Democratic Richmond mayor files paperwork to enter Virginia gubernatorial race

Levar Stoney, the mayor of Richmond, Virginia, filed paperwork this week to run for governor in 2025, becoming the second Democrat hoping to succeed term-limited Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA).

The mayor’s campaign filed the paperwork with the Virginia Department of Elections on Monday, according to local outlet 13News Now, but Stoney has not yet formally launched his gubernatorial campaign. However, he is expected to announce later this year.

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The news comes after Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) announced in November she would forgo running for a fourth term in Congress in order to run for governor. No Republican has declared their intention to run so far, but Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares are reportedly considering a bid for the seat, Axios reported earlier this year.

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The young mayor’s entrance was expected after he confirmed that he was thinking about running in April. He has also begun the hiring process for his gubernatorial bid, having hired a chief strategist, ad-maker, and pollster, among others.

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Stoney has been a rising star in Virginia Democratic politics in recent years, getting his start as former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s secretary of the commonwealth from 2014 through early 2016. He left the position in 2016 to run and become the mayor of Richmond and was reelected in 2020.

Virginia is considered a swing state in recent elections, with Democrats winning back control of the state House and maintaining control of the state Senate last month. However, Youngkin has been a popular governor and beat McAuliffe in 2022.