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Race to replace Kenny Alexander in “Firehouse Primary”

Posted at 2:02 PM, Jul 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-07 14:41:49-04

NORFOLK, Va. – Here we go again. Less than a month after voters went to the polls to cast ballots in Republican and Democratic congressional  primaries in Hampton Roads, some voters are being asked to vote again.

Democrats will decide Saturday which man they want to replace Kenny Alexander in the state Senate.

Alexander was elected Mayor of Norfolk in May, and was sworn  in last week.

Two current Delegates are running to replace him.

Delegate Lionell Spruill has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 1994. His opponent, Delegate Joe Lindsey, won a special election in 2014 to replace retiring Delegate Algie Howell of Norfolk.

Spruill won the backing of Governor Terry McAuliffe, who called both men qualified.

Saturday’s decision will be made in an unusual “firehouse primary,” in which people show up at selected locations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., declare they are a democrat, and cast their vote.

The race is unusual for another reason: hometown pride.

If Spruill wins, Chesapeake will have two representatives in the Senate, while Norfolk will have none.

The district is dominated by Democrats and no Republicans are expected to be on the ballot in November.

It’s not expected that many people will add ballot-selecting to boating and barbecue on Saturday. – turnout is expected to be very low.

Norfolk voters will head to the Kroc Center at 1401 Ballentine, Blvd. Chesapeake voters have two locations: Camelot Elementary, 2901 Guenevere Drive and Indian River Library, 2320 Old Greenbrier Road. Chesapeake has a slight majority of the voters in the 5th Senate District.