If you want to know who really has influence, look at the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP). They track every dollar for candidates like Spanberger and Earle-Sears.
- Locate your new district: Remember that redistricting changed a lot of boundaries. Your Delegate might not be who you think it is.
The 2025 primary might be in the rearview mirror, but the candidates it produced have reshaped the Commonwealth's leadership for years to come. Whether you're happy with a Democratic trifecta or worried about the direction of the state, the names on that June ballot were the ones who started it all.