The Virginia Democratic Congressional District Firehouse Primary: Tim Kaine’s Campaign with Tim McLean’s Close ally, Tim Stoney

Virginia Democrats are expected to pick a nominee on Tuesday for a special election to fill the seat occupied by Donald McEachin, who died in November.

“A Firehouse Primary allows as many candidates and voters to participate in the democratic process as possible,” Alexsis Rodgers said. The Fourth Congressional District Democratic Committee will hold a transparent and expedient process to select a nominee.

The outcome of the election won’t affect the balance of power in the US House because the Democratic nominee will enter the February election as the favorite in a reliably Democratic district.

The Democratic Party in Virginia announced early Thursday that McClellan had been nominated to represent the 4th Congressional District in the upcoming special election.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine campaigned with McClellan, a close ally whose wedding he officiated, over the weekend and members of the Commonwealth’s Democratic congressional delegation have all endorsed her, as have Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and other local officials. The Democrats won’t know their nominee until Wednesday when the ballot counting begins.

Joe McClellan, aka Joe Morrissey, was a Worker Bee in the House of Commons, and the Voting Campaign During the Special Election

The campaign of scandal-plagued state Sen. Joe Morrissey influenced the coalescing around McClellan. His disagreements with the party establishment are a part of his appeal, but his detractors point out that he resigned from the State House after pleading guilty for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was in his mid-50s at the time, but has argued, according to a local report, that he believed the woman was 18. They have several children, and Morrissey has since married the woman. Morrissey has also been stripped of his law license – twice – and remains disbarred following a 2019 state Supreme Court decision to uphold its revocation.

Morrissey attacked the state party for holding the primary on a Tuesday instead of a Saturday, saying it would limit voter turnout. In announcing his run, Morrissey called himself a “worker bee” while highlighting his work on criminal justice reform.

The largest party-run nomination process in history was conducted by the Democratic Party of Virginia, with 27,900 votes cast, on Tuesday. The voter turnout was higher than in the last state-run primary in VA-04.

Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin last Monday set the date of the special election for February 21, creating a quick turnaround as the parties need to formally select their candidates by December 23.

Democrats jumped in the race with just a week to go. McClellan and Morrissey are the leading contenders, largely because state Del. Lamont Bagby decided to drop out to help clear the way for McClellan, a fellow leader of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Bagby’s support largely shifted to McClellan.

McClellan spoke about her work in the capitol and her experience in the legislature in her announcement speech last week.

McClellan said that the call to carry on his legacy and carry my servant leadership to Washington was an emotional day, even though he was still mourning a friend.

Counting the Republican Candidate Benjamin McClellan during his third run for the House Minority Electoral Seat in Falls Church, Virginia

Benjamin, a Navy veteran and pastor, won the GOP nomination at a party canvass on Saturday. This is his third bid for the seat, after losing to McEachin last month and in 2020.

There is an area in Falls Church, Virginia. Party officials said that McClellan had won the Democratic nomination for congress.

Establishment Democrats coalesced around McClellan in her campaign against Morrissey, a populist and twice-disbarred former prosecutor-turned-defense attorney who’s proved remarkably resilient over a three-decade career in electoral politics.

McHenin’s widow, who is also an elected official, was one of the endorsers of McClellan. Bagby left the race last Friday in order to prevent Morrissey from winning the election.

Voting took place on Tuesday and the party did not start counting votes until Wednesday. The counting continued through the night until Thursday when the results were announced.