RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond City Councilman Mike Jones announced Monday his plan to run for the Virginia General Assembly.
The 9th District city councilman, representing South Richmond, officially launched his campaign for the 69th House of Delegate seat held by fellow Democrat Betsy Carr.
"I'm running for the House of Delegates because representation matters," Jones said during his virtual press conference. "All of us have felt marginalized, forgotten, left out at some point in time by our elected leaders. I'm running to fix that."
Jones said he announced his candidacy on the first day of Black History Month because if elected, he would be the first person of color to represent the majority-minority district which covers parts of Richmond and Chesterfield County.
"In 2021, that's embarrassing," the Village of Faith Ministries pastor said. "I'm running because the people deserve a representative who shares their experiences, who has felt their pain."
His campaign website highlighted issues such as education, healthcare, economic mobility, and justice reform.
Carr was first elected to the General Assembly in 2009. She served on the Richmond School Board prior to becoming a delegate.
"I am proud of my work with my diverse constituents — from expanding health care to job creation to protecting our environment, supporting women, providing equal opportunity and justice for all, advocating for criminal justice reform and gun safety," Del. Carr told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in December after Jones first said he planned to compete for the seat.
The Virginia Democratic primary is June 8, 2021.