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Colette W. McEachin wins decisive victory over primary challenger for commonwealth’s attorney

George Copeland Jr. | 6/10/2021, 6 p.m.
The race for Richmond’s next commonwealth’s attorney ended late Tuesday evening, as incumbent Colette W. McEachin emerged victorious against a …
Mrs. McEachin

The race for Richmond’s next commonwealth’s attorney ended late Tuesday evening, as incumbent Colette W. McEachin emerged victorious against a Democratic primary challenge from attorney Thomas P. Barbour Jr.

Unofficial results posted Wednesday by the state Department of Elections showed Mrs. McEachin receiving 14,836 votes, or 72.3 percent, to Mr. Barbour’s 5,680 votes, or 27.6 percent.

No Republican or independent candidates have filed yet to run in the November general election, leaving Mrs. McEachin, 65, unopposed for re-election to the post she has held since 2019.

“For nearly my entire professional career, I have been standing in the gap, advocating on behalf of the citizens of the City of Richmond,” Mrs. McEachin wrote in a statement posted to her social media. “It has been one of the highest honors of my life to serve this city, and because of you— because of tonight—I will continue to stand in the gap for the next four years as your Commonwealth’s Attorney.”

The two Democrats presented themselves as progressives during their campaigns. Mrs. McEachin, the first woman to hold the chief prosecutor position in Richmond, campaigned on promises of expanding rehabilitation and restorative justice measures, including piloting a mediation program for Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court that would allow victims and non-violent offenders to settle their differences and agree on restitution to limit detention.

Mr. Barbour, 36, a defense attorney and founder of the Virginia Holistic Justice Initiative, presented himself as a “chief reform and chief public safety officer,” one with an eye on ending incarceration for all but the most high-risk offenders and providing greater aid to non-violent offenders.

Mrs. McEachin, the wife of 4th District Congressman A. Donald McEachin, served as deputy commonwealth’s attorney for 20 years. She won a special election in November 2019 to finish the term of her predecessor, former Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring, who stepped down and is now in private practice.

Mr. Barbour served as an adviser for Mr. Herring during his time in the office.