RICHMOND 鈥 State , is claiming victory in the tight Democratic contest for lieutenant governor, but former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney says he wants to wait until all the votes are tallied.
Hashmi, Stoney and state Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, were locked in a close three-way primary battle throughout Tuesday night. Three other Democrats trailed the field.
Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, speaks during a 鈥淣o Kings鈥 demonstration, Saturday in downtown Richmond.
MIKE KROPF, TIMES-DISPATCH
With 131 of 133 localities reporting, Hashmi had 27.5% of the vote to 26.6% for Stoney and about 26.2% for Rouse according to the State Department of Elections.
Stoney suffered a severe blow in Richmond, the city he served as mayor for eight years. Hashmi got 58% of the vote in the city to Stoney's 20.7%, topping him in the city by more than 10,000 votes.
The winner will face , a longtime conservative talk show host, in the November election.
"Tonight, Virginians made history," Hashmi said in a statement Tuesday night.
"We didn't just win a primary, we sent a clear message that we won't be bullied, broken or dragged backward by the chaos in Washington. I'm honored to stand alongside Abigail Spangberger, Jay Jones and our Democratic ticket to fight for the future of this commonwealth."
Hashmi would be the first Muslim woman in the U.S. nominated to run for statewide office, according to her campaign.
Virginia鈥檚 Democratic candidates seeking the nomination for lieutenant governor were, from top row, left to right, Alex Bastani, Ghazala Hashmi, Babur Lateef, Aaron Rouse, Victor Salgado and Levar Stoney.
The Democratic contest featured聽four candidates who raised at least $1.3 million each and had a base of support: Stoney, Hashmi, Rouse and Babur Lateef, an eye doctor who is chairman of the Prince William County School Board.
Labor leader Alex Bastani and former federal prosecutor Victor Salgado also sought the Democratic nomination.
Reid became the Republican nominee in April, when Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity dropped out of the contest, due to health concerns following heart surgery.
Virginia鈥檚 Democratic candidates seeking the nomination for lieutenant governor were, from top row, left to right, Alex Bastani, Ghazala Hashmi, Babur Lateef, Aaron Rouse, Victor Salgado and Levar Stoney.
