Republicans Hunter Holliday, the incumbent, and J.D. Taylor finished first and second for two Salem City Council seats Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections with all 10 precincts reporting. If the results hold, both open seats will go to Republican candidates.
While election-night counting is complete, results remain unofficial until they are certified by the Salem Electoral Board and the State Board of Elections. Provisional ballots and eligible mailed absentee ballots have not yet been counted. Mailed absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day and received by Friday, Nov. 6, can still be counted.
The vote count
Holliday, a Salem native and Army veteran, led the field with 4,423 votes (26.95%). Taylor, a tax assessor for the city of Roanoke, finished second with 3,609 votes (21.99%).
The race for the second seat remains tight. Taylor holds a 189-vote lead over Jeffrey Hoeflich-Nickels, who finished third with 3,420 votes (20.84%). Mark Henrickson received 2,850 votes (17.36%) and A.J. Harpold received 1,943 votes (11.84%). There were 169 write-in votes recorded.
Voter turnout in Salem was 54%, with 9,927 ballots cast out of 18,236 registered voters.
A changing council
The new council will be without longtime member Randy Foley, who chose not to seek reelection after 20 years on council, including 12 as mayor. His final term ends Dec. 31.
The council also changed after the death of Councilman John Saunders in August. Joe Foley was appointed to Saunders’ seat and will serve until a special election in November 2027.
The other three candidates ran as independents. Salem City Council races do not include party labels on the ballot.
Candidates and issues
Candidates discussed growth, housing and infrastructure during the campaign, along with data center development in the region, including the Wood Haven project. Hoeflich-Nickels, who owns a political consulting firm, raised more money than the other four candidates combined according to campaign finance reports filed in October.
Henrickson is a retired developer and a member of the Salem Planning Commission. Harpold grew up in Salem and returned to the city three years ago.
The winners will take office Jan. 1.
Other Salem results
Salem voters also cast ballots in federal races and on three proposed constitutional amendments:
- U.S. Senate: Republican Bert Mizusawa led in Salem with 51.2% of the vote. Democrat Mark Warner won reelection statewide, according to the Associated Press.
- 6th District: Republican incumbent Ben Cline led Democrat Beth Macy in Salem, 52.9% to 46.9%.
- Question 1 (reproductive freedom): Salem voters favored it, 52.5% yes.
- Question 2 (marriage equality): Salem voters opposed it, 52.1% no.
- Question 3 (voting rights restoration): Salem voters opposed it, 55.4% no.
The post Holliday, Taylor lead Salem City Council race in unofficial results first appeared on News/Talk 960-AM & FM-107.3 WFIR.
