The 2019 Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney election was a partisan contest held on November 5, 2019, to select the Commonwealth's Attorney—the chief prosecuting officer—of Henrico County, Virginia. The election was part of the regularly scheduled Virginia statewide and local elections for that year.
Candidates
- Shannon L. Taylor (Democratic Party) – An attorney who previously served as an assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Henrico County.
- Matthew D. Geary (Republican Party) – The incumbent Commonwealth's Attorney, first elected in 2015.
Election outcome
Shannon L. Taylor defeated incumbent Matthew D. Geary, becoming the first Democratic Commonwealth's Attorney for Henrico County in several decades. Official election returns reported that Taylor received a majority of the votes, while Geary received a minority share. The precise vote totals and percentages are documented in the Henrico County Board of Elections certified results for the 2019 general election.
Significance
The result marked a partisan shift in the county’s chief prosecutorial office. Taylor’s victory was noted in local media as part of broader electoral trends in Virginia’s 2019 elections, which saw a number of offices flip between parties.
Office background
The Commonwealth's Attorney in Virginia is an elected official responsible for prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the Commonwealth, overseeing assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys, and managing the prosecutor’s office. Terms are four years, with elections synchronized to Virginia’s off‑year general election cycle.
References
- Henrico County Board of Elections, Certified Results – General Election, November 5, 2019.
- Local news coverage of the election outcome (e.g., Richmond Times‑Dispatch, November 6, 2019).
