Joe Morrissey, a Democrat who admitted to having sex with a minor in 2014, won the Democratic primary for the Virginia 16th Senate District on Tuesday, June 11.
What We Know…
- Morrissey beat incumbent Senator Rosalyn Dance by over ten points. He beat Dance 57% to 43% of votes for the Democratic nomination.
- The former state legislator was sentenced and jailed in 2015 after admitting to having sex with a 17 year old who worked at his law office. Morrissey spent six months in jail after pleading guilty but continued to serve in the state legislature during his sentence.
- Morrissey ran but lost a bid for mayor of Richmond in 2016, and was disbarred for the second time in his legal career from the Virginia State Bar following his conviction. He resigned his House District seat after his conviction but reclaimed it in a special election.
- Morrissey was first disbarred when he violated legal ethics rules by allowing an associate who had not yet been sworn in by the Virginia Supreme Court to represent a client in court. He overturned this decision to be disbarred again for his conviction.
- Morrissey is expected to win the general election in November as no Republicans ran in the GOP primary for the senate seat.
- Morrissey was largely supported in the majority-black city Petersburg on his platform to focus on schools and roads.
Morrissey’s victory upsets many but his platform still excites many voters who look forward to his promised public works projects.
