Court Challenge Claims Virginia Democrat in Tight Race Should Be Disqualified
A Democratic candidate in one of Virginia’s most competitive legislative races is facing a legal challenge that could determine not only her political future but potentially the balance of power in the state’s House of Delegates.
Three Stafford County voters — Stephen Schwartz, Judith Anne Parker, and Juliet Schweiter — have filed a lawsuit alleging that Stacey Carroll, the Democratic nominee in District 64, does not actually reside in the district she seeks to represent. Instead, they claim she lives in neighboring District 23, a heavily Democratic area, according to Fox News.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to disqualify Carroll from the ballot, asserting that she continues to live near U.S. Route 1 in Aquia, at the southern edge of District 23, while listing a Stafford Court House address roughly seven miles away — a residence reportedly associated with another family. Under a 1966 Virginia Supreme Court precedent, the burden of proof in such residency disputes falls squarely on the voter or candidate.
If Carroll remains on the ballot, she will face Republican Delegate Paul Milde in a district that President Donald Trump carried by less than two points in 2024. Should the court find she resides in Aquia, her actual home district would fall under Democratic Delegate Candi King of Prince William County — a much safer Democratic seat that voted for Kamala Harris by a 66–31 margin.
A Battle for Control of the Virginia House
The stakes could not be higher. Control of the 100-member House of Delegates may hinge on a handful of races. Democrats currently hold a 52–47 majority with one vacancy following former GOP Leader Todd Gilbert’s resignation to serve briefly as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. Republicans need just three net gains to reclaim the majority.
Carroll’s candidacy is among several being closely monitored. In Hampton Roads, Republicans are rallying behind Delegate A.C. Cordoza of Poquoson — the chamber’s only Black Republican — who represents a district that narrowly favored Kamala Harris. GOP leaders including Governor Glenn Youngkin, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, and Republican lieutenant gubernatorial nominee John Reid have all hit the campaign trail to support him.
Hampton Roads — which encompasses Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Chesapeake, and Isle of Wight — remains a battleground where Democrats typically dominate state contests, while Republicans perform better in federal races. Earle-Sears herself rose to prominence after flipping a Democratic-held seat in Virginia Beach back in 2001.
Meanwhile, John Reid’s Senate campaign against Democratic Senator Ghazala Hashmi of Chesterfield could also determine control of the General Assembly. While Democrats currently hold the Senate, Earle-Sears’ role as lieutenant governor allows her to break ties in Republicans’ favor. If Reid wins, the GOP would need only two additional Senate seats to seize control; if Hashmi prevails, they would need three.
Supreme Court Sides with Virginia on Election Integrity
Adding another layer to Virginia’s political shake-up, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of the state’s right to remove non-citizens from voter rolls, delivering a victory for Governor Youngkin and supporters of election integrity.
The 6-3 decision reversed a lower court’s order that had not only blocked removals but also demanded the reinstatement of approximately 1,600 individuals who had been declared non-citizens. The Court reaffirmed that it is illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, aligning with longstanding federal law.
At the heart of the dispute was whether Virginia’s removal process violated a “quiet period” under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which bars systematic maintenance of voter rolls within 90 days of a federal election. The Biden Department of Justice had claimed Virginia’s actions infringed on that rule, but Youngkin countered that the state’s process is individualized and fully compliant with both federal and state law.
Justice Department officials argued that some eligible voters might have been inadvertently removed without adequate notice or time to fix the issue, but the Supreme Court’s ruling sided with the state’s right to enforce election integrity standards.
The decision underscores Virginia’s push under Governor Youngkin to ensure fair, transparent, and lawful elections — a message resonating strongly among voters heading into the pivotal 2026 contests.