HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Democratic candidate Lamont Bagby won the 74th district house seat Tuesday, replacing Joe Morrissey.
The special election determined who would represent the 74th House District, which includes parts of Richmond, Henrico, and Charles City, during a special General Assembly session next month. Former Delegate Joe Morrissey resigned the seat earlier this year to run for Virginia Senate in another district.
The two names on the ballot were Democrat Lamont Bagby, a Henrico County School Board member, and Independent David Lambert, the son the late state senator Benjamin Lambert. Bagby will serve only a few months before facing re-election because the seat is back up for grabs during the general election in November.
Even though the term will be short, it will be important. In August, the General Assembly will convene for a special session to redraw congressional lines. A panel of judges ruled Virginia's 3rd Congressional district was unconstitutional because it included too many African Americans, which diluted their voting power. Only voters in the 74th House District (parts of Richmond, Henrico, and Charles City) could vote in Tuesday's special election.
