This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Jay Leftwich faces a challenge from Democrat Rodney Nickens for HD-90.
Virginia's House District 90 is located entirely within the City of Chesapeake. In the 2024 election it remained strongly Republican by double-digit margins.
Virginia's House District 90 is located entirely within the City of Chesapeake. In the 2024 election it remained strongly Republican by double-digit margins.
Rodney K. Nickens Jr. is a Chesapeake-born civil rights advocate, entrepreneur, and grassroots organizer running as the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 90th House District. Dedicated to affordable housing, equitable education, voting rights, and public health, he brings a blend of activism and practical leadership to his campaign. As a host and columnist for civic platforms, he fosters dialogue rooted in accountability and inclusion.
Rodney Nickens Jr. will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
Rodney Nickens pledges to stand for education equity. He wants to increase public teacher pay to address Virginia’s below-average teacher pay. He advocates for funding for modernized school infrastructure, prioritizing Title I schools in Chesapeake.
Nickens believes housing is a human right and will stand up for affordable housing and tenant rights. He advocates for a $20/hour living wage and paid family and medical leave. He also supports repealing "right-to-work" laws.
Nickens supports prescription drug affordability and a cap of $35 per month on insulin prices. He pledges to expand Medicaid to cover 45,000+ uninsured people in Hampton Roads.
Nickens is committed to addressing mass incarceration, ending racial disparities, and promoting rehabilitation over punishment.
Delegate Leftwich voted against Constitutional Amendments to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Rodney Nickens Jr. will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
Rodney Nickens pledges to stand for education equity. He wants to increase public teacher pay to address Virginia’s below-average teacher pay. He advocates for funding for modernized school infrastructure, prioritizing Title I schools in Chesapeake.
Nickens believes housing is a human right and will stand up for affordable housing and tenant rights. He advocates for a $20/hour living wage and paid family and medical leave. He also supports repealing "right-to-work" laws.
Nickens supports prescription drug affordability and a cap of $35 per month on insulin prices. He pledges to expand Medicaid to cover 45,000+ uninsured people in Hampton Roads.
Nickens is committed to addressing mass incarceration, ending racial disparities, and promoting rehabilitation over punishment.
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Delegate Jay Leftwich was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2013. He graduated from James Madison University and earned his J.D. from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. He is a partner at Basnight, Kinser, Leftwich and Nuckolls, P.C. Delegate Leftwich previously served on the Chesapeake City School Board.Delegate Leftwich voted against Constitutional Amendments to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Recommendation
Based on his commitment to supporting workers' rights, access to quality, affordable healthcare, and environmental protections, Rodney Nickens Jr. is the progressive candidate in this race.
Ultima actualización 2025-09-22
This election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent Republican Delegate Jay Leftwich faces a challenge from Democrat Rodney Nickens for HD-90.
Virginia's House District 90 is located entirely within the City of Chesapeake. In the 2024 election it remained strongly Republican by double-digit margins.
Virginia's House District 90 is located entirely within the City of Chesapeake. In the 2024 election it remained strongly Republican by double-digit margins.
Rodney K. Nickens Jr. is a Chesapeake-born civil rights advocate, entrepreneur, and grassroots organizer running as the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 90th House District. Dedicated to affordable housing, equitable education, voting rights, and public health, he brings a blend of activism and practical leadership to his campaign. As a host and columnist for civic platforms, he fosters dialogue rooted in accountability and inclusion.
Rodney Nickens Jr. will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
Rodney Nickens pledges to stand for education equity. He wants to increase public teacher pay to address Virginia’s below-average teacher pay. He advocates for funding for modernized school infrastructure, prioritizing Title I schools in Chesapeake.
Nickens believes housing is a human right and will stand up for affordable housing and tenant rights. He advocates for a $20/hour living wage and paid family and medical leave. He also supports repealing "right-to-work" laws.
Nickens supports prescription drug affordability and a cap of $35 per month on insulin prices. He pledges to expand Medicaid to cover 45,000+ uninsured people in Hampton Roads.
Nickens is committed to addressing mass incarceration, ending racial disparities, and promoting rehabilitation over punishment.
Delegate Leftwich voted against Constitutional Amendments to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Rodney Nickens Jr. will support HJ 1, which would enshrine reproductive rights in the Virginia Constitution, HJ 2, which would automatically restore voting rights to people upon release from incarceration, and HJ 9, which would repeal the Commonwealth’s defunct same-sex marriage ban and guarantee marriage equality for LGBTQ+ Virginians.
Rodney Nickens pledