McClellan cruises to reelection in Fourth District, wins 39 of 42 Henrico precincts

U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan easily won reelection Nov. 3 in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District, defeating two challengers and carrying 39 of the 42 Henrico County precincts included in the district.

McClellan, a Democrat, had received nearly 200,000 votes, or about 70%, as of midnight, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections, with ab out 885 of precincts reporting. Republican Robert P. "Family Man" Murray Jr. had received nearly 79,000 voters (about 28%), while independent Joan E. "Andrews" Bell received nearly 4,000 (just more than 1%).

The Associated Press called the race for McClellan at 8:33 p.m., well before all votes had been counted.

McClellan's victory extends her tenure representing the heavily Democratic district, which includes Eastern Henrico, portions of Chesterfield County, the city of Richmond and communities stretching south toward the North Carolina border.

In Henrico, McClellan received 50,550 votes to Murray's 12,789, giving her nearly 79% of the vote in the county's portion of the district. Bell received 764 votes, and another 138 were cast for write-in candidates.

McClellan carried 39 of the 42 Henrico precincts in the district, winning several by overwhelming margins.

In Maplewood, she received 1,906 votes to Murray's 73, capturing more than 95% of the total vote. She also won Central Gardens 1,583 to 58, Fairfield 1,005 to 43 and Ratcliffe 2,026 to 115.

Her largest numerical advantage came in the Rolfe precinct, where she received 2,250 votes to Murray's 146, a margin of 2,104 votes.

Other substantial Henrico victories came in Pleasants, where McClellan won 1,793 to 154; Azalea, where she prevailed 1,706 to 117; and Lakeside, where she defeated Murray 1,962 to 645.

Murray carried just three Henrico precincts: Antioch, Elko and Town Hall, all in the Varina magisterial district.

He won Antioch 782 to 478 and Elko 359 to 147. His narrowest victory came in Town Hall, where he edged McClellan by just two votes, 339 to 337.

McClellan's 37,761-vote advantage in Henrico accounted for more than one-third of her districtwide margin of 110,392 votes.

The results continued a pattern of strong Democratic support in Eastern Henrico, which has consistently provided substantial margins for Democratic candidates in congressional, statewide and local elections.

McClellan first won the Fourth District seat in a February 2023 special election following the death of longtime Democratic Congressman Donald McEachin. Her victory made her the first Black woman elected to Congress from Virginia. She subsequently won a full term in 2024.

During this year's campaign, McClellan emphasized healthcare affordability, reproductive rights, housing costs and protecting federal assistance programs.

She has advocated reversing federal Medicaid cuts and restoring enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, arguing that the changes enacted by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans threaten access to affordable health coverage.

McClellan also has promoted what she calls her "All-American Family Agenda," a legislative framework intended to make raising a family more affordable through policies addressing healthcare, childcare, housing and support for working parents.

Murray, a retired technology entrepreneur and corporate executive, campaigned on government reform, reducing inflation, lowering housing costs and changes to the nation's family law system.

He advocated reducing federal spending, changing monetary policy and easing housing regulations as ways to address affordability.

In an election-night statement reported by VPM News, McClellan thanked voters for returning her to Congress and characterized the results as a rejection of the Trump administration's policies.

"Thank you to the voters of the Fourth District for entrusting me to serve you for another term," McClellan said. "Tonight, Virginians sent a loud and clear message that they want leaders who focus on building community while fighting the chaos created by the Trump Administration. That's exactly what I will do in the 120th Congress."

Her victory came on a night when another Henrico Democrat, Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor, defeated longtime Republican incumbent Rob Wittman in Virginia's First Congressional District.

Together, the results mean that both congressional districts serving Henrico County will be represented by Democrats when the new Congress convenes in January.