Jackie McDonnough Upsets Anne Holton to Win Richmond School Board 6th District Seat

Jackie McDonnough Wins 6th District Richmond School Board Seat in Major Upset

Jackie McDonnough won the election for the Richmond City School Board’s 6th District seat over her opponent Anne Holton, with 68.10% of the vote compared to Holton’s 31.26% according to the Virginia Public Access Project, as reported by Virginia Scope. With 2,389 early votes remaining to be counted as of Wednesday morning, the numbers delivered a test to Richmond’s political establishment.

Holton, the daughter of former Governor Linwood Holton and wife of U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, had been appointed to the seat in February by the School Board to fill a vacancy left by former member Shonda Harris-Muhammed. She entered the race armed with the most donations for a single school board candidate in Richmond history, raising $110,438 according to reporting from The Richmonder. By contrast, McDonnough—a former Richmond Public Schools teacher and VCU professor—ran a grassroots campaign that brought in $32,548.

Grassroots Coalition Alters Richmond Political Dynamics

McDonnough’s campaign relied on deep community organizing, backed by the Richmond Democratic Socialists of America and Richmond for All. While Holton secured endorsements from prominent state and local leaders including Gov. Abigail Spanberger, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, State Sen. Lamont Bagby, Del.

Dem-socialist Jackie McDonnough gives exclusive interview after school board victory

“Our opponent was meant to be the Second Lady of the United States of America. We were not invited to win this race,” McDonnough’s campaign manager, Sarandon Elliott, stated in a press release. “We won big anyway because we built a coalition that understood that the status quo is no longer working, and we have the power to do something about it if we work together.”

This victory mirrors previous local upsets in Virginia politics, building on momentum from 3rd District Councilwoman Kenya Gibson’s victory and State Del. Charlie Schmidt defeating establishment candidate Michelle Mosby in 2025, as noted by The Richmonder. McDonnough previously expressed an ambition to help establish a political machine in Richmond akin to the DSA’s presence in New York City.

Competing Visions for Richmond Public Schools

During a candidate debate co-hosted by VPM News and The Richmonder, McDonnough argued that Richmond Public Schools students are not adequately prepared for higher education or the workforce. She also took aim at central office salaries, calling for a forensic audit of the division’s budget and finances. Holton countered that the school division had been progressing since her appointment in February, maintaining that current leadership compensation is justified.

Jackie McDonnough Upsets Anne Holton to Win Richmond School Board 6th District Seat — Photo: richmonder.org

Despite their divergent approaches to central administration, both candidates voiced support for a strong collective bargaining agreement with the Richmond Education Association, the union representing local educators. McDonnough will finish out the remainder of the term through 2028.

As the remaining early ballots undergo counting, Holton’s campaign did not immediately concede the race or respond to requests for comment.

Stunner. In the 6th District School Board race, Jackie McDonnough appears to have beaten former state education secretary Anne Holton. That’s despite having less than 1/3 the money and none of the high-profile endorsements. https://t.co/9tiXDbQ0oe

— https://x.com/SamuelParkerRTD/status/2117835023848214700