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Levar Stoney
Levar Stoney (Democratic Party) was the Mayor of Richmond in Virginia. He assumed office on December 31, 2016. He left office on January 1, 2025.
Stoney (Democratic Party) ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 17, 2025.
Stoney also ran for election for Governor of Virginia. He will not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 4, 2025.
Biography
Stoney obtained a bachelor's degree in public administration and political science from James Madison University in 2004. Stoney served as deputy campaign manager of Terry McAuliffe's 2013 gubernatorial run. He previously served as executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia and was political director for Creigh Deeds' 2009 gubernatorial campaign.[1]
Political career
Mayor of Richmond (2016-2025)
Stoney was elected mayor of Richmond, Virginia on November 8, 2016, and served until January 1, 2025.
Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016)
Stoney was named secretary of state by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in November 2013 and took office in January 2014.[2] He resigned April 15, 2016.[3]
Elections
2025
Lieutenant governor
See also: Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2025
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Ghazala Hashmi, John Reid, and Marlow Jones are running in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Ghazala Hashmi (D)  | |
 | John Reid (R) | |
 | Marlow Jones (Independent) (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on June 17, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ghazala Hashmi | 27.5 | 136,717 |
 | Levar Stoney | 26.5 | 131,765 | |
 | Aaron Rouse | 26.2 | 130,485 | |
 | Babur Lateef | 8.5 | 42,099 | |
 | Alex Bastani | 5.7 | 28,476 | |
 | Victor Salgado | 5.6 | 27,593 | |
| Total votes: 497,135 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. John Reid advanced from the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Curran (R)
- Pat Herrity (R)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Stoney received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
Governor
See also: Virginia gubernatorial election, 2025
General election
General election for Governor of Virginia
Abigail Spanberger, Winsome Earle-Sears, and Donna Charles are running in the general election for Governor of Virginia on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Abigail Spanberger (D) | |
 | Winsome Earle-Sears (R) | |
 | Donna Charles (Independent) (Write-in) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Levar Stoney (D)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Abigail Spanberger advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Winsome Earle-Sears advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of Virginia.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Merle Rutledge (R)
- Dave LaRock (R)
- Amanda Chase (R)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Stoney received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- Frmr. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D)
2024
Levar Stoney did not file to run for re-election.
2020
See also: Mayoral election in Richmond, Virginia (2020)
General election
General election for Mayor of Richmond
The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Richmond on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Levar Stoney (Nonpartisan) | 37.7 | 41,145 |
| Alexsis Rodgers (Nonpartisan) | 26.5 | 28,885 | ||
 | Kimberly Gray (Nonpartisan) | 26.1 | 28,478 | |
| M. Justin Griffin (Nonpartisan) | 7.1 | 7,786 | ||
| Michael Gilbert (Nonpartisan) | 1.4 | 1,473 | ||
| Tracey McLean (Nonpartisan) | 1.0 | 1,099 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 220 | ||
| Total votes: 109,086 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2025
Lieutenant governor
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Levar Stoney did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
Governor
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Levar Stoney did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Stoney's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Mayor Levar Stoney is running for Lt. Governor of Virginia to build a thriving Virginia where everyone has a fair shot at success. He understands the challenges working families face and knows they do not have time to waste. As Lt. Governor he will do what he did as Mayor - and dig right in and get things done. He will do the same as Lt. Governor of Virginia by focusing on: Expanding Opportunity: making Virginia the best state for businesses to grow and create jobs, AND the best state for workers in the nation. Strengthening our Schools: fully funding our public school system and early childhood education and care at the state level to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed from the time they are born until after they graduate high school. Increasing Access to Affordable Housing: funding affordable housing programs at the state and local level, increasing pathways to home ownership, and ensuring residents are not displaced by rising costs. Protecting Choice: protecting everyone’s right to make their own health care decisions, because a few legislative seats are all that protect the right to reproductive freedom in Virginia.[4] |
” |
| —Levar Stoney's campaign website (2025)[5] | ||
2020
Levar Stoney did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
Appointments
2013
Stoney was appointed Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia by Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe (D) November 18, 2013.[2] He resigned on April 15, 2016.[3]
Noteworthy events
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|---|
| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
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On January 27, 2021, Stoney announced he tested positive for COVID-19.[6] On November 9, 2020, Stoney announced would self-quarantine after coming in contact with someone who later tested positive for the virus.[7]
Events and activity following the death of George Floyd
Stoney was mayor of Richmond during the weekend of May 29-31, 2020, when events and activity took place in cities across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd. Events in Richmond, Virginia began on Friday, May 29, 2020, at Monroe Park before moving to the state capitol and police headquarters.[8] On May 31, Mayor Levar Stoney (D) requested assistance from Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who declared a state of emergency. Stoney issued a curfew the same day.[9] The national guard was not deployed over the weekend.
| To read more about the death of George Floyd and subsequent events, click [show] to the right. | |||
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See also
2025 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Governor of Virginia |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "McAuliffe taps Mook, Stoney to lead campaign," November 15, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Washington Post, "Virginia Gov.-elect McAuliffe makes key appointments," November 18, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 WTOP, "Va. secretary of commonwealth resigns," April 15, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Levar Stoney's campaign website, “Meet Levar,” accessed May 7, 2025
- ↑ NBC 12, "Richmond mayor tests positive for COVID-19; State of City address postponed," January 27, 2021
- ↑ NBC 12, "Mayor Stoney to quarantine after potential COVID-19 exposure," November 9, 2020
- ↑ NBC 12, "Protests over George Floyd’s death turn violent in downtown Richmond," May 30, 2020
- ↑ WRIC, "Gov. Northam declares state of emergency, Richmond curfew until June 3," June 1, 2020
- ↑ Washington Post, "The death of George Floyd: What video and other records show about his final minutes," May 30, 2020
- ↑ The New York Times, "8 Minutes and 46 Seconds: How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody," May 31, 2020
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 USA Today, "Medical examiner and family-commissioned autopsy agree: George Floyd's death was a homicide," June 1, 2020
- ↑ Associated Press, "Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death," April 20, 2021
- ↑ CNN, "Protests across America after George Floyd's death," accessed June 2, 2020
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Mayor of Richmond 2016-2025 |
Succeeded by Danny Avula |
| Preceded by - |
Virginia Secretary of State 2014-2016 |
Succeeded by Kelly Thomasson (D) |
