The 2021 90th District special election to the Virginia House of Delegates takes place on January 5.
In this small urban seat, voters head to the polls in a state legislative election year in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Therefore, they will be going back in November, but not before choosing a new delegate to head to Richmond.
On the same day, Virginia’s 2nd House District will also be holding a special election. Both will be far overshadowed by the Georgia US Senate runoffs, also on the same day.
90th District Special Election Results
90th District Special Election 2021: Key Facts
PREVIOUSLY HELD BY: Joe Lindsey (D), who held the seat from 2014 until November 2020. Lindsey was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Norfolk General District Court.1
LOCATION: Unlike the 2nd District race happening on the same day, the 90th District is much further south in the Hampton Roads area. The 90th is contained almost entirely within the City of Norfolk, going from the Military Circle Mall in the south to the Chesapeake Bay up north.
POLITICAL COMPOSITION: This is a heavily Democratic district. It is rare for Republicans to be competitive here, with 30 percent of the vote being a rough average in recent statewide elections. Lindsey won his last three elections, 2015, 2017, and 2019, with no Republican opposition.2
WHO’S RUNNING: Angelia Williams Graves (D-Norfolk) and Sylvia Bryant (R-Norfolk). Williams Graves represents Super-Ward 7 on the Norfolk City Council. Bryant is a business administrator making her first run for office.
The Virginia House of Delegates
Democrats hold a 53 to 45 majority in the House, with two current vacancies. The outcomes of both special elections will not impact the partisan control of the House of Delegates.
Virginia House of Delegates 90th District Special Election: Evaluation
There is a very high probability of the Democrats retaining the seat. A Republican win would be such a surprise that its impact would be incalculable. Low turnout elections are always a little odd, but there is no evidence to suggest that this predominantly African-American district will be voting GOP.
Sources: 90th District Special Election 2021 Further Reading
- Jonathan Edwards, “State delegate, longtime lawyer Joe Lindsey appointed Norfolk judge,” The Virginian-Pilot, 10 November 2020, Website Link)
- VPAP, “House of Delegates District 90,” VPAP.org, 28 December 2020, Website Link)