Virginia residents go to the polls in special House election

The seat is held by Democrats, and they are expected to keep seat.

Published: February 21, 2023 9:28am

Updated: February 21, 2023 2:49pm

Virginia residents go to the polls Tuesday in a special election to fill the open seat of the state's Fourth Congressional District.

The seat is held by Democrats, and they are expected to keep seat, according to CNN.

State Sen. Jennifer McClellan is the Democrat nominee, and if she wins in the Richmond-area district, McClellan would become the first black woman to represent Virginia in Congress.

She’s facing Republican Leon Benjamin in the race to fill the term of the Rep. Donald McEachin, who died a few weeks after winning reelection in November 2022, according to CNN.

Under Virginia law, there was no state-run primary for this special election, so the parties had to pick their own nominees.

McClellan won the Democratic nomination in December.

Benjamin, a Navy veteran and pastor is making his third bid for the seat.