The presidential election isn’t the only political showdown in Virginia this November. The state’s capital is also electing a new mayor. A poll out Tuesday from Christopher Newport University finds former state delegate Joe Morrissey has a commanding lead in Richmond’s mayoral race.
Even though most state delegates aren’t exactly household names, you might be familiar with Joe Morrissey’s.
“The scandal with getting his 17-year old intern pregnant and then marrying her and now they’re married and they have a second kid,” Quentin Kidd, a political scientist at Christopher Newport University, reminds us.
Morrissey was a Democratic delegate in Virginia’s legislature for eight years. He resigned after being convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
“People outside of Richmond, look at this and say ‘How could he be so popular?’ says Kidd.
Morrissey though has spent years as a defense attorney in Richmond, and has strong relationships in the city’s African-American community.
“There’s almost like a ‘He’s our guy, and we’re going to stick with him,’ attitude amongst his supporters,” says Kidd.
Morrissey has a 12% lead in a crowded 8-person field. Trailing behind are local businessman Jack Berry and former Secretary of the Commonwealth LevarStoney.