In 2nd District, the newest Richmonders put their stamp on the city through voting

In Richmond’s 2nd District, many college students at VCU and Richmond transplants who live Scott’s Addition were voting for the first or second time in the city, adding their voice to the future of the city.

“I'm really enthusiastic about my future and the future of the people I'm around,” said Yasmina Talla, a VCU student and first-time voter. “I feel like being a young voter, it's my duty to vote to have a good future for myself and my kids and my friends and family.” 

Talla said she hopes the next mayor of Richmond will tackle public safety, particularly gun violence.

“I get so many text messages from VCU about how there's gunfire,” she said.

National issues, in particular access to reproductive care, were top of mind for other voters.

“I'm pro-choice,” said Ella Saglam, a senior at VCU. “I think a lot is on the line with this election, and just with women's rights in general. So I think this is a really important election.”

In Richmond, Saglam said she was worried about the high eviction rate and VCU’s continued expansion around the city. She voted for Harrison Roday for mayor. Roday’s ad campaigns centered around his support for reproductive rights.

Stone Thurman, a VCU student from Danville, also said he was voting with women’s reproductive healthcare in mind. He also said addressing gentrification should be a priority for the next mayor of Richmond.

“From the little time that I've lived here, I've seen a lot of new people coming in...it's a lot of new architecture and all these new places being built up, and then the people who were in that community aren't being thought of as much,” he said. 

Thurman voted for Danny Avula for mayor.

At Midtown Green, which was formerly the Bon Secours Training Center, Maggie Johnson cast her vote for Roday, who she was inspired by at the recent Mayorathon forum. She said her priorities were affordable housing and environmental issues.

“I felt like he spoke to kind of all of the issues,” she said. “I think people sometimes get really focused on one population, so I really enjoyed that I felt like he was speaking to everyone.”