NORFOLK, Va. — Virginia's 2023 general election happens on November 7, and all 140 seats in the state's General Assembly are up for grabs. This is also Virginia’s first election since legislative district maps were redrawn using 2020 census data.
Democrat Jackie Glass, the incumbent candidate, will face off against Republican challenger John Sitka in the newly drawn 93rd District for the House of Delegates.
About the 93rd District
Based on total voter registration numbers alone, the 93rd District is the largest of Norfolk's House of Delegate districts. Located at the center of the city, the district encompasses precincts previously spread across four different house districts.
There are roughly 56,000 registered voters in the district, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. The demographics of the district are broken down by roughly 48% black voters and 36% white voters.
The precincts within the district have leaned democratic across presidential, congressional and state elections dating back to 2016.
VOTER GUIDE: Virginia's 2023 elections are coming up. Here's a look at races, candidates, voter registration info and more.
Virginia House candidate, Del. Jackie Glass
Del. Glass currently represents the 89th House of Delegates District, winning the seat in a special election after former-Del. Jay Jones stepped down from the General Assembly in 2021.
One of the General Assembly's most recently voted-in members, Glass is a mother and navy veteran who comes from a history of community activism.
“Hearing our community, education is a hot topic. People want to see most change, it’s why people are choosing Chesapeake and Virginia beach over us [Norfolk]."
When asked if re-elected what type of legislation she'd like to be most associated with, she told 13News Now it's being a supporter of diverse and creative forms of economic growth and development.
"A more robust, creative economy. Treating creative content creators and independent entrepreneurs as an actual business, an actual economic driver... if I'm making my mark it’s making a space for creatives to stay in the Commonwealth.”
Virginia House candidate John Sitka
The retired Navy Chief Quartermaster is throwing his hat back in the political ring, after falling short in a race for Norfolk's school board last year.
"It didn’t stop my motivation to say, 'Can we do something with education,'" Sitka told 13News Now.
A background as an educator, Sitka's primary legislative priorities include improving elements of education such as work force training, and better accommodating mental health resources for the state.
“Why don’t we do like the government does, and offer educational opportunities at the university and college levels, and say ‘If you’re interested in working in mental health, the state will pay for that education as long as you give us 5 years back on a community services board."