Special election set in Virginia House District 77

(The Center Square) – Virginia House Speaker Don Scott has set a Jan. 6 special election in House District 77 after Del. Mike Jones stepped down to run for the state Senate.

Jones won Sunday’s Democratic firehouse primary for Senate District 15, the seat that Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi will leave when she’s sworn in as lieutenant governor next month. His resignation now opens a seat in District 77, a reliably Democratic seat that covers parts of Richmond and Chesterfield.

Scott picked the Jan. 6 date in a notice sent out Dec. 8, telling Richmond and Chesterfield to get the special election on the books. Candidates have until Dec. 15 at 5 p.m. to file their paperwork.

Two Democrats have already announced campaigns. Former Richmond City Council member Michelle Mosby, who recently ran for mayor of Richmond, and attorney Charlie Schmidt both entered the race this week.

The Democratic Party of ...