Former delegate squares off with first-time candidate in state Senate race

PETERSBURG – Two years after being dismissed from representing a long-standing Democratic-leaning House district, Lashrecse Aird stormed back onto the political scene by throttling a state Senate incumbent both verbally in campaign ads and at the primary ballot box last June.

Now, with Election Day less than one week away, Aird is hoping to complete her comeback with a victory. While many political pundits have already declared her the 13^th Senate District’s next state senator, one person thinking otherwise is Eric Ditri, the Republican nominee opposing her for that seat.

Whoever wins that seat will be the first elected representative in the 13^th District, which was born out of the Virginia Supreme Court’s 2022 redistricting efforts after a citizen panel appointed to handle the process punted. The court’s plan torched the original district that stretched from Petersburg and Hopewell to south Richmond, sending south Richmond and southeastern Chesterfield County into another district. It created an amoeba-ish region stretching from eastern Henrico County southeast through Charles City, Surry and Sussex counties, then turning west into Prince George County and the cities of Petersburg and Hopewell before coming to a stop in eastern Dinwiddie County.

Petersburg, once the political and geographic center of the old 16^th District, now finds itself third in the number of registered voters behind Henrico and Prince George. Thanks to its strong Democratic roots, however, Petersburg remains part of the district’s blue nucleus.

According to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project, the voting core of the new 13^th District has solidly backed Democratic candidates for state and national office since 2016.

Nowhere has that been more obvious than in the fundraising category. Counting her Democratic primary victory over Joe Morrissey, Aird has raised more than $2.6 million … 43 times the almost $61,000 Ditri has raised despite being unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Democrats have funneled a lot of time, effort and money into Aird’s campaign with an eye toward the future of women’s reproductive rights.

Since last year when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision affirming federal rights to abortions, Virginia is the only Southern state that has not enacted any Roe-restrictive legislation. Virginia Democrats who narrowly control the state Senate are hoping to keep things that way, cutting a wide swath of pro-choice attention into races for both the Senate and House of Delegates, the latter of which is ever so slightly dominated by Republicans.

During her terms in the House of Delegates, Aird was known as a reproductive-rights champion. She drove home that point in the primary against Morrissey, the only pro-life Democrat in the state Senate at the time, and was backed to the hilt by repro-rights advocates such as Planned Parenthood of Virginia.

A group of Democratic women senators came out early and hard for Aird in the primary. She also got the backing of other prominent Virginia Democrats in both the General Assembly and in the state’s congressional and Senate delegations.

Ditri’s campaign, on the other hand, has been far more low-key, relying heavily on door-knocking canvasses and appearances at community events. Statewide Republican interest in his campaign has been mostly behind-the-scenes – Gov. Glenn Youngkin's appearance at a rally just outside Petersburg in September for both Ditri and local House incumbent Kim Taylor of Dinwiddie County has been the most visual attribute of prominent GOP backing. Ditri, a first-time candidate, has also been campaigning as an outsider to the Richmond political machine.

He attempted to make some waves by challenging Aird to a series of one-on-one debates prior to Sept. 22, the first day for early voting in Virginia. That attempt was dismissed as a political ploy, saying the two of them would have many opportunities to share their ideas at a series of candidate forums across the area. A few happened but were met with limited attendance and fanfare.

The last scheduled candidate forum was set for Oct. 19 at Virginia State University in Ettrick. That was cancelled after all of the Republican candidates set to attend bowed out.

Who are the 13^th candidates?

Aird, chief of staff at Richard Bland College, got her political career started as a legislative aide to former Petersburg Mayor Rosalyn Dance when Dance was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. When Dance opted to run for the state Senate in 2015, Aird ran for Dance’s delegate seat and became the youngest woman to ever serve in that chamber.

Over the next six years, Aird’s political stock rose as she championed the traditional Democratic values of gun control and reproductive rights. She scored one of her biggest political victories in 2020 with passage of a bill that would prohibit no-knock search warrants. Even though no-knocks were rarely used in Virginia, Aird and others said when they were, it was used more frequently against Black suspects than White suspects.

It became known as Virginia’s version of “Breonna’s Law,” memorializing a Kentucky woman killed when Louisville Police used a no-knock search warrant to raid her boyfriend’s apartment.

Despite that success, Aird was defeated in a re-election bid the following year by business owner and first-time Republican candidate Kim Taylor. In 2022, she re-emerged as a candidate in the newly drawn 13^th District Democratic primary against Morrissey, the man who four years earlier had defeated Aird’s political mentor Dance in a similar primary.

Ditri’s road to the Senate race has been far quieter than Aird’s.

After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in finance, the Prince George native lived and worked in Baltimore for six years. He came back to his family farm in Prince George in 2018 and went to work as a mortgage loan coordinator. He also has worked as an accountant and project manager, and an equities analyst.

When he moved back home, Ditri also became active in county GOP circles, eventually becoming chair of the Prince George Republican Committee. The 2023 state Senate election is his first try at political office.

Five questions we asked them

As part of its ongoing campaign coverage, The Progress-Index emailed the Aird and Ditri camps five questions. Below are their responses, with the candidates listed in alphabetical order:

It's a whole new district with a whole new demographic and a whole new political diversity, the latter of which plays to your individual political strengths. What do you see as the key factor or factors to "win over" those voters who either traditionally vote against your party or may be on the fence about your candidacy?

