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As Va. Democrats head into crowded primary Tuesday, fractures remain for Republicans – WTOP News

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As Va. Democrats head into crowded primary Tuesday, fractures remain for Republicans – WTOP News


Tuesday is primary day in Virginia, and Democrats are facing a crowded field. Six Democrats are competing for lieutenant governor and two for attorney general.

John Reid, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, talks about the election with WTOP’s Nick Iannelli

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Tuesday is primary day in Virginia, and Democrats are facing a crowded field.

While Abigail Spanberger is already the party’s nominee for governor, six Democrats are competing for lieutenant governor and two for attorney general.

Republicans, meanwhile, do not have any statewide primaries this year. Their nominees have already been set: Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for governor, John Reid for lieutenant governor and Jason Miyares for attorney general.

But even during a time when Republicans could be unified without competition, they’re not talking to each other.

They also haven’t been seen standing together as a united ticket.

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“I would love to do an event with my ticket mates,” said John Reid, calling it “disappointing” that it hasn’t happened yet.

“I continue to invite them to do that,” Reid told WTOP’s Nick Iannelli. “I just assume that at some point here, hopefully in the near future, everybody will get together.”

It’s been awkward for Virginia Republicans since April, when Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin called on Reid to drop out of the lieutenant governor’s race after opposition researchers claimed they linked Reid to a blog featuring photographs of naked men.

Reid denied having anything to do with the account, called it “extortion” and said he was being targeted because he’s openly gay.

Since then, the state’s Republican Party has shown signs of fracture.

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Reid said he hasn’t spoken with the Republican nominee for governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, in seven weeks.

“They’ve all got my cellphone, and I would love to see them,” Reid said. “I hope that eventually we’ll all be together and they’ll embrace me, because I think we have a winning message.”

“Even in the midst of some really horrible stuff that’s swirled around me, I haven’t canceled anything,” added Reid. “I just keep on going every day, and I will welcome them when I get to see them.”

‘I don’t like being bullied’

Reid said he hasn’t heard from Youngkin since the governor called on him to exit the race, adding he’s “OK with that.”

“This is about ideology and not about the personalities involved,” Reid said. “I just have to stay focused on that.”

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Still, Reid acknowledged that he thought Youngkin’s move “did damage” to the state’s Republican Party.

“I’m mad about what happened to me,” Reid said. “I don’t like being bullied. I don’t like being threatened. I don’t appreciate it at all, and I think it was wrong. But I’m a mature adult, so I’m capable of putting all of that aside.”

On the Democratic side, candidates for lieutenant governor include state Sens. Ghazala Hashmi of Richmond and Aaron Rouse of Virginia Beach, Prince William County School Board Chairman Babur Lateef, former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and former federal attorneys Alex Bastani and Victor Salgado.

In the race for attorney general, former state Del. Jay Jones and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor are vying for the Democratic nomination.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.



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Virginia

Del. Dan Helmer on Virginia redistricting and congressional run

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Del. Dan Helmer on Virginia redistricting and congressional run


Virginia Delegate Dan Helmer led fellow Democrats to major gains in November’s election. Now he’s turning his attention to the redistricting of the Commonwealth, and a run in the newly proposed 7th district. He joins Sydney Persing on The Final 5 to discuss. 



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Man shot, killed by Virginia trooper ID’d after crash ends in deadly stabbing attack

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Man shot, killed by Virginia trooper ID’d after crash ends in deadly stabbing attack


Virginia State Police have identified the man who was shot and killed by a trooper after a crash ended in a stabbing attack on Interstate 495 Sunday afternoon.

Jared Llamado, 32, of McLean, died at the hospital on Sunday after he was shot.

RELATED | 2 dead, dog killed after stabbing spree, trooper shooting on I-495 in Fairfax County

Investigators said Llamado was confronted by the trooper who opened fire around 1:17 p.m. The trooper was responding to a report of a road rage incident and found Llamado with a knife, according to a news release.

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Four stabbing victims, all women, were also found at the scene, along with a dog that was also stabbed.

Michelle Adams, 39, died from her injuries. The dog also did not survive. The three other women were all taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to VSP. 7News is not identifying the surviving victims.

Investigators said the stabbings stemmed from a crash in the southbound lanes of I-495.

The trooper who opened fire was not hurt and is on leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the use of force.

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Investigators said they do not believe the attack is connected to terrorism.



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Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting – WTOP News

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Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting – WTOP News


A road rage incident led to a shooting involving the Virginia State Police on Sunday on Interstate 495. Four individuals were also stabbed.

Two people are dead Sunday in Annandale, Virginia, after a road rage incident led to a shooting involving Virginia State Police on Interstate 495.

A release issued by the Virginia State Police said a trooper fatally shot a man after responding to a report of a road rage incident on the southbound lanes of I-495 just before 1:30 p.m. at exit 52, near the Little River Turnpike.

The man, transferred to a hospital with serious injuries, has been pronounced dead. VSP said the trooper shot in self-defense after the man confronted him with a knife.

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The trooper did not suffer any injuries during the altercation.

Officials found four stabbing victims at the scene, but only identified a 39-year-old woman and a dog. Both the woman and the dog died.

Early findings suggest the stabbings took place after a crash on the Capital Beltway. The crash remains under investigation.

The VSP’s release comes after the main lanes of the Capital Beltway Outer Loop, before Little River Turnpike, were closed to traffic for several hours, only recently opening the express lanes. Main lanes between Arlington Boulevard and the Little River Turnpike remain closed.

Stay with WTOP for the latest developments.

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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.



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