Several Republicans have announced their plans to run for the nomination in SD-32 to fill the soon-to-be vacant seat following state Sen. Suhas Subramanyam’s victory in the VA-10 congressional race last week.
Rafi Khajai, Tumay Harding, Ommair Butt and Tushar Dode are seeking the nomination.
“The current majority has failed our District and our Commonwealth,” Harding wrote in her announcement. “Our schools are faltering and riddled with politics and division, our neighbors have been made victims of illegal migrant crime, and our families are struggling to afford groceries, gas, and housing. All of this could change if we win this election and give Governor Youngkin a new majority in the Senate.”
Harding is touting the support of Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman, former state Sen. Dick Black and former Del. Bob Marshall.
Khaja ran for the House of Delegates in 2023 and lost by 22 points to Del. Kannan Srinivasan (D) in HD-26.
“As we witnessed in this past week’s election results, our country, and Loudoun County specifically, is ready for new ideas and to move away from the problems created by the present Democratic Party and their far left agenda,” Khaja wrote in his announcement.
With the establishment’s backing, Srinivasan is considered the favorite by some to earn the Democratic nomination in SD-32, setting up a potential rematch for him and Khaja.
Butt and Dode have not released any public announcements, but they participated in an interview with WJLA.
Butt said he wants to eliminate the car tax.
He also organized the Muslim community to attend a Loudoun County School Board meeting urging them to repeal the bathroom policy that allows biological boys to use biological girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms at school.
Dode said he is running on “common man” issues.
“The reason I’m running is I want to make sure that the voice of the common man is heard,” Dode said. “One is economy is important, second is transportation, third is security, education, fourth is mental awareness. All these things are important to us. I want to make sure that our voice is heard. The reason economy is important to us is it’s time to cut down the taxes, especially the property taxes. We need to cut taxes, create jobs and empower the people.”
Republicans can participate in the firehouse primary on Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
NBC News recently provided commentary on how Asian Americans in Loudoun County voted more conservatively during the presidential election last week.