Editor's note, Feb. 24: We've overhauled this firehouse primary explainer to reflect the weekendlong race for 9th Senate District primary candidates.
Virginians living in the 9th Senate District have one whole weekend to select party candidates for the March 28 special election to fill Rep.-elect Jennifer McClellan's newly vacated seat.
McClellan defeated Republican Leon Benjamin on Tuesday to become the first Black woman from Virginia elected to Congress. She formally submitted her Senate resignation on Wednesday; she will either leave March 7 or immediately once sworn in to the House of Representatives.
Charles City County, portions of Hanover and Henrico counties, and part of Richmond City all make up Virginia's 9th Senate District. The winner of March 28's special election will be up for reelection in November, along with the other 139 seats in the General Assembly. Candidates in the 2023 general election will run in redrawn districts.
The Republican Party of Virginia and the Democratic Party of Virginia will hold separate firehouse primaries on Sunday, Feb. 26. Candidates must be certified with the state by Monday at 5 p.m.
Check to see which Virginia Senate District you live in using the General Assembly's "Who's My Legislator?" tool. You can also verify whether you're registered to vote by checking current registered voter information through the Virginia Department of Elections.
So, how are the parties picking their candidates, and what does that mean for voters?
What is a firehouse primary?
A firehouse primary — also known as a mass canvass, party canvass or unassembled caucus — is a type of primary election run and paid for by a political party, instead of a state’s department of elections. Per state election law, a firehouse primary in Virginia is practically synonymous with any kind of special primary election for state or national office that occurs outside of a November general election.
This type of party canvass was popularized in Virginia, according to the Political Dictionary, and other states and countries have since adopted the practice. The Democratic Party last used one in December 2022 to select McClellan, who is now gearing up to complete the late Donald McEachin's term in Congress. This special election is to fill her former Virginia Senate seat.
Both Democrats and Republicans will be using a firehouse primary for this special election, even though Republicans have referred to Sunday's event as a “party canvass.”
No actual firehouses will be used for voting in either party’s primary this time around, either.
OK, but why no firehouses?
Time and circumstance, really. Firehouses are not normal venues, and the ones used for voting in general elections are given weeks or months to prepare. Again, these are special elections run specifically by the state party organizations and not the department of elections.
Feb. 26, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Republican Party canvass
RPV announced this week that it will hold its firehouse primary at 3429 W Cary St. in Richmond from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26.
Who is running in the Republican primary?
That's a really good question, and no information was provided in RPV's Call to Caucus. We'll update when we known more.
What should I bring to vote?
Bring a valid ID and prepare to declare a Republican Party affiliation — "express either orally or in writing their intent to support all of the Republican Party of Virginia's nominees for public office in the ensuing election" — in order to vote in this primary.
Should I visit my normal polling station to vote in the primary?
No, because this primary election is being run by the Republican Party of Virginia, so the only voting location is 3429 W. Cary St. in Richmond.
Do I need to be a registered Republican to vote in Saturday’s primary?
Not necessarily, but you do need to already be a registered voter.
Feb. 26, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Democratic Party firehouse primary
The Democratic Party of Virginia is running a firehouse primary at multiple locations in the region from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Who is running in the Democrats’ primary?
Candidates have until 7 p.m. Friday to meet certification requirements. Del. Dawn Adams, Del. Lamont Bagby and Alexsis Rodgers all previously declared their intent to run for the seat.
We'll update when we have the finalized list.
Do I need to be a registered Democrat to vote in the primary?
No, but you do need to already be a registered voter. According to the special election committee for the district, any registered voter who brings a photo ID and is willing to sign a statement declaring themselves to be a Democrat can vote at any caucus location. Provisional voting will also be available.
What should I bring to vote?
Bring everything you’d normally bring to vote, mainly a valid ID or proof of address. You can read a complete list of qualifying documents in the Virginia Democrats’ Call to Caucus documentation.
Should I visit my normal polling station to vote in the primary?
No, because this primary is not run by the Virginia Department of Elections — it is run by the Democratic Party of Virginia. In fact, unlike a state-run election, eligible voters can cast ballots at any of the voting locations listed for a firehouse primary.
As of Friday, there are four voting locations for Sunday's primary — up from two in the original announcement:
- Ashland Municipal Building: 121 Thompson St., Ashland
- Charles City County Administration Building: 10900 Courthouse Road, Charles City
- East Henrico Government Center: 3820 Nine Mile Road, Richmond
- Virginia Union University Living and Learning Center: 1500 N. Lombardy St., Richmond
Original story: Dec. 18, 2022
Both Virginia Republicans and Democrats have tight primary deadlines to fill Virginia’s 4th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat, which newly reelected Rep. Donald McEachin held from 2017 until his Nov. 28 death, covers a wide swath of central Virginia.
According to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s writ of election, party candidates must be finalized by 5 p.m. Dec. 23. The special election is set for Feb. 21.
The 4th District includes all or part of Brunswick, Charles City, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Surry, Sussex, Chesterfield, Henrico and Southampton counties. It also includes the cities of Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond.
