Central Virginia’s voter turnout tells a bigger story about who showed up for this year’s election
“Republicans, I think, were not particularly enthusiastic about their candidates,” said Jennifer Lawless, professor of politics at the University of Virginia.
Longtime activist, first-time Charlottesville City School Board member Zyahna Bryant wants to elevate youth voices
“I believe that the community is ready for something new, and so that just makes me so excited to be on the cusp of that and to see a new wave of leadership,” Bryant told Charlottesville Tomorrow.
The Town of Louisa faced five resignations in less than a year. Now it’s trying to rebuild
During staffing shortages and months without meeting minutes, residents felt left in the dark. The town is trying to improve its communication.
While 2025 might not have the media blitz of a presidential race, this year’s election will have a profound effect on the lives of central Virginia residents.
That’s because this year, central Virginia voters will be choosing dozens of local representatives — and those leaders will make meaningful decisions that steer the futures of their cities, towns and counties.
These are positions like commonwealth’s attorney, sheriff, city and town council members. Virginia voters will also elect a new governor, lieutenant governor and attorneys general, and new representatives to the Virginia House of Delegates. There are no federal contests.
This guide is here to provide information to help you decide who you want to represent you. It covers all eligible races in 12 central Virginia counties and the City of Charlottesville. (It doesn’t include the greater Richmond area because there are more media outlets providing information on those races.) Charlottesville Tomorrow has published a voter guide for 20 years. We expanded beyond the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County in 2023, after we heard from many people that they wanted more information in the region.
Sometimes, it’s hard to get information about local races. If you have information or see an error in this guide, please reach out and let us know.
Candidate information by county, city or town
Albemarle County
Former television anchor runs unopposed for Albemarle County Public School Board Samuel Miller District seat
Bob Beard supports “whole truth history,” SROs and collective bargaining.
Fred Missel and Scott Smith vie for Samuel Miller District seat on Albemarle County Board of Supervisors
The candidates have differing views on immigration enforcement and tax rates, among other issues.
Dillenbeck challenges Pryor for Albemarle County Public School Board Rio District seat
Only Dillenbeck responded to our questionnaire.
Incumbent Ned Gallaway seeks to represent the Rio District on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors for a third term, and is running unopposed
Gallaway said housing affordability is the county’s most pressing challenge, and shared his views on schools and services funding, data centers and immigration enforcement.
Incumbent Albemarle County Public School Board member Katherine Acuff runs unopposed for her Jack Jouett District seat
Acuff did not respond to our questionnaire, so here’s what information we were able to find about her.
Sally Duncan is the only candidate running to represent the Jack Jouett District on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors
Read her responses to a questionnaire based on responses to a voter survey.
Scottsville (Town)
Molly Angevine challenges incumbent Edward Payne for Scottsville Town Council seat
Angevine responded to our questionnaire, Payne did not.
Appomattox County
Jack Hensley and Danielle Ulmer vie for Appomattox Town Council seat
Neither candidate responded to our voter guide questionnaire, so here’s what information we could find about them.
Q&A with Miranda Almond, candidate for Appomattox County Public School Board’s Piney Mountain District Seat
Almond is running unopposed for the seat.
Valarie Taylor challenges incumbent Appomattox County Supervisor Al Jones for the Piney Mountain District seat
Neither responded to our Q&A, so here’s what information we were able to find about them.
2 candidates seek 1 open seat on the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors for the Courthouse District
Neither responded to our Q&A, so here’s what information we were able to find about them.
Appomattox (Town)
Jack Hensley and Danielle Ulmer vie for Appomattox Town Council seat
Neither candidate responded to our voter guide questionnaire, so here’s what information we could find about them.
Q&A with Miranda Almond, candidate for Appomattox County Public School Board’s Piney Mountain District Seat
Almond is running unopposed for the seat.
Valarie Taylor challenges incumbent Appomattox County Supervisor Al Jones for the Piney Mountain District seat
Neither responded to our Q&A, so here’s what information we were able to find about them.
