Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (D) has officially announced his gubernatorial entreat to deliver the goods Republican Old Dominion State Gov. Glenn Youngkin inwards Jan 2026. Virginia governors aren’t allowed to service serial terms.
Stoney has served as Richmond’s 80th city manager since Jan 2017. His giving medication has governed some of the Old Dominion State capital’s most difficult, pressing, and divided times, most notably the city’s June 2020 protests at the Henry M. Robert E. Richard Henry Lee Statute inwards response to the dispatch of George I Floyd.
Stoney takes credit entry for cleansing upward the city’s finances and up its infrastructure. The Democrat also believes he’s inextricably responsible for Richmond’s poorness place diminution of to a greater extent than 20% since he fictitious office.
His critics, however, say racial tensions have got only when worsened during his administration. He also misfired in cerebration he could win o'er urban center elector back up for a Las Vegas-style cassino resort.
Richmonders voted “no” ii times on gambling casino referendums, with the indorse balloting existence scolded by gaming opponents and those who believed Stoney and the Richmond City Council violated the democratic process.
Self-Proclaimed Trailblazer
Stoney says he’s running for governor to do trusted all Virginians have “a just shot” where success doesn’t depend on one’s zip code. He believes he’s qualified to land people together, as he was the first-class honours degree Joseph Black person to serve as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of VA and became the youngest city manager inward Richmond’s story when he was elected at 35 years of age.
We made historic investments to uplift the city and to improve the lives of the people who live inwards it,” Stoney stated inward his effort set in motion video. “We set our crumbling roadstead and infrastructure. We reduced the poverty charge per unit past 22%. We got our financial domiciliate in dictate and the urban center now has a budget surplus.”
Stoney added that “we brought downward Confederate statues that don’t reverberate our values” and cited a Travel + Leisure Magazine story that ranked capital of Virginia as the “Best Place to Live inward Virginia.”
Stoney says Youngkin is dividing the commonwealth and is trying to tramp backwards progress.
“We can’t give to sit around on our custody and perform nothing,” Stoney concluded.
I’ve seen Virginia’s potential. It’s where a story like mine was possible.
But today, success depends too a great deal on your zip code. I require to establish a VA where EVERYONE has a just shot. No matter where you live.
That’s why I’m running to follow your next Governor of Virginia. pic.twitter.com/ORYMYehiRj
— Mayor Levar M. Stoney (@LevarStoney) December 4, 2023
Stoney is already cladding another Democratic primary feather challenger inward US Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Virginia). The congresswoman won’t seek reelection so she can running for governor.
No Republican River has yet declared their 2025 election candidacy.
Casino Blunders
Stoney was an inexorable supporter of capital of Virginia bringing a casino resort to the working capital metro. He tried to rebound sustenance for Urban One, a Black-focused media conglomerate, on to each one of the radio and TV company’s cassino pitches.
The 2021 cassino slant was narrowly defeated 51-49%. The difference was to a lesser extent than 1,500 votes. Last month’s gambling casino referendum was to a greater extent strongly rejected past a balloting of about 62%-38%.
Urban One was seeking permission to make an integrated resort cassino close the Prince Philip Robert Morris set on the city’s Southside on Interstate 95. Both gambling casino referendum votes were split, with to a greater extent affluent neighborhoods primarily northwards of the William James River opposing the contrive and less-wealthy areas patronage the cassino initiative.
Stoney and the City Council had pledged to utilise the city’s casino tax revenues to improve bankroll betimes puerility programs through the establishment of the capital of Virginia Childcare and Education Trust Fund. Political activistic Saul of Tarsus Goodman, who championed the successful casino oppositeness campaigns, countered that “we’re non wanting money inwards Richmond” but “lacking a vision.”
“You can’t recount me the only when right smart to assist kids is to riptide sour their parents,” Goldman said.