You can check your current registered voter information through the Virginia Department of Elections to confirm whether you live in the 4th or verify your congressional district on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website.
So, how are the parties picking their candidates, and what does that mean for voters?
What is a firehouse primary?
A firehouse primary — also known as a mass canvass, party canvass or unassembled caucus — is a type of primary election run and paid for by a political party, instead of a state’s department of elections. Per state election law, a firehouse primary in Virginia is practically synonymous with any kind of special election for state or national office that occurs outside of a November general election.
This type of party canvass was popularized in Virginia, according to the Political Dictionary, and other states and countries have since adopted the practice. It was last used in Virginia to select now-Del. Bill Wiley (R–Winchester) in August 2020. Wiley went on to win in the November 2020 general election.
Both Democrats and Republicans will be using a firehouse primary for this special election, even though Republicans have referred to Saturday’s vote as a “party canvass.”
No actual firehouses will be used for voting in either party’s primary this time around.
OK, but why no firehouses?
Time and circumstance, really. Firehouses are not normal venues, and the ones used for voting in general elections are given weeks or months to prepare. Again, these are special elections run specifically by the state party organizations and not the department of elections.
Dec. 17: Republican Party canvass
The Republican Party of Virginia will host its party canvass for the 4th District special election from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Life Christian Academy, located at 1221 Boulevard in Colonial Heights.
Republicans will use ranked choice voting.
“Conducting this election on a Saturday will give voters of the 4th District the best opportunity for their voices to be heard in a more inclusive way and permit the maximum number of people to participate,” according to a statement from the Republican Party of Virginia. “Additionally, Ranked Choice Voting in intra-party contests allows for the candidate with the broadest base of support to win. Virginia Republicans are committed to holding a fair, easy, and secure election process that allows the maximum number of voters to engage in the process.”
Who is running in the Republican primary?
Two Republicans have declared their candidacies: Leon Benjamin Sr., who lost to McEachin in last month’s general election, and Dale Sturdifen, a retired Virginia State Police trooper and congressional staffer.
Update, Dec. 18: RPV announced Saturday that Leon Benjamin Sr. won the party canvass.
What should I bring to vote?
Bring a valid photo ID and proof of address. RPV did not state whether primary officials would require signed statements of Republican Party affiliation.
Should I visit my normal polling station to vote in the primary?
No, because this primary election is being run by the Republican Party of Virginia, so the only voting location is Life Christian Academy in Colonial Heights.
Do I need to be a registered Republican to vote in Saturday’s primary?
Not necessarily, but you do need to already be a registered voter.
Dec. 20: Democrat firehouse primary
The Democratic Party of Virginia is running a firehouse primary at multiple locations in the region from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Who is running in the Democrats’ primary?
Candidates had until noon Friday to declare their candidacy, submit a $3,480 filing fee and turn in 150 signatures from registered voters living in the 4th Congressional District.
State Sens. Jennifer McClellan and Joe Morrissey declared their intent to run earlier this week. Former Del. Joe Preston and activist Tavorise Marks have also announced their candidacies.
Del. Lamont Bagby threw his hat in the ring, but has since withdrawn and endorsed McClellan.
The Democratic Party of Virginia confirmed Friday that Marks, McClellan, Morrissey and Preston will be on the ballot.
Do I need to be a registered Democrat to vote in the primary?
No, but you do need to already be a registered voter. According to the special election committee for the district, any registered voter who brings a photo ID and is willing to sign a statement declaring themselves to be a Democrat can vote at any caucus location. Provisional voting will also be available.
What should I bring to vote?
Bring everything you’d normally bring to vote, mainly a valid photo ID and proof of address. You can read a complete list of qualifying documents in the Virginia Democrats’ Call to Caucus documentation.
Should I visit my normal polling station to vote in the primary?
No, because this primary is not run by the Virginia Department of Elections — it is run by the Democratic Party of Virginia. In fact, unlike a state-run election, eligible voters can cast ballots at any of the voting locations listed for a firehouse primary.
As of Friday, there are eight voting locations — up from five in the original announcement:
- Brunswick Conference Center: 100 Athletic Field Road, Lawrenceville
- Dogtown Dance Studio: 109 W. 15th St., Richmond
- Diversity Richmond: 1407 Sherwood Ave., Richmond
- IBEW Local 666: 1390 E. Nine Mile Road, Highland Springs
- Tabernacle Baptist Church: 444 Halifax St., Petersburg
- Meadowdale Library: 4301 Meadowdale Blvd., North Chesterfield
- Surry Parks and Recreation Center: 205 Enos Farm Dr., Surry
- Charles City Government Center: 10900 Courthouse Road, Charles City
“The polling locations for Tuesday’s Firehouse Primary were chosen to provide the greatest level of access to the voters of Virginia’s 4th Congressional District,” according to Liam Watson, Virginia Democrats’ interim press secretary. “Since it’s such a large district, the aim of the 4th Congressional District Democratic Committee was to provide as many locations as possible to increase ballot access.”
Watson said the party did not expect to add more voting locations ahead of Tuesday, so these eight should be it.