2 candidates seek 1 open seat on the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors for the Courthouse District
Neither responded to our Q&A, so here’s what information we were able to find about them.
Buckingham County
David Christian and Traquan Gregory are vying to represent District 1 on the Buckingham County School Board
Gregory answered a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed from responses to a voter survey; Christian did not.
Incumbent Karen Frable-Moss and challenger David Ball are running for Mayor of the Town of Dillwyn
Neither candidate returned a Q&A Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for them based off responses to a voter survey.
Two candidates are running for six open seats on Dillwyn’s Town Council
Neither Sharon Baker nor Stephanie Miller responded to Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Voter Guide questionnaire.
Charlottesville City
Q&A with two candidates, Juandiego Wade and Jen Fleisher, running unopposed for two seats on the Charlottesville City Council
Fleisher and Wade won the Democratic primary for the Council race, beating out Councilor Brian Pinkston.
Incumbent Joe Platania is running unopposed for Charlottesville’s Commonwealth’s Attorney, a seat he has held since 2018
Read Platania’s answers to a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for him based on responses we received to a voter survey.
Jason Vandever is running unopposed to serve a fourth term as treasurer for the City of Charlottesville
Here are Vandever’s answers to a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for him based on responses to a voter survey.
Q&A with the only candidate for Charlottesville Sheriff
Longtime Charlottesville Sheriff James Brown once again has no official competition for his seat.
Four candidates are running for three open seats on the Charlottesville City School Board
Zyahna Bryant, Dashad Cooper, Emily Dooley and Lisa Larson-Torres all responded to a questionnaire based on responses to a Charlottesville Tomorrow voter survey.
Q&A with Charlottesville’s incumbent Commissioner of the Revenue, who is running unopposed for his seat
Todd Divers speaks about the city’s tax relief programs, but warns residents that local tax payers will be “on the hook to make up the shortfall” anytime the state cuts a source of local revenue.
Cumberland County
Cumberland County has no local races this year, but you will see candidates for state offices on your ballot.
Dillwyn (Town)
Incumbent Karen Frable-Moss and challenger David Ball are running for Mayor of the Town of Dillwyn
Neither candidate returned a Q&A Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for them based off responses to a voter survey.
Two candidates are running for six open seats on Dillwyn’s Town Council
Neither Sharon Baker nor Stephanie Miller responded to Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Voter Guide questionnaire.
Fluvanna County
Q&A with Lauren Ryalls Sheridan and Donald L. Reynard, who want to be Fluvanna County’s Commissioner of the Revenue
Read their replies to a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for them based on responses to a voter survey.
Tony O’Brien running unopposed in re-election bid for Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors’ Rivanna District
O’Brien did not return our questionnaire, so here’s what information we were able to find about him.
Fluvanna school board candidates in Cunningham District discuss teacher salaries, cell phone policies and more
Incumbent Charles D. Rittenhouse is running against Sarah J. Johnson
Christopher Fairchild is the only candidate running for the Cunningham District seat on the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors
Fairchild did not respond to our questionnaire, so here’s what information we could find about him.
One candidate is running to represent the Columbia District on Fluvanna County’s Board of Supervisors
John Michael Sheridan did not respond to our candidate questionnaire.
Incumbent Andre O’Brian Key is running unopposed to represent the Rivanna District on the Fluvanna County School Board
Key did not respond to a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for him based on a voter survey.
Sean Brennan is running unopposed to represent the Columbia District on the Fluvanna County School Board
Brennan did not respond to a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for him based on a voter survey.
Two candidates want to represent Fork Union on the Fluvanna County School Board
Neither candidate responded to our Q&A, so here’s what we were able to find about them.
Gordonsville Town
One candidate is running unopposed for Gordonsville Town Council
Mary “Cyd” Black did not return our voter guide questionnaire, so here’s what information we could find about her.
Greene County
Jason Snow is challenging incumbent Steve Catalano to represent the Stanardsville District on the Greene County Board of Supervisors
We sent them a questionnaire informed by voters. Only Snow replied.
Matthew Hartung is running unopposed to represent the Midway District on the Greene County Board of Supervisors
Hartung did not return our questionnaire, which we based on more than 160 responses to a voter survey.
