Mayor Levar Stoney of Richmond, Virginia, dropped out of the Democratic primary for the 2025 gubernatorial election on Tuesday, seeking to “avoid an ugly primary for governor.”

With Stoney dropping out, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) is the only remaining major candidate in the Democratic primary for governor and now has the inside track to win the party’s nomination next year. Stoney, who had received backing from former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, among others, argued in a statement issued on Tuesday that the looming primary could have been “costly and damaging.”

“After careful consideration with my family, I believe that the best way to ensure that all Virginia families do get the change they deserve, is for our party to come together, avoid a costly and damaging primary and, for me to run instead for Lieutenant Governor,” Stoney said.

He insisted that while there was a “path to victory” in the gubernatorial primary, it was narrow and that opting to run for lieutenant governor was the best decision for all parties.

“Given everything at stake in the next Governor’s race — from reproductive rights to education funding and tax fairness — I believe this is a time where Democrats must stand united and avoid an ugly primary for Governor,” he added.

Stoney joins a more crowded field in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, including state Sen. Aaron Rouse, who also announced his bid on Tuesday.

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Democrats in the Old Dominion are hoping for better fortunes in next year’s gubernatorial and lieutenant governor’s races after the party was swept aside in statewide offices by the GOP in 2021 — reversing a blue trend for the state.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) is not eligible for reelection, as the state prevents governors from seeking consecutive terms. Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears (R-VA) and Republican state Attorney General Jason Miyares are seen as the potential leading contenders for the GOP gubernatorial primary, but neither of them have announced their plans for 2025.