Six candidates are competing in this year’s Democratic primary for Virginia’s lieutenant governor nomination.

Only the Democratic Party is holding a competitive primary for lieutenant governor. The candidates are:

• Virginia Sen. Ghazala Hashmi
• Virginia Sen. Aaron Rouse
• Prince William School Board Chairman-at-Large Babur Lateef
• former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney
• former federal attorney Alex Bastani
• former federal attorney Victor Salgado.

No Republican primary is scheduled — John Reid has secured the GOP nomination unopposed.

The winner of the Democratic primary on June 17 will advance to face Reid in the general election this November.

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. The lieutenant governor can also break ties in the state Senate.

It’s a largely ceremonial position, but because it is independently elected, the winner can be a different political party than the governor.

More about the candidates and issues

• Campaign finances for this race from the Virginia Public Access Project
• Information and Q&As about this and other state races available at the Cardinal News Voter Guide
• Q&A on this and other state and local races available at C-Ville Weekly’s Voter Guide
• Democratic lieutenant governor candidates agree on most issues but clash over gambling, The Virginia Scope
• Democrats in race for lieutenant governor support repealing right to work law, The Virginia Scope
• 6 Democratic candidates for Lt. Gov. attempt to distinguish themselves from their peers in debate, Cardinal News

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.