Three-term Del. Scott Wyatt, R–Mechanicsville, hopes that voters will return him to the General Assembly in November, but Democrat Andrew Ward believes that residents in House District 60 are eager to send new leadership to Richmond.
The 60th District encompasses parts of Central Virginia that have been reliably conservative for many years, including much of Hanover County east of Interstate 95 and western New Kent County.
Ward describes himself as a former Republican who left the party because of MAGA extremism and now wants to be a voice for moderate, progressive issues that benefit working families. His political activism began when he and his son challenged book bans in Hanover County, where he lives. Now, he sees many of his neighbors who are looking for an alternative to Wyatt’s brand of politics.
“This district is changing. The demographics are changing. Having the same, old leadership doesn’t make a lot of sense,” he said.
If he wins the race, Ward said that he will work to support public education in Virginia, which he describes as chronically underfunded. “In the commonwealth, we are blessed with one of best educational systems in country,” he said. “If we don’t fund it like we need to, we are going to fall behind.”
As a public school teacher, Ward said he personally knows the value of attracting and retaining good teachers. He also wants to protect the rights of students and defend their freedom to live without intimidation or harassment.
Ward said he would like to see school boards elected across Virginia, so that voters can hold members accountable when their actions don’t align with the communities they serve.
Strengthening and maintaining critical infrastructure is another priority that Ward hopes to carry to the House of Delegates. Hanover and New Kent counties are expected to see major population increases in the coming decades and Ward said that utilities, roads and high-speed internet must keep pace.
Ward said he’d also like to implement campaign finance reform so that more Virginians would have a chance to make a serious run for elected office. Allowing public financing is one component of improving Virginia’s electoral process, Ward said. Another is professionalizing the state legislature, so that individuals serving as an elected representative make more than the current annual salary of $17,640.
Since his first day in the General Assembly in 2020, Wyatt said he has tried to introduce and carry legislation that makes everyday costs more affordable, expands tax credits, creates safe communities and invests in infrastructure.
In 2023, Wyatt introduced a bill that increased the tax deduction for members of the National Guard — an amount after legislative compromises that increased from $3,000 to $5,500 annually. This tax credit not only helped to revive sluggish recruiting but also incentivized Virginians to remain in the National Guard, Wyatt said.
Wyatt also lobbied for investment in the Port of Virginia, which he said is creating jobs across the state, including in HD 60, with the AutoZone Distribution Center and other major developments in New Kent County.
In 2022, Wyatt introduced House Bill 4, which eventually became law and required school principals to report criminal actions by students to law enforcement officers, including written threats of violence against school personnel. “We see what that has led to, not just in our state, but everywhere,” he said.
Wyatt said that if he is reelected, he will again introduce a bill that requires social media companies to obtain parental consent before allowing minors to create an account in Virginia — legislation that failed to advance this year. He nevertheless remains optimistic that time and conversations with his colleagues will bring them on board with the idea of reining in social media.
Scott Wyatt
Constituents in his district have been telling him that the cost of living is too high, Wyatt said, and he wants to work with colleagues to pass meaningful legislation that will invest in economic development, create jobs and lower taxes. He said he believes these efforts will help Virginians navigate increasing expenses and convince voters to return him to the House of Delegates.
“It’s been an honor to represent these folks, and I’d be honored if they’d allow me to serve them for another two years,” he said.
Ben Swenson, ben.swenson05@gmail.com
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Del. Scott Wyatt
Age: 62
Occupation: Delegate, House District 60; retired telecommunications manager
Education: J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College; Virginia Commonwealth University
Previous elected office: Hanover County Board of Supervisors
Party affiliation: Republican
Website: VoteScottWyatt.com
Andrew Ward
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Andrew Ward
Age: 41
Occupation: English teacher, Carver College and Career Academy in Chesterfield County
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, Metropolitan State University of Denver; master’s degree in political science, University of Colorado Denver
Party affiliation: Democrat
Website: AWardforVirginia.com
