Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

, held a

general election A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

on November 3, 2020. Voters elected the Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, members of the Richmond City Council, as well as several other local officials. The incumbent, Levar Stoney, who was elected in 2016 ran for reelection facing five challengers. While local races in Virginia are officially nonpartisan elections, four candidates (Stoney, Gray, Rodgers, and McLean) identified with the Democratic party while Griffin ran as an independent. Stoney won the most votes in six out of nine city council districts and therefore won reelection. In order to win election a candidate must receive the most votes in five or more districts.

Background

Incumbent Democrat Levar Stoney was eligible to seek re-election. The election was the fifth citywide election for mayor through popular vote. The election is nonpartisan meaning no candidate can be affiliated with any party on the ticket. Leading up to the election, the incumbent mayor, Stoney, had received criticism for his handling of the Navy Hill project, along with the COVID-19 pandemic, and his handling of the George Floyd protests. In his reelection campaign, Stoney championed his accomplishments during the first four years in office, including a halt on evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, free eyeglasses for students in

Richmond Public Schools Richmond Public Schools is a public school district located in the independent city of Richmond, Virginia. It is occasionally described locally as Richmond City Public Schools to emphasize its connection to the independent city rather than th ...

, and increased RPS funding. Stoney also noted his accomplishments of public transportation, such as the opening of the GRTC Pulse transit line, which opened during his second year as mayor. Challenger Justin Griffin ran a campaign premised on the idea that the residents of Richmond deserved better than they got from the city government. His campaign used the slogan "We Deserve Better." His top discussed issues are "better schools, better roads, better city services."

Candidates

Declared

* Kimberly Gray, 2nd District City Councilwoman * Justin Griffin, Small Business Attorney * Tracey McLean, small business owner * Alexsis Rodgers, National Domestic Workers Alliance state director and former policy director of Ralph Northam * Levar Stoney, incumbent Mayor

Withdrawn

* Michael Gilbert, economics professor at VCU (withdrew on September 15)

Endorsements

Polling

Results

Notes

;Partisan clients

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richmond, Virginia Mayoral Election, 2020 2020 Virginia elections 2020 United States mayoral elections November 2020 events in the United States

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

Mayoral election Mayoral may refer to: * Mayoral is an adjectival form of mayor * Mayoral, a Spanish Children's Fashion Company * Borja Mayoral (born 1997), Spanish footballer * César Mayoral (born 1947), Argentine diplomat * David Mayoral (born 1997), Spanish f ...