November 5, 2024. Remarks as prepared.
Richmond! Thank you! What a night!
It’s been an absolutely incredible year, and, as we watch tonight’s results come in, we’re super excited that so many Richmonders have put their trust in me.
The list of people that got me here is so long that I can’t begin to name them all, but I do want to thank everyone who took time to get to know me and share their experiences with me.
And of course I want to thank everyone who turned out to vote over the past few weeks!!
I am so humbled and honored by your confidence in me, and I hope you’ll continue to share your ideas and experiences with me going forward. My door and my inbox are always open.
And that goes for EVERYONE who lives in the city of Richmond, whether or not you voted for me.
Because I am going to be a mayor for ALL of the people of this great city.
And it’s in that spirit that I want to take this moment to thank and recognize Andreas Addison, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett and Harrison Roday for the races they ran and for their commitment and their willingness to serve. We all sacrificed a lot to do this– invested so much time, energy, money, but in the process learned so much about Richmond, and I hope to find ways to bring that learning to bear for the good of the city.
I know I would not be here without the support of my family — my amazing wife, Mary Kay, and my kids– Arjanae, Luke, David, Kiran, and Abby. You guys have been my biggest supporters from day one of this campaign, and I would not be standing here without you. The truth is you’ve given far more to this campaign than anyone will ever know– and I am so grateful. The next four years will bring new opportunities and challenges, and I have no doubt that our love for each other and our shared sense of calling to serve this city will carry us through. Thank you.
I want to thank all of the amazing volunteers who knocked doors, made phone calls, distributed literature and put signs in their yards. All of it made a difference! And the more than 1400 people who donated so generously- everyone told me, but, boy, campaigns do cost money. We are standing here today because of your generosity and the incredible dedication of our volunteers.
I also want to thank my incredible team who worked around the clock to bring us to where we are tonight. Your passion, dedication, expertise… and just plain goodness. Being so good at what you do, but also just being good people. The energy and positivity was contagious, and I can’t tell you how many times on the trail I heard some version of “you’ve got a really great team.”
Working with this team has been an incredible joy. I’ve gained so much from their wisdom and support through great moments and tough campaign days alike.
I also want to thank all the individuals and organizations that endorsed my candidacy — from labor unions (LiUNA, IBEW, Carpenters, UA), to doctors & nurses, to public safety officers (RCOP and IAFF) and so many others. I am so proud and encouraged to see people with so many different talents and experiences sharing and supporting our vision for a healthy and thriving Richmond.
Tonight we also have newly elected and reelected members of the Richmond City Council and School Board! I am looking forward to moving the city forward with a positive and productive partnership with the Council, and with Superintendent Jason Kamras and the new School Board, as well as our partners across the region.
It’s going to take all of us, but together we can build a Richmond where everyone has an opportunity to thrive — and no one gets left behind.
I want to talk for a minute about the presidential election. I know we had all hoped for a clear winner by now, and I am still hopeful, as I know you all are, that Kamala Harris will emerge as the next President of the United States. We likely won’t know the answer tonight, but if you voted, or donated, or knocked on doors, or even just talked honestly with the people in your life about who you were voting for and why, you should feel proud that you’ve done your part. For now, we have to wait together, and continue to hope that the results of the election move our country toward unity and joy, and away from the fear and prejudice that have been used to divide us in recent years.
It has been my privilege to spend pretty much every day of the past seven months meeting people across our city — I got to revisit so many of my favorite places and experience totally new things, like the Nightingale Ice Cream Factory and the training facility for pipefitters, welders, plumbers, and HVAC techs .
But wherever I went, I listened to what you want the future of our city to look like.
As you can imagine, not everyone I met has the same needs or priorities, but from one neighborhood to the next there were common threads that, when woven together, create such a hopeful and achievable vision for Richmond. Here are some of the things I heard over and over from people across the city:
We all want our children to thrive in high-quality schools and safe, affordable neighborhoods.
We all want to create jobs, pathways out of poverty, and more affordable housing — while protecting the deep cultural roots and community connections that make Richmond beautiful and unique.
We all want an effective and accountable City Hall that’s easy to navigate and delivers on its promises.
We all want to be proactive about facing climate change and working to grow and protect our green spaces.
Most of all, we want Richmond to be a place where you can feel at home and build a life you love no matter where you started from, or what you’ve overcome. A Richmond where nobody is left behind.
Friends, there are still so many challenges ahead of us, but we are in this together. Realizing this vision for Richmond, our vision, is going to take all of us working in unison. We aren’t running away from our difficult past or from hard conversations. We know the only way forward is together — in full honesty, with deep dedication and courage, and embracing the innovation and creativity that our amazing people and partners have to offer.
One of the most powerful moments of the campaign for me was the mayoral forum held at Armstrong High School. Superintendent Kamras shared that one of the top things RPS students ask for is a more meaningful voice – they want a seat at the table. There were three incredible student moderators for this event, Tyasia, Zion, and Renecia and after the forum, during his closing remarks, Superintendent Kamras picked up their chairs and put them at the table onstage with the mayoral candidates. He gave them an actual seat at the table, after they led an amazing, challenging discussion and made us feel incredibly proud and hopeful about Richmond’s next generation. This was just one moment, but it’s emblematic of the shift we are ready for as a city: new voices, big ideas, and the courage to look each other in the eye and challenge each other to grow and change and do our best every day.
We can become the city that leaders around the country point to as an example of the transformation that occurs when equity, justice, and thriving for every person are the guiding lights of all that we do.
I am incredibly honored to have your trust and partnership as we move forward. I can’t wait to get started.
Thank you, and good night.