Louisa County
David Harold Rogers challenging incumbent Duane Adams for Louisa County Board of Supervisors seat for Mineral District
Rogers and Adams answered questions submitted in our voter survey.
John Trammell challenges incumbent Tommy Barlow for Louisa County Board of Supervisors’ Mountain Road District
Only Trammell responded to our questionnaire.
Rachel Jones seeks reelection to Louisa County Board of Supervisors’ Green Springs District seat
Jones did not respond to our questionnaire, so here’s what information we were able to find about her.
Louisa County School Board Chair Greg Strickland is running unopposed to continue representing the Patrick Henry District
He did not respond to a Q&A Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for him based on responses to a voter survey.
Longtime Louisa County Supervisor Fitzgerald Barnes runs unopposed for the Patrick Henry District seat
Barnes did not respond to our questions, so here’s what information we could find about him.
Incumbent Gail Proffitt is running unopposed to represent the Mountain Road District on the Louisa County School Board
Proffitt did not respond to a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for her based on responses to a voter survey.
Lloyd Runnett is the only candidate running to represent the Mineral District on the Louisa County School Board
Runnett did not respond to a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for him based on responses to a voter survey.
Incumbent Debbie Hoffman is running unopposed to represent the Green Springs District on the Louisa County School Board
Hoffman did not respond to a questionnaire Charlottesville Tomorrow designed for her based on responses to a voter survey.
Louisa (Town)
Matthew Kersey is being challenged by Ashley Michael for Louisa town mayor
Kersey was appointed mayor in July after both the elected mayor and his appointed replacement stepped down in quick succession.
Mineral (Town)
Q&A with the one of the three candidates running for mayor of Mineral
Pamela Harlowe responded to our questionnaire; Edward Kube, Jr. and Ronald Chapman, Jr. did not.
Four candidates are running for two seats on Mineral’s Town Council
Two of the four candidates running for a seat responded to a Q&A, and have differing views on homelessness, water and infrastructure.
Madison County
In Madison County, 4 candidates run for 3 open seats on the school board
Three members are retiring; Michael “Graham” Davison, Mitchell “Mitch” Dickey, Lauran Gordon and Brittany Shankle are seeking their seats.
3 candidates are running for 3 open seats on the Madison County Board of Supervisors, in an uncontested race
Nancy L. Sharman was the only candidate to respond to Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Q&A.
Nelson County
Steven Bayne challenges incumbent Supervisor Ernie Reed for Nelson County’s Central District seat
Neither Reed nor Bayne responded to our questionnaire, so here’s what information we were able to find about them.
Jesse Rutherford seeks third term unopposed for Nelson Board of Supervisors’ East District
Rutherford did not respond to our questionnaire, so here’s what information we were able to find about him.
Hachey and Rush vie for Central District seat on Nelson County Public School Board
Pediatrician Wayne Hachey responded to our Q&A, retired educator Stacia “Stacy” Rush did not.
Joe Kennedy runs unopposed for Nelson County Public School Board’s East District
Kennedy did not return our Q&A, so here’s what information we could find about him.
Three candidates vie to replace longtime Nelson County Supervisor Tommy Harvey’s North District seat
Only candidate Roy White responded to our Q&A.
Two candidates vie for Nelson County School Board’s North District seat
Neither candidate responded to our Q&A, so here’s what information we could find about them.
Orange County
Two candidates vie for Orange County School Board’s District Four seat
Tina Whittington responded to our questionnaire, O’Brian Martin did not.
Robert Rabe challenges incumbent Supervisor Crystal Hale for District Four seat in Orange County
Only Rabe responded to our questionnaire.
Q&A with two candidates competing for Orange County School Board’s District One seat
Rod Hawkins and Sid Trimmer have different ideas about the board’s involvement with the Virginia School Board Association and school funding.
Three candidates vie for Orange County Board of Supervisors District One seat
Only Jason Capelle responded to our questionnaire.