Aird: More important than any political designation or which part of the district you live in —people are people first — and they want a representative that has their needs and interests in mind. What is clear from all of the conversations I’ve had with voters; they all care about our communities, their families and their ability to thrive financially and health-wise. While there are differences in how we find solutions to these needs, my first step has always been to listen to everyone, and to maintain a willingness to take their perspective into account. The success of my 6-years in office previously was due to my bi-partisan approach and commitment to work beyond the confines of a party to get things done.

Ditri: Voters want to see a proven track record, not empty, unfilled promises. If they can’t see results, then they want new faces and ideas. Public safety, education, and local economy are all big topics with everyone and they want to hear a plan or see a track record with it, not just bills that support the idea. They want to see some elbow grease. They are tired of the same old lip service and career politicians that play pin the tail on the donkey with issues. Having a small business background in construction and finance is in my favor when it comes to getting things done. I am after measurable results and the voters know that. Voters who are on the fence are definitely swayed when I remind them about my opponents vote to allow public schools to cover up rape and sexual assault. The safety of children is number one.

The phrase "bodily autonomy" has entered the lexicon as Virginia continues to contemplate the future of reproductive rights. In your opinion, how important is this issue to 13th District voters? Does it stand out on its own, fall into the general category of "kitchen-table issues" or fall behind those so-called kitchen-table issues?

Aird: Reproductive healthcare, which includes maternal health, contraception as well as abortion, should be in the Virginia Constitution. To ensure the well-being of individuals, their families and our communities, reproductive care must be accessible. Reproductive decisions are deeply personal and private considerations that should only be made by an individual and their healthcare provider. It is intrinsically linked to all financial, mental and psychological aspects of life–therefore making it an issue of significant importance to the voters in the 13th District. As a result, I support our existing laws, but we must protect the rights that exist in Virginia today and cement them in our constitution.

Ditri: While I think this is important, voters tell me they feel controlled by it and that it is not their number one issue and feel career politicians are using it to hide a lack of success and proven results.

We all know that while the casino in Petersburg is all but officially deceased, the final nail in its coffin will not be hammered in until after Richmond's referendum in November. Should that referendum fail, how much would you be willing to commit yourself now to championing Petersburg as the fifth host city for that casino? What different approach would you take to the one previously tried and failed?

Aird: The decision of whether a fifth casino will be located in Petersburg rests with the voters of Petersburg. I commit to leading the outcome of any future referendum as it pertains to the casino.

Ditri: If the referendum passes in Richmond this November, I would block it to give Petersburg a chance. Senator Louise Lucas made it clear she was playing politics when she blocked Delegate Taylor’s bill to let Petersburg’s voices be heard all because of Joe Morrissey. Richmond has had their chance and very clearly voted no. I want to hear what Petersburg has to say. My opponent has been clear in her opposition to a casino in Petersburg or even the voices of Petersburg voters being heard.

What is your take on the "Partnership for Petersburg?" Republicans seem to be embracing it more than Democrats, while Democrats are saying it's basically rehashed initiatives pushed by previous Democratic lawmakers such as the late Donald McEachin. As the next representative of the Petersburg area, you likely will be in the position to help shepherd the initiatives to the city when Gov. Youngkin leaves office. How active of a role would you take in the initiative between now and that time, or do you sort of cheer from the sidelines and allow the city (council, city administration and the community) and the governor's office do most of the heavy lifting?

Aird: Three previous administrations were committed to the people in the City of Petersburg – and rightfully so. Facing real infrastructure, social and economic challenges, we must continue to invest in the city for the long term–and that requires collaboration at every level of government. I welcome that collaboration and will lead on the advancements necessary to move our city forward. With investments made by the state throughout the last 5 years, progress is occurring, but there is still much to be done and it will take time. Regardless of how any funding, policy priorities or initiatives are packaged, and today it is–Partnership for Petersburg–tomorrow there will be another administration with another name. What absolutely can’t change is ensuring the families of this community have their needs met and can truly have a good quality of life.

Ditri: I am all-in for anything that is pro-Petersburg and don’t think anyone should turn this into a partisan issue. If the claim is that they are rehashed initiatives from Democrat lawmakers, then why should Governor Youngkin be criticized? Because he is Republican? Did they criticize those Democrat lawmakers? These are clearly things that didn’t get accomplished. After not seeing results from career politicians in the past, voters in Petersburg want to see results, not partisan politics. I am here to do the heavy lifting. I am not one to sit on the sidelines and have worked hard my entire life. I am here to roll my sleeves up for Petersburg.

The 13th District (and the 16th before it) was represented over the last four years by Joe Morrissey, who we all know has been a polarizing figure throughout his political career. Because of that background, many residents and even outsiders have looked at the local representation with a bit of a wary eye. As the next senator, do you feel like you have to mend a lot of fences quickly to change that perception? If so, how would you do it?

Aird: It is my goal to serve the citizens of SD-13, as I did during my previous years in office – with integrity, respect and passion. Having served previously in the House of Delegates I am familiar with centering the work of governing around voters so they feel part of the process and well represented. And I feel confident that leaders at the state level are eager to work with all stakeholders for the city for the sake of our community.

Ditri: It is normal for anyone to be wary of politicians. Producing results is how fences are mended regardless of how someone’s personal life or polarizing qualities play into it. Regardless, I am here to fight for Petersburg and produce results.

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Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Aird and Ditri go head-to-head in 13th Senate District race