Correction: Kim Taylor is a Republican

It makes a difference in the story.

I incorrectly labeled Del. Kim Taylor as a Democrat and not a Republican, which obviously makes a difference in the story this morning.

Read the updated story below:

Pope Adams files to run against Taylor again after their last ended in a recount

After their last matchup ended in such a close race that there was a recount, Kim Pope Adams, D-Petersburg, is running against Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwidde, in House District 82 again. Despite being outspent by Pope Adams, Taylor won in 2023 by 53 votes. 

“This community means everything to me, and I am running to help bring back the jobs, opportunity, and prosperity all Virginians deserve,” Pope Adams said in her announcement. 

Taylor was first elected to the House in 2021 when she defeated the incumbent, Lashrecse Aird. 

Taylor’s team said they will be making a statement about her campaign soon. 

“Our campaign will be making a formal announcement in the coming weeks, highlighting Delegate Taylor’s accomplishments and commitment to being a voice for the 82nd House District.”

After such a narrow loss in 2023, historic trends favor Pope Adams in 2025 with a Republican president in office. 

In 2017, one year after Donald Trump was elected president, Democrats flipped 15 seats in the House of Delegates. 

“If there’s a blue wave next year in response to the Trump administration’s first year, then this race becomes pretty winnable for the Democrats,” said Richard Meagher, a political science professor at Randolph Macon College.

Currently, Pope Adams is the only Democrat in the race, and she already has the backing of her party’s top echelons. 

Speaker of the House Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, and Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-VA07, both endorsed her campaign. 

“Expanding our majority starts with Kimberly Pope Adams,” Scott said in a statement. 

With no one currently challenging her for the nomination, Spanberger is also the presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee for 2025. 

“Kimberly Pope Adams is a lifelong Virginian who understands the day-to-day challenges facing her community — and I’m proud to endorse her to serve in the House of Delegates,” Spanberger said. 

“This announcement today should almost be seen as a party announcement – clearly the entire Democratic Party is targeting this race as a key one just as they did in the last election,” Meagher said. 

HD-82 includes parts of Dinwiddie and Prince George Counties, as well as all of the City of Petersburg and Surry County.