Virginia lieutenant governor race questionnaire: Levar Stoney

Levar Stoney, one of six Democrats vying to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor. (Photo courtesy Stoney campaign)i

With seven contenders vying to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor, the Mercury asked all the hopefuls to answer a questionnaire covering their political and legislative experiences and their positions on policy that shapes citizens’ lives. Here are Democrat Levar Stoney’s responses.

Virginia’s constitution stipulates that the lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate. How has your legislative or political experience prepared you for that role?

Stoney: I would enter office with more formal government experience than any Lieutenant Governor in recent memory, with more than a decade of executive leadership at both the state and local levels. That experience has allowed me to build strong relationships with leaders on both sides of the aisle, which is essential for serving as a fair and effective presiding officer. As Secretary of the Commonwealth, I worked closely with the General Assembly to deliver results for the McAuliffe administration. As Mayor of Richmond, I partnered with the City Council to confront tough challenges and get things done. In both roles, I learned the importance of clear and consistent communication, as well as setting clear expectations. As presiding officer, Senators will know I say what I mean and mean what I say. We may not always agree, but we will treat each other with the respect and decorum the people of Virginia deserve.

The last four years have shown us the benefits and challenges of a gubernatorial administration working effectively with a legislative body of the opposite political party. How would you participate in strengthening a productive working relationship with legislators, even if the General Assembly is controlled by a party that’s opposite of yours?

Stoney: We have to begin with shared values: we all want our kids to be successful, to keep a roof over our heads, and to put food on the table. Those are the values that unite us, and they should be the foundation for any conversation between elected leaders, no matter their party. From there, we can confront the shared challenges facing Virginians today: our children are falling behind in public education, and rising costs are making it harder for families to make ends meet. We will not agree on everything, and that is okay. I will be a happy warrior—someone who is willing to stand firm on values, speak up when there is disagreement, and still find a way to work together when common ground exists. Disagreement does not have to lead to dysfunction. We can, and must, learn to disagree without being disagreeable. That is the kind of leadership I have practiced as mayor and will bring to the role of Lieutenant Governor: focused on results, rooted in respect, and ready to build bridges. At a time when Donald Trump is modeling the opposite—division and chaos—we need leaders in Virginia who will rise above the noise and stay focused on delivering for working families.

Though lieutenant governors are not legislators, they can signal favor of work the General Assembly does. Are there specific types of legislation that your office would advocate in support of in the General Assembly? 

Stoney: With abundance as our north star, I believe the General Assembly should prioritize legislation that lowers costs and expands opportunity, starting with housing. I strongly support efforts like Senator Sturtevant’s bill to curb private equity and hedge fund purchases of single-family homes. When large investors buy up housing stock, they drive up prices and shut out first-time buyers and working families. That is not a sustainable path forward for Virginia. We need to build more and build smarter. The General Assembly can incentivize localities to increase housing supply by easing outdated regulations on parking minimums, expanding access to accessory dwelling units, and encouraging zoning reforms that allow for greater density in areas where it makes sense. These are practical steps that can make a meaningful difference in housing affordability. However, we cannot stop at policy alone. The state must also be a true partner to local governments by investing in the infrastructure that supports growth. That includes roads, water systems, schools, and energy capacity. Too often, localities are expected to implement policy without the necessary tools or funding. If we want to bring down costs and create communities where people can thrive, we need a shared commitment to both bold ideas and meaningful resources. That is the kind of partnership I will champion as Lieutenant Governor.

What is your stance on school choice and how do you propose to address educational disparities?

Stoney: The experience in Arizona has shown us what happens when school voucher programs are expanded without guardrails. They blow a hole in state education budgets, and the vast majority of the money goes to families who were already sending their children to private schools. That is not school choice; it is public subsidization of private education for the well-off.

Instead of siphoning dollars away from our public schools, we need to modernize Virginia’s funding formulas so the state fully covers the true cost of educating every child. That includes lifting the arbitrary cap on support staff, a cap that has remained in place since the Great Recession, as documented in the 2023 JLARC report. Our students deserve access to counselors, social workers, and intervention specialists who can provide the individualized support needed for success.

