2016 Richmond, Virginia mayoral election


The Richmond, Virginia mayoral election of 2016 took place on November 8, 2016. Voters elected the Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, members of the Richmond City Council, as well as several other local officials. In an officially nonpartisan, three-way race, Levar Stoney, the former state Secretary of the Commonwealth defeated Jack Berry, former Hanover County Administrator, and Joe Morrissey, former delegate of the Virginia House of Delegates. Former councilperson, Michelle Mosby, finished in a distant third. On January 1, 2017, Stoney took office as the 80th mayor of Richmond, Virginia.
In the Richmond mayoral election, in addition to winning the popular vote, mayoral candidates must win the popular vote in five of the nine city districts. Stoney was able to achieve a majority of the popular vote, receiving 35,525 votes, in addition to winning five city districts, compared to three won by Berry and one won by Morrissey. The night of November 8, the Morrissey campaign conceded to Berry and Stoney, and Berry's campaign conceded to Stoney the following day, when provisional and absentee ballots still had Stoney in the lead.
At the age of 35, Stoney became the youngest politician to ever be elected as the Mayor of Richmond. On November 12, 2016 the Stoney campaign began the transition team between his administration, and Jones' departing administration.

Background

Incumbent Democrat Dwight C. Jones was ineligible to seek re-election due to mayoral term limits. The election was the fourth citywide election for mayor through popular vote. The election is nonpartisan meaning no candidate can be affiliated with any party on the ticket.

Candidates

Declared

Polling

Early polling has suggested that Joe Morrissey is the front-runner in the mayoral election, followed by Jack Berry.
Poll sourceDate administeredSample sizeMargin of errorJon BalilesJack BerryJoe MorrisseyMichelle MosbyLevar StoneyBruce TylerOther/Undecided
CNUAugust 24 – 30, 2016600±4.9%9%16%28%10%7%4%18%
American StrategiesSeptember 17 – 21, 2016600±4.0%12%25%29%7%14%—11%

Results