The Commonwealth of Virginia is in the process of settling down from its recent election of the legislators soon to take oath of office for the 164th Virginia General Assembly…well, except for Southside Virginia.
On December 12th, 2023 Delegate Les Adams announced his resignation from his seat in the House of Delegates as he is set to take on another position of service and a few days later on December 15th Senator Frank Ruff announced his resignation from his seat due to health reasons.
Both Delegate Adams and Senator Ruff will finish out their current terms which are set to expire on January 9th, 2024 the very same day in which a special election is set to fill both their seats at the order of Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The seats in question are House District 48 which covers parts of Pittsylvania and Henry Counties and all of Martinsville City and Senate District 9 which covers all of Pittsylvania, Halifax, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Charlotte, Lunenburg Counties, Danville City and parts of Prince Edward County. Both districts are Strong Republican and are considered safe red areas.
Delegate Adams has served in the General Assembly since 2014 and Senator Ruff since 1994 serving four terms in the House of Delegates and has served in the Senate since 2000. Both won their elections in November unopposed each with over 90% of the vote.
A mass meeting was held at the Old Dominion Agricultural Center in Chatham on December 14th to select the Republican nominee for House District 48. Eric Phillips, a small business owner, Chair of the Henry County-Martinsville Republican Committee and member of the Virginia GOP’s State Central Committee won the nomination against Will Pace, the former Mayor of Chatham, former Chair of the Fifth Congressional District Republican Committee and Chair of the Pittsylvania County Republican Committee.
Phillips will be facing off against the Democratic nominee Melody Cartwright (former graphic/exhibit designer at the Virginia Museum of Natural History).
As for Senate District 9, a mass meeting was held on December 19th at the Drakes Branch Fire Department in Charlotte County. After four rounds of voting Tammy Mulchi of Clarksville and Legislative Aid of 14 years to Senator Frank Ruff won the Republican nomination against five other candidates.
● James Edmunds (Delegate of House District 60)
● Kade Gravitt (Legislative Aid to Delegate Tommy Wright)
● Andy Ferguson (Pastor and Chairman of the Halifax County Republican Committee)
● Dale Sturdifen (member of the State Board of Education appointed by Governor Youngkin)
● Lee Vogler (Danville City Councilman)
Mulchi will be facing off against the Democratic nominee Tina Wyatt-Younger (former Vice Mayor of South Boston).
Save the date Southside Virginians of the 48th House and 9th Senate Districts for Tuesday January 9th, 2024 and vote for Eric Phillips for Delegate and Tammy Mulchi for State Senate.
And thank you to both Delegate Les Adams and Senator Frank Ruff for y’all’s years of service to Virginian’s in the General Assembly. My prayers go out to Senator Ruff and his family as he focuses on his health and well being.
