We hope voters in the state’s 9th Senate District, which includes parts of Richmond, Henrico, Hanover and Charles City County, will go to the polls Tuesday, Jan. 10, and cast their ballots for Delegate Jennifer McClellan.

The 44-year-old Democrat is favored in the special election to fill the state Senate seat vacated by A. Donald McEachin’s November election to Congress.

Delegate McClellan, a Petersburg native and attorney with Verizon, is running against independent candidate Corey Fauconier, a Queens, N.Y., native who has been active locally with the Richmond Crusade for Voters and the Libertarian Party.

While we applaud Mr. Fauconier’s political involvement in the community, we believe Delegate McClellan’s long-held views and political accomplishments are more aligned with our vision for the state’s direction.

She has built a strong record since 2006 in the House of Delegates of working to protect women’s reproductive health rights, fighting for tougher gun laws, expanding educational opportunities, increasing the minimum wage and strengthening conflict of interest laws.

By contrast, Mr. Fauconier, who has run the campaigns of Libertarian Party candidates, has never held elective office and favors charter schools and unfettered gun ownership.

Delegate McClellan has the temperament, energy and commitment to serve her constituents well and understands the nuances of the General Assembly that will help her be successful in a Senate chamber where Republicans hold a razor-thin majority.

We believe Delegate McClellan is the best choice for the 9th Senate District and for the future of Virginia.