Bagby Wins Big #SD09
OVER 70% 👩🏽🚒 BAGBY WINS BIG IN SENATE DISTRICT NINE. In another election featuring a short time window requiring candidates hussling to get information out to voters, Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Del. Lamont Bagby was superior. Bagby, a former Henrico High School teacher who served on the Henrico School Board from 2008 to 2015 and in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2016, easily won a Feb. 26 firehouse with over 70 percent.
Bagby’s campaign was planned meticulously with TV ads, mailers, radio ads and a diverse ground game backed by an even more diverse group of supporters. Del. Bagby’s campaign focused on issues that disproportionately impact working class Black voters such as affordable housing and predatory lending. Those issues were showcased in Bagby’s TV ads and a well timed campaign, all culminating in a sizable victory of over 70 percent of the vote.
This morning at a press conference with party Chair Susan Swecker at Democratic Party headquarters in Richmond, Del. Bagby was asked about his campaign strategy given the short time window and what impact that may or may not have had on voters.
RELATED: 📹 PRESSER THIS MORNING in Richmond, Va. with Del. Bagby and Chairwoman Susan Swecker.
“I waited until the day after she [McClellan] won, to make my announcement, because I didn't want the confusion. We want to make sure that everyone knows I have not won the race and I'm not the Senator-Elect…. [voters] can express their desire for me to serve in the Senate on March the 28th. So March 28 is the date we're going to be talking about. Yesterday was great, but it wasn't a Super Bowl,” Del. Bagby said standing next to Swecker.
The nominating process for special elections in Virginia has no hard rules around it codified in state law. But in firehouse election in December won by Congresswoman-Elect McClellan and the firehouse held yesterday, voters were responsive in a short period of time.
“They understand the importance of what's what is at stake. Women's reproductive rights, protecting our HBCUs, protecting K-12 education, protecting our teachers, there's so much we need to do in the Commonwealth, and particularly in Richmond,” Del. Bagby said. Bagby also mentioned education and housing as top priorities for voters.
Bagby won on resume but also on geography: Sixty percent of SD09 is Henrico. When candidates run for the newly drawn SD14 in the June primary, the new SD14 will be 80 percent Richmond. But Lamont Bagby will have a sizable advantage as a sitting State Senator in the June 20 primary. His effort to finally sit in the seat held by Jennifer McClellan has been a long road that involved Bagby stepping out of the Dec, 21 firehouse for the U.S. House.
Candidates who have filed for SD14 to compete in the June 20 primary are Del. Bagby, Del. Dawn Adams, Pastor Katie Gooch and Alexsis Rodgers.
On March 28, Delegate Bagby’s title will change to Senator Lamont Bagby. Republicans have selected Stephen Imholt yesterday as their nominee for the March 28 special election.
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