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As Republicans prepare to gather this Friday and choose a candidate for the 10th District special election, we now know when that event will take place. 

Current 10th District State Senator John McGuire, who won that seat in the 2023 election, ran for and won the 5th District seat representing Virginia in the U.S. Congress last month. That means this region needs someone new to fill the 10th District seat. However, a date for that election can’t be set until McGuire officially resigns, which is what he did on Tuesday. 

“Through the grace of God, it has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve my community as a Virginia State Senator,” McGuire wrote in his resignation. “I could not have done any of this without my best friend and wife Tracy McGuire. Archer McGiffin, my legislative aide, has done an incredible job helping me with constituent services and legislation in the House and the Senate. Thank you for your trust in me to represent and fight for your values in the General Assembly. It has been an honor working together with many new friends and talented professionals in the House of Delegates and State Senate to solve problems for we the people. What they taught me about working with others to help constituents will transfer to the House of Representatives.” 

McGuire also pointed to several bills from his time in Richmond that he’s proud of. That includes HB2318, which gave additional training to school nurses, while putting narcan and naloxone in every school in Virginia. Those are drugs used to reverse an opioid overdose. 

“We received a policy maker of the year award, a legislator of the year award, we staunchly protected our 2nd Amendment rights, we passed a pro-life bill this year, and this year we received the highest award for conservatism in Virginia, the Champion of Limited Government Award,” McGuire wrote. “Each year my team and I were able to pass bills where every democrat and every republican voted yes. It really is amazing what we can achieve when we put our differences aside, treat others with respect, and work as a team. In doing so, we can sometimes turn a no into a yes and the impossible to possible.” 

10th District date set, what’s next? 

Election officials in Richmond have confirmed the resignation was received and a date of Tuesday, Jan. 7 has been set for the special election in the 10th District. It’s scheduled so close because whoever wins on Tuesday will turn right around and be seated on Thursday, Jan. 9. That’s the first day of the new Assembly session. 

Jack Trammell was the only Democrat to file, so there’s no need for a primary on that side. On the other side, however, we have seven candidates. They include Cumberland County Board of Supervisors member Bryan Hamlett, current Louisa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Duane Adams, former State Senator Amanda Chase, Chase’s former staffer and U.S. veteran Shayne Snavely, Prince Edward County business owner Luther Cifers, recent University of Richmond graduate Alex Cheatham and Gannon Appraisals owner Jean Gannon. 

To narrow that field down to one candidate, Republicans will hold a mass meeting on Friday, Dec. 13. That’ll take place at the Goochland Sports Complex. It’s located at 1800 Sandy Hook Road in Goochland. Registration starts at 4:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m.

Rules for the Republican meeting

Now unlike the Virginia primaries, only Republicans are allowed to cast a ballot for their specific candidate. Also, it could be a lengthy process. Unlike some of the other options, a mass meeting goes through several rounds of voting. Each round removes the last place candidate, until it gets down to one final choice, who wins at least 50.1% of the vote in the final ballot. 

Parking is free at the complex, but is also limited, so there’s a good chance you’ll have to park around the area and walk back to the site. Organizers have suggested that people eat beforehand or bring food, as there will be no food trucks or other operations on site. 

There had been some discussion about holding it on Saturday, Dec. 14, but hunters in the group and across the region had asked for that not to take place, as that’s the day you’ll most likely find them up in a tree. Originally, the 10th District Republican Committee set the meeting for Thursday, Dec. 12, but there was argument about that date as well. Some claimed it would be harder to get people out, registered and in place by 6:30 p.m. in the middle of the week. So instead, it’s been bumped back a day to Friday, Dec. 13.

“Please be sure to bring your ID and check in to be credentialed once you arrive,” the 10th District Committee said in a statement on social media. “Rules of the meeting have yet to be determined, but one of the 7 candidates will need to garner at least 50% plus 1 of the vote to win the nomination. Please make sure you arrive in plenty of time to be checked in no later than 6:30 p.m.”