Richmond mayoral race hinges on absentee ballots

RICHMOND, Va. (AP)

– The results of the Richmond mayoral race could not be determined early Wednesday as the city counted absentee ballots that could impact the front runner’s slim lead.

But it appeared that disgraced former lawmaker Joe Morrissey was out of the running, placing a distant third in the popular vote. Pre-election polls had shown Morrissey leading, but he was plagued by a number of sex scandals, including a legal client’s recent claim that he made unwanted sexual advances.

Former Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney led the popular vote and former leader of an economic development organization Jack Berry was in second place. But a candidate must win five out of the nine council districts to avoid a runoff election. Stoney led in five districts, but one of them by fewer than 300 votes without absentee ballots being counted.

The top two candidates in the popular vote go to a runoff in December.