Andrew Rice, Virginia Beach Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney, is the Republican candidate for the House District 98 special election. (Courtesy of City of Virginia Beach)

VIRGINIA BEACH — Republican voters selected Virginia Beach Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Rice as their party’s nominee in an upcoming special election to fill Del. Barry Knight’s Virginia House of Representatives seat.

Rice will face Democrat Cheryl Smith in the March 17 special election.

The Republican Party of Virginia Beach held a canvass Tuesday to determine the candidate. Republicans in District 98 were eligible to cast a vote. Nearly 1,600 people turned out, according to Dennis Free, the GOPs 2nd District chair.

Rice clinched the Republican nomination in a six-person race, receiving 644 votes. Former Del. Tim Anderson trailed closely behind with 553 votes.

As a prosecutor for the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Rice has served on the Juvenile and Domestic Relations prosecution team. He specializes in child abuse and sexual assault cases as well as juvenile gang cases, according to the city.

Knight, 71, died last week after battling health issues. Knight held office since 2009 and was serving the beginning of a two-year term. The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of his term.

Rice was a friend of Knight’s.

“He was such a force in Richmond, but I knew him as such a close family friend, church member, and short stop for our softball team,” Rice wrote on social media Saturday. “Please help me continue such a great legacy.”

Smith was the only Democrat to file. She will be the party’s candidate for the March election. She lost to Knight in November.

Early in-person voting for the special election will begin March 6. The district leans Republican and encompasses the southern part of Virginia Beach, extending from the resort area’s south end to the North Carolina border.

Four other Republicans filed to run in addition to Rice and Anderson, including real estate agent Pieri Burton; Ben Loyola, a previous political candidate; Michael Mauch, a member of the Virginia Beach Planning Commission; and Zachery Taylor, nephew of former U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com

https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/02/24/house-district-98-gop-nominee/