NORFOLK, Va. — State Senator Louise Lucas won over state senator Lionell Spruill in the Democratic primary in Virginia's 18th Senate District Tuesday night.
The district includes parts of Portsmouth, where Lucas lives, and Chesapeake, where Spruill lives.
Politics
Spruill, Lucas take to airwaves in Senate primary race
During the race, Lucas released an attack ad against Spruill over his voting record on gun laws. Spruill released his own attack ad last weekend on Lucas's record, featuring a Hummer driving through a neighborhood with the license plate "Lucas."
Lucas has raised her profile online in recent years with mocking Tweets about Gov. Glenn Youngkin and has posted pictures of her putting certain Republican bills into the trash.
"I can’t tell you how energized I was," Lucas said of the 18th Senate District Democratic Primary race. "It was so strange. It was like a party the whole time. I was having a good time."
Spruill is not as active on social media and said he takes a more collegial approach.
"I’m disappointed. I feel like I let the citizens down," Spruill said following his defeat to Lucas Tuesday night. "[I] could’ve run a better race, I think. But first, I want to congratulate Sen. Lucas for a job well done."
At her watch party Tuesday night, Lucas shared with News 3 her goals for a new term.
"My first priority is to deliver to my community to the superintendent of schools in Chesapeake and Portsmouth, and that’s to build a career technical education center, so that our young people can start getting the skills so they can earn salaries so they can take care of their families," Lucas said.
Meanwhile, Spruill shared what's next for him.
"To help Democrats take back the Senate and the House in November," Spruill said. "My job now is to work with candidates. I can help raise money across the state, see if we can help raise money for Democratic candidates to take back the Senate. That’s my job is to help them do that."
Spruill also shared he plans to get involved in the Georgetown Civic League in Chesapeake.
Lucas will face Republican Tony Goodwin in the 18th Senate District general election set for Nov. 7.
Election analysts say the district leans towards the Democrats, so the winner of the primary is expected to have the advantage heading into the November General Election.
