Prince William Circuit Court Judge Kimberly Irving tossed out a challenge from Maria Martin, a Republican who was unhappy about the results of a recount of her June 20 Primary Election loss to Nikki Rattray Baldwin.
Martin argued that one of her election observers witnessed a ballot that may have been improperly marked and that the observer could not review the vote. However, the observer was not a recount official; Irving stated that chosen campaigns before the July 21, 2023, recount occurred and had no right to challenge the ballot.
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InsideNova: “An unsuccessful candidate in the 19th District House of Delegates primary claims the results were illegitimate and has asked that Democratic leaders nominate her instead, a move that party operatives say they’re legally unable to do.”
“Woodbridge resident and former FBI employee Makya Little lost her party’s nomination to Prince William County Historical Commission member and Woodbridge native Rozia Henson by 49 votes.”
“However, she claimed Democratic Party leaders in Prince William and Fairfax counties violated “party rules in a manner that manipulated voters to ensure their desired outcome.”
Meanwhile, Maria Martin, a Republican seeking the 29th District Virginia State Senate seat in Prince William and Stafford counties, is appealing her appeal for a recount, saying she’s unhappy about the recount process.
The recount upheld Nikki Rattray Baldwin’s two-vote victory over Martin in a June 20, 2023, Republican Party Primary Election.
Maria Martin lost the Republican Primary Election to her opponent Nikki Ratray Baldwin by two votes.
A hand recount of ballots cast of more than 16,000 ballots in Prince William and Stafford counties for the GOP nomination for the Virginia Senate 29 seat completed Friday, July 21, 2023, confirms the result.
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Nikki Rattray Baldwin declared victory in the run for the Republican nomination in the June 20, 2023, Primary Election.
Baldwin beat her opponent Maria Martin by two votes. Martin has called for a recount.
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Insidenova.com: “Down just two votes, Maria Martin announced Tuesday she intends to request a recount in the Republican primary for the District 29 State Senate seat, even as opponent Nikki Rattray Baldwin declared victory in the contest.”
The Center Square: “Clear winners and losers emerged from Tuesday’s state Senate primaries, except for Virginia Senate District 29, where Democratic and Republican candidates are locked in races too close to call.”
“With more than 95% of votes in and only provisional and mail-in ballots left to be tallied, the races of Democrats Sen. Jeremy McPike and challenger Del. Elizabeth Guzman, and Republicans Maria Martin and Nikki Baldwin are headed toward a recount.”
“McPike only has a 0.2% lead over Guzman, and Martin and Baldwin hold an exact tie, each with 50% of the vote. Virginia’s recount law states that the race is eligible for a recount if a candidate does not win by more than 1%.”
Prince William County Republican Committee: “As Chairman of the Prince William Republican Committee, I would like to offer my most enthusiastic congratulations to the winners in the June 20 Republican primaries, including Jeanine Lawson for County Chair, Bill Woolf in the 30th State Senate District, and John Stirrup in the 21st District of the House of Delegates.”
“I also would like to commend those Republican candidates that did not prevail, including Josh Quill and Robert Ruffolo; they demonstrated their courage and commitment to the principles of the Republican Party by undertaking all the ardors and difficulties of a political campaign.”
“We still do not know who has won in the 29th Senate District but the close race between Nikki Rattray Baldwin and Maria Martin demonstrates that the qualities of the candidates made it a difficult decision for Republican voters.”
“It is now time for Republican voters to rally behind their Prince William County candidates in the general elections this November. If the candidates are willing to lay their time, their effort, and their money on the line to save this county, can we do less?”
The primary race for Republicans and Democrats in Virginia’s 29th Senate District (portions of Prince William and Stafford counties) remains too close to call.
Incumbent Democrat Jeremy McPike is trying to hold on to his seat but faces tough competition from challenger and current House of Delegates member Elizabeth Guzman.
A total of 46 votes separates McPike and Guzman in the party’s primary challenge. McPike has held the seat since 2016. Guzman was elected to the House of Delegates in 2017.
Incumbent Democrat Jeremy McPike is trying to hold on to his seat but faces tough competition from challenger and current House of Delegates member Elizabeth Guzman.
A total of 46 votes separates McPike and Guzman in the party’s primary challenge. McPike has held the seat since 2016. Guzman was elected to the House of Delegates in 2017.
For Republicans, Maria Martin is challenging Nikki Rattray Baldwin for the party’s nomination. Only 10 votes separates the two candidates.
Martin has sought state-level office since 2019, first in the House of Delegates and now in the Senate.
Martin and Baldwin live in Prince William County. Martin is a Bolivian immigrant and Marine Corps wife and homemaker. Baldwin is a Navy veteran, a wife of a U.S. Marine of 13 years, and the mother of a 9-year-old boy.
It’s been a nail-biter of a Primary Election in the 29th Virginia Senate District, which includes eastern Prince William and northern Stafford counties.
Incumbent Democrat Jeremy McPike is trying to hold on to his seat but faces tough competition from challenger and current House of Delegates member Elizabeth Guzman.
A total of 46 votes separates McPike and Guzman in the party’s primary challenge. McPike has held the seat since 2016. Guzman was elected to the House of Delegates in 2017.
The Virginia Supreme Court redrew the state’s political districts in 2021, reshaping the 29th Senate District and redrawing Guzman’s House district seat, prompting her to run for Senate.
Guzman’s statement: “Given the narrow margin in a race in which more than 12,000 votes were cast, the campaign of Delegate Elizabeth Guzman will wait for every vote – including provisional ballots and absentee ballots that were postmarked by June 20 – to be counted in the race for Senate District 29.”
“Democracy is worth waiting for. We look forward to allowing the process to play out, including the canvassing of the votes and the counting of provisional and outstanding absentee ballots.”
McPike raised over $1 million for the campaign, about double what Guzman raised. McPike works for the Alexandria City government as its General Services Director. Guzman is a social worker who gained national attention when WJLA-TV reported she would pen legislation requiring social services to be dispatched to a home if parents did not affirm a child’s gender, similar to legislation passed in California.
It’s equally tight in the Republican Primary in the 29th, where Maria Martin is challenging Nikki Rattray Baldwin for the party’s nomination. Only 10 votes separates the two candidates.
Martin has sought state-level office since 2019, first in the House of Delegates and now in the Senate.
Martin and Baldwin live in Prince William County. Martin is a Bolivian immigrant and Marine Corps wife and homemaker. Baldwin is a Navy veteran, a wife of a U.S. Marine of 13 years, and the mother of a 9-year-old boy.
The final results should be determined on Friday. A recount is possible in each race.
