ELECTION 2025: ‘Who’s on the ballot’ NAACP event connects students with local candidates 

Lelia Contee, Contributing Writer

Julianna Brown, Contributing Writer

The VCU and University of Richmond chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People brought local candidates to campus on Thursday ahead of the Nov. 4 election.

This year’s panel featured Democratic Del. Michael Jones, D-Richmond, Sheriff Antionette Irving, City Treasurer Nicole Armstead, Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin and Kristin Farry, the Forward Party candidate for House of Delegates District 72.

The event sought to educate students about candidate platforms and promote civic involvement, according to VCU NAACP chapter president Ashley Brown.

“We really want to encourage students to ask questions and talk to the candidates, mainly so that they can understand their positions,” Brown said. “Many people don’t know what the treasurer exactly does and how it impacts them.” 

Meet the candidates

Jones represents House District 77, which includes parts of Richmond City and Chesterfield County. While his district is solid blue, he is facing Republican Richard Stonage Jr. in this year’s election. 

Jones’s campaign centers around lowering the cost of living, boosting affordable housing and providing quality education. 

Jones stressed the importance of community engagement. He often goes out to speak with his constituents, hosts turkey giveaways and takes families to see movies.

“One thing we always struggle with, especially on the Southside, is community engagement and involvement,” Jones said. “That means hearing the voices of the people that we serve and I think it’s important.”

Irving, Armstead and McEachin are all incumbent city officials running for reelection unopposed.

As Richmond City’s Sheriff Irving noted her team’s accomplishments in restorative justice and implementing a reentry program to provide convicted people with alternatives to incarceration. 

“We work to try to ensure that individuals can understand themselves and where it is that they need to go next, and what those pathways look like,” Irving said. 

As Treasurer, Armstead hosts the Office of Financial Empowerment, where the goal is to transform financial futures through workshops, counseling, resources and other services. 

Armstead wants to empower people to be financially responsible and provide residents with opportunities to navigate their funds and grow the city.   

McEachin was the first African American woman to be elected as Richmond’s Commonwealth’s Attorney. McEachin prioritized issues of gun and domestic violence, and plans to establish the first family justice center in Central Virginia. 

“It would be a one-stop shop where a victim of family violence can come and get all of their needs addressed instead of having to drive around the city,” McEachin said. 

Farry’s House district spans through Powhatan, Amelia and Nottoway counties, as well as parts of Chesterfield County. 

Farry represents the Forward Party, a group with centrist values modeled around eliminating corruption in politics. It was founded by 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman.

Farry is facing Democrat Randolph Todd Critzer Jr. and Republican Lee Ware in a safe red district. 

Farry’s campaign is focused on lowering the cost of living, expanding technical and civics education, reforming campaign finance laws and introducing ranked choice voting. 

Farry emphasized the need to improve opportunities and support for young people, and drew from her experience with cancer to highlight youth vulnerability in the health crisis. 

“I’m very worried about this, about how we can make it easier for our young people to get traction,” Farry said. 

Housing, water infrastructure on students’ minds

Gregory Reeves, a first-year secondary teaching preparation student, attended the event to learn more about the candidates and ask questions. He said he is concerned about affordable housing. 

“I would like to know what officials could do to benefit this school, because there’s like [a] housing crisis, like people are struggling with financial aid,” Gregory said. 

Makayla Reeves, a second-year supply chain management student, wanted to hear about the candidates’ thoughts on Richmond’s water system and address the housing crisis. 

“I’m expecting to gain some knowledge about who runs or the system where I go to school at and everything, and how the city works,” Makayla said.