Avula wins mayoral race in a landslide

The race for mayor of Richmond was still going on early Wednesday morning as results showed Danny Avula taking the mayoral seat during a contentious race that also saw some close contests for Richmond City Council seats.

Avula defeated Andreas Addison, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett, and Harrison Roday with 46.00% votes. Candidates have been campaigning since June 2024. 

Avula prioritized issues like public health and affordable housing during his campaign, drawing on his doctor background to win over voters. 

Avula is a practicing pediatrician and has served as the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services since 2022, according to his campaign website. He also led a statewide COVID vaccination effort in 2021, pinning Virginia as one of the top ten states with the most citizens vaccinated against the virus. 

Andrew “Gumby” Breton defeated Paul Goldman and Zachary Lee Walker to win Richmond’s 1st District with 49.09% of the vote. 

As former Chair of the Richmond City Democratic Committee, Breton organized the children’s march for gun safety legislation in 2023, passed a resolution for more FOIA compliance, and spearheaded funding for a new Department of Transportation, according to his campaign website. In his upcoming term, he hopes to increase public safety by enacting violence reduction measures and investing in technology upgrades to city services. 

Katherine J. Jordan ran unopposed in the 2nd District. In her first term, Jordan passed the Climate Emergency Resolution and secured funding for Richmond Public Schools, according to her campaign website. In the next four years, she plans to continue addressing constituent complaints, which included the casino referendum and road safety in her previous years. 

In the 3rd District, Kenya Gibson ousted incumbent Ann-Frances Lambert and Maria Carra Rose with 39.21% of the vote. 

Gibson, who formerly represented the district's school board, won voter favor with plans to implement people-first spending and expand access to affordable housing and union jobs, according to her campaign website.

Sarah Abubaker won unopposed in the 4th District. Her campaign was centered on improving district infrastructure, increasing funding to natural resources, and considering a property tax reform, according to her campaign website. 

Stephanie Lynch also took the 5th District seat unopposed. In her first term, Lynch reduced evictions and worked on legislation to create more opioid treatment facilities, according to her campaign website.

In her next term, her campaign platform included strengthening the quality of education for students, expanding access to affordable housing, and improving public safety initiatives.

Incumbent Ellen Robertson defeated Tavares Floyd and Willie Hilliard with 53.29% of votes in the 6th District. 

Robertson has served 20 years in the council. In that time, she established Richmond’s first Affordable Housing Trust Fund, secured tax relief for disabled people and seniors, and increased funding towards RPS, according to her campaign website. In her next term, Robertson wants to create a community-led police reform model, implement restorative justice in the criminal justice system, and build the Hillside Court Recreational Center. 

In the 7th District, Cynthia Newbille took the seat of the 7th District again, defeating Eric Sundberg with 66.75% of the vote. Newbille has represented the district since 2009. 

Reva Trammell retained Richmond’s 8th District seat, defeating Frank Wilson Jr. with 67.44% of the votes in the race. 

She has led the charge for collective bargaining for city employees since 1998 and has donated funds to RPS and the Richmond Police Department, according to her campaign website. Trammell hopes to reduce taxes and increase affordable housing in her next term. 

Nicole Jones held on to the 9th District with 57.95% of the votes.

Jones served one term on the district’s school board until she was appointed to the city council in 2024, according to her campaign website. She is a nonprofit executive for Art 180, an organization that promotes arts for young people, and plans to expand access to green and recreational spaces and collaborate with local developers to promote affordable housing.

Avula will be Richmond’s 81st mayor. 

“It’s going to take all of us, but together we will build a Richmond where everyone’s rights are protected, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and where no one gets left behind,” said Avula in a post on X Wednesday morning. 

Contact news writer Ava Humphries at ava.humphries@richmond.edu, writer Jessica Khan at jessica.khan@richmond.edu, and writer Sydney Boehman at sydney.boehman@richmond.edu.