Prince Edward County
Incumbent Supervisor Jerry Townsend is being challenged by Jody Hobgood for Prince Edward County’s District 3 seat
Neither candidate responded to our questionnaire, so here’s what information we were able to find about them.
Lucy Carson is running unopposed to represent District 5 on the Prince Edward County School Board
Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire for Carson based on responses we received to a voter survey. She did not respond.
Robyn Simpson is running unopposed to represent District 6 on the Prince Edward County School Board
Charlottesville Tomorrow designed a questionnaire for Simpson based on responses we received to a voter survey. She did not respond.
Susan Kimbrough is running unopposed to represent District 7 on the Prince Edward County School Board
She did not respond to a Q&A designed on responses Charlottesville Tomorrow received to a voter survey.
Malcolm Tillerson challenging incumbent David Emert to represent District 6 on the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors
Neither candidate responded to our Q&A, so here’s what we were able to find about them.
Watson seeks re-election to represent District 7 on Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors
Watson did not respond to our Q&A, so here’s what we could find about him.
An incumbent is running unopposed to represent District 5 in the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors
Gilliam did not return our Q&A, so here’s what information we were able to find about him.
Incumbent Timothy Corbett runs unopposed for Prince Edward County School Board’s District 3
Corbett did not respond to our Q&A, so here’s what information we could find about him.
Candidate information for statewide races
House of Delegates District 50
Q&A with two of the three candidates vying to represent District 50 in the House of Delegates
Trudy Bell Berry and Earnadette Powell-Farrar returned our questionnaire; incumbent Thomas C. “Tommy” Wright Jr. did not.
House of Delegates District 53
Democrat Samuel Soghor again challenges Republican incumbent Timothy Griffin for House of Delegates District 53
Neither responded to a Q&A, but here’s what we could find out about them.
House of Delegates District 54
Katrina Callsen running for re-election unopposed for Virginia House of Delegates District 54
Callsen did not respond to our Q&A, but here’s more information about her.
House of Delegates District 55
Q&A with Del. Amy Laufer, who is running unopposed to represent Virginia’s 55th District in the House of Delegates
Read her responses to 10 questions informed by a voter survey.
House of Delegates District 56
Two candidates are seeking to represent District 56 in the Virginia House of Delegates
Neither Angela Chainer nor Thomas Garrett responded to our voter questionnaire, but here are some resources about their positions on important issues.
House of Delegates District 59
Buddy Fowler and Scott Konopasek are vying to represent District 59 in the Virginia House of Delegates
We sent both candidates a Q&A informed by a voter survey. Konopasek replied, Fowler did not.
House of Delegates District 62
Sara Ratcliffe and Karen Hamilton vie to represent the 62nd District in Virginia’s House of Delegates
Ratcliffe returned our Q&A; Hamilton did not.
House of Delegates District 63
Two candidates want to represent District 63 in the House of Delegates
Neither Phillip Scott nor Forrest Miller responded to our voter questionnaire.
Virginia
Two former legislators want to be Virginia’s next governor
Democrat Abigail D. Spanberger is running against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, who is currently serving as Virginia’s lieutenant governor. Only Spanberger responded to our questionnaire.
Q&A with John Reid and Ghazala Hashmi, candidates for Virginia lieutenant governor
Hashmi and Reid respond to voters’ questions about Medicaid, public education, immigration and affordable housing.
In Virginia’s Attorney General race, candidates vie to be lawyer to the state and have differing opinions on federal intervention
Jay Jones and Jason Miyares are running on very different platforms, but neither responded to our voter questionnaire.
