Delegate Delores L. McQuinn, D-Henrico, officially launched her re-election campaign Tuesday afternoon at Trevor’s Grill and Tavern in Henrico.

“I am eternally grateful for the commitment, for your strength, for your wisdom that you share with me,” McQuinn told her supporters. “I’m looking forward to working to continue to do this work.”

The announcement, supported by local and state officials, including Sen. Lamont Bagby and Delegate Rae Cousins, marks McQuinn’s bid for a second term representing the 81st District in the Virginia House of Delegates.

“Delegate McQuinn has definitely been a mentor to me,” said Cousins, who started her term earlier this year. “She’s provided words of encouragement when I’ve needed them and so I am just so thrilled to support her. I know that she cares about her community.”

McQuinn, who represents New Kent, Charles City, parts of Chesterfield and Henrico County, represented Virginia’s 70th District from 2009 until 2022, due to its redistricting in November 2020. She won the 81st District delegate seat in 2023 with 94% of the vote and was sworn into office on Jan. 10.

Throughout her terms as a delegate, McQuinn has been a member of numerous House committees such as education, transportation and appropriations. During the 2020 legislative session, she was the first African American woman chair of the House of Transportation Committee in 2021. McQuinn was the chief patron of HB-1514, known as the Crown Act, a bill that prohibits discrimination based on natural hair texture or styles such as braids, locks and twists.

Before serving in the House, she served on the Richmond School Board from 1992 to 1996 and on City Council in 1999. McQuinn’s re-election campaign will continue to prioritize equitable transportation and combating food insecurity. She also expressed concern over the potential challenges in education and governance that could arise from national leadership changes, particularly referencing the uncertainty surrounding the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

“There are going to be some major changes and our people – the roles that we represent – have to be able to look toward us for leadership and helping them to navigate those systems that are put in place,” she said. “Being a team player and working together on the behalf of others is going to guarantee not to make things perfect, but to at least, make it better.”

McQuinn is running against challenger Alicia Atkins, who became the first Black woman to represent Henrico County’s Varina District on the School Board in 2019.

Atkins won re-election last year with 73% of the vote. She is running for the 81st District as a Democratic candidate, her platform emphasizes quality education, leadership accountability, environmental sustainability and community empowerment.

McQuinn said Atkins has the right to run for office like anyone else.

“This is a democracy. I support democracy,” she said. “I support making sure that whoever desires to run that is their right.”