Leon Benjamin is the Republican nominee for a special election in VA-04 after Benjamin won 57 percent of the votes in the first round of ranked choice voting in a Saturday canvass, Fourth District Republican Chairman Carey Allen told The Virginia Star.
“Thank you, VA-4, for your nomination to represent you in Washington! Together we will WIN this Special Election and ensure your voice is HEARD through the Halls of Congress. God bless you all,” Benjamin said in a social media statement.
Allen said about 350 votes were cast, with Dale Sturdifen coming in second and Derrick Hollie came in third.
On Monday, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the February 21 date for the special election on Monday, triggering a lightning nomination process that saw repeat candidate Benjamin running against Dale Sturdifen who was backed by Congressman Bob Good (R-VA-05). Good was present at the Saturday canvass, according to Richmond City Republican Chair Hayden Fisher.
“Sturdifen had a number of people helping him, and he really was just not a match for Leon’s grassroots turnout,” Fisher told The Star.
Benjamin isn’t new to the district, having previously run for Richmond City council. He also challenged late Congressman Donald McEachin in multiple elections, including the recent general election in November, when McEachin won 64.92 percent to 34.89 percent.
Fisher said McEachin’s previous wins were due in part to his incumbency, but that Benjamin has a decent floor of supporters.
“Every vote he got in this last election, they came out specifically for him,” Fisher said. “He’s not an incumbent, he’s had to earn every single vote.”
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Leon Benjamin” by Leon Benjamin. Background Photo “United States Capitol” by David Maiolo. CC BY-SA 3.0.
