Former ACLU Attorney Charlie Schmidt Wins Democratic Nomination In House District 77

By Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

December 15, 2025

Charlie Schmidt, a former American Civil Liberties Union attorney and self-described progressive Democrat, won the Democratic nomination Sunday for the Jan. 6 special election in Virginia’s House District 77, securing his party’s nod to succeed Del. Mike Jones, D-Richmond.

Schmidt defeated former Richmond City Council President Michelle Mosby in a three-way primary, winning 639 votes to Mosby’s 488, according to results released Sunday night by the Democratic Party of Virginia. A third candidate, Gregory Powers, received 32 votes.

The seat was vacated earlier this month after Jones was elected to fill a state Senate vacancy created by Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi’s elevation to statewide office. House District 77 includes portions of the city of Richmond and Chesterfield County and is considered strongly Democratic. No Republican has announced plans to run.

Schmidt framed his victory as part of a broader political shift in Virginia, pointing to Democratic gains in statewide and legislative races during the Nov. 4 elections.

“The 2025 election cycle has been a historic one for Virginia Democrats,” Schmidt said in a statement. “Our party has not only won three executive seats, we have also seen a 13-seat gain in the legislative assembly, and a shift blue in every single district across the state.”

He described those results as more than electoral wins, calling them “a movement” and “a mandate to govern,” while emphasizing what he said is the party’s responsibility to translate power into policy. Schmidt said the vision he plans to carry into the Jan. 6 election is “a legislative agenda for working people, by working people.”

In his statement, Schmidt outlined a range of issues he said are affecting residents of the 77th District and communities across the state, including rising costs of housing, food and health care, environmental concerns and school funding. He also highlighted immigration enforcement as a source of fear for many families.

“Working families struggle with insufficient wages stacked against skyrocketing costs of very basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare,” Schmidt said. “Access to clean air and water is not guaranteed. Our schools are critically under-funded. Families live in fear of immigration raids that divide and terrorize.”

Schmidt said those challenges are shared across Virginia, regardless of geography, and argued that Democrats have an obligation to address them.

“The people of Virginia have a right to live with dignity and security,” he said. “It is the duty of the Democratic Party to deliver this vision.”

Mosby entered the race with significant backing from prominent Democratic officials, including Jones, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, and Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, among others.

In a statement, Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, praised Schmidt’s campaign and background.

“Charlie Schmidt ran on providing dignity, safety, and opportunity to all Virginians,” Bagby said.

“His legal and community experience will serve him well in the House of Delegates and I look forward to welcoming him to both the General Assembly and to the Richmond delegation.”

This story was originally published by the Virginia Mercury. For more stories from the Virginia Mercury, visit VirginiaMercury.com.