Subscribe for Voter Guide updates
Here are key dates and deadlines in the 2025 elections
| Friday, May 2, 2025 | Early voting for primaries begins weekdays at local registrar’s offices. |
| Tuesday, May 27, 2025 | Deadline to register to vote or update an existing registration for the primary election. You can still vote in the primary if you miss this deadline by registering at the polling place and casting a provisional ballot. You do not have to be a member of a political party to vote in that party’s primary election. However, you can only vote in one party’s primary election each year. |
| Friday, June 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m. | Deadline to apply for your ballot to be mailed to you. Requests must be received by your local registrar’s offices by 5 p.m. |
| Friday, June 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m. | Deadline to apply online for an absentee ballot using the Citizen Portal. |
| Saturday, June 7, 2025 | Local voter registration offices open on Saturdays for early voting for primaries. |
| Saturday, June 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m. | Early voting for primaries ends at local registrar’s offices. |
| Tuesday, June 17, 2025 | Primary Election Day! |
| Friday, Sept. 19 to Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 5:00 p.m. | Check with your local registrar’s office for early in-person voting. |
| Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, 5:00 p.m. | Deadline to apply with your local registrar’s office for a ballot to be mailed to you. |
| Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 | Election Day! |
We will update this list periodically as deadlines approach or we receive new information.
Register to vote, check your registration, find your polling places and apply to vote absentee at the Virginia Department of Elections here. Remember, even if you miss registration deadlines, you can register through Election Day and vote using a provisional ballot.
Need to know if you’re eligible to vote? Here are resources from the Virginia Department of Elections.
2025 Election Coverage
The state holds two elections each year: the primary election, in which political parties select their candidates, and the general election, when voters choose which of those candidates will serve.
For several central Virginia races the competitive portion will be the spring primary — not the November general election. This is because voters in many areas overwhelmingly favor one party, and candidates from opposing parties have little chance of being elected. Here is our coverage of primary elections.
Primary Election Results – Local Races
Albemarle County
Q&A with the two candidates vying for Albemarle County Board of Supervisors’ Democratic nomination in Jack Jouett District
Sally Duncan hopes the state will allow Albemarle County to institute a 1-cent sales tax to raise money for local schools, while C. David Shreve wishes to reform the tax system to draw money equitably from individuals based on their resources.
Charlottesville City
Q&A with three candidates seeking two Democratic nominations for Charlottesville City Council
Incumbent Brian Pinkston and challenger Jen Fleisher responded to Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Q&A. Incumbent Juandiego Wade was out of the country at the time of this publication and unable to respond.
Primary Election Results – State Races
Member, House of Delegates, District 62
Two candidates compete for the 62nd District House of Delegates Republican nomination
Delegates serve two-year terms, author state laws, approve the state budget, and address community issues at the state level — including infrastructure, education funding, and local regulations.
Virginia, Attorney General
Two candidates compete for the Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general
Virginia’s attorney general serves a four-year term. The office represents the state in civil lawsuits, defends criminal convictions during appeals, advises state agencies and commissions, and issues legal opinions on questions of state law.
Virginia, Lieutenant Governor
Six candidates compete for Virginia’s Democratic lieutenant governor nomination
Virginia’s lieutenant governor serves a four‑year term, presides over the state Senate, and stands next in line for the governorship — stepping in if the governor is absent, incapacitated, or the office becomes vacant.
Thank you for helping us make a voter guide that meets your needs
As part of Charlottesville Tomorrow’s annual Voter Guide, we seek voters questions first. Our voter survey is now closed, but thank you to everyone who shared your questions.
We used your responses to send a list of questions to all registered candidates for each race in our central Virginia coverage area. This includes the City of Charlottesville; the counties of Albemarle, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange and Prince Edward; and the towns of Scottsville, Appomattox, Pamplin, Dillwyn, Stanardsville, Louisa, Mineral, Madison, Gordonsville, Orange and Farmville.
We publish each returned Q&A with the candidates’ responses grouped under each question to help you, the voter, understand how they compare on the issues that matter most to you. You can see an example Q&A format from the 2024 Voter Guide.
From the 2024 Voter Guide
Here are some highlights from the 2024 Voter Guide for Central Virginia. The guide featured candidate Q&As and in-depth stories, some of which are still useful this year.
Too many positions, too few candidates
Eleven towns in central Virginia are electing council seats. Of those, just four are competitive.
Here’s everything you need to know about running for local office in Virginia
We help you navigate the multiple deadlines, stacks of forms and varied instructions to become a candidate.
It’s Election Day! Here’s what you need to know
Information about how to vote, and the races that will appear on your ballot.