As Mayor of Richmond, I increased local school funding by nearly 60 percent because I believe deeply that investing in public education is a down payment on our future. While Governor Youngkin and Lieutenant Governor Sears have tried to raid public education dollars to benefit private schools, they have presided over a Virginia that ranks 50th in reading recovery and 41st in math recovery since the pandemic. That is unacceptable.

We need to invest in the fundamentals: strong public schools, adequate staffing, and the resources every student needs to thrive. Every child in every zip code deserves a fair shot at success.

Do you support the current administration’s focus on revising school curricula and how would you approach curriculum content as lieutenant governor?

Stoney: We absolutely cannot allow partisan politics to dictate what is taught in our classrooms. On his first day in office, Governor Youngkin signed an executive order banning what he and others have labeled as inherently divisive concepts. In practice, this has meant restricting classroom discussion about race, history, or systemic inequality. He also launched a parent tip line to report teachers and directed the Department of Education to remove references to topics like unconscious bias and institutional racism.

The administration also pushed to rewrite Virginia’s history and social studies standards, initially proposing drafts that downplayed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, and Indigenous perspectives. Only after widespread public outcry and criticism from educators were those changes revised.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will support educators, families, and the State Board of Education working together to ensure students are prepared for the real world. That means telling the full truth of our shared history, not just the version politicians like Donald Trump and Glenn Youngkin wish had been the case. We should be teaching students how to think, not what to think, and we must keep politics out of the classroom.

In light of recent controversies involving public officials, how do you plan to uphold and promote ethical standards in your role as lieutenant governor?

Stoney: As Lieutenant Governor, I will uphold the highest ethical standards. Virginians deserve to know that their leaders are working for them, not for special interests or political insiders. I have been honored to take the oath of office three times, and each time I committed to uphold the Constitutions of Virginia and the United States. I will do the same in this role, not just in words but through action. That includes adhering fully to the financial disclosure requirements of the office and conducting myself with transparency.

I will issue a public schedule on a consistent basis and make myself available to both the people and the press for questions. Whether I am in Richmond or traveling across the Commonwealth, I will be accessible and accountable. Good government begins with open communication and trust that is earned through action.

How do you plan to use your tie-breaking power to influence legislation, and in what areas do you see the most opportunity for bipartisan cooperation?

Stoney: My north star for any decision I make in elected office is simple: what is best for working people. That will be my guiding principle if I am called to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate. I have dedicated my life to public service to ensure every Virginian gets a fair shot, and I will carry that same commitment into the office of Lieutenant Governor.

I know what it means to live on the margins. I was raised on the wages of a father who worked construction, landscaping, and custodial jobs, and the Social Security check that helped my grandmother get by. I am here because of their sacrifice, and I have never forgotten what it feels like to worry whether there is enough to make ends meet. That is why I see a real opportunity for bipartisan cooperation when it comes to curing the cost-of-living crisis that working families face across Virginia.

We can find common ground on housing by easing regulatory barriers, investing in infrastructure, and expanding supply in a way that respects local needs. We can work together to bring down everyday costs, from child care to energy bills. These are not Democratic or Republican issues. They are kitchen table issues. In this moment, all Virginia leaders must stand together to protect our federal workforce and defend the most vulnerable Virginians who are under threat from Donald Trump’s so-called “big beautiful bill.” We need leadership that is focused on solutions, not slogans, and I am ready to work with anyone serious about delivering for the people of this Commonwealth.

What’s the most important thing for Virginians to know about you?

Stoney: I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I am the son of two unwed teenagers, and my grandmother saved my life by stepping in to raise me. Neither she nor my father graduated from high school, but they gave me something even more valuable: faith, discipline, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. My grandmother often reminded me, “To whom much is given, much is required.” That scripture became the foundation of my life.

I was the first in my family to graduate from high school, then the first to earn a college degree. Since then, I have dedicated my life to serving Virginia. I led the Democratic Party of Virginia as Executive Director, served in the governor’s cabinet as Secretary of the Commonwealth, where I helped restore voting rights to over 200,000 Virginians, and served as Mayor of Richmond, where we cut the poverty rate by a third, built new schools, and brought down Confederate monuments in the former capital of the Confederacy.

I understand what working families are facing because I have lived it. And I have the executive experience at both the state and local level to get things done. In a time of real danger and uncertainty, Virginians need leadership rooted in both lived experience and proven results. I would be honored to earn your vote on June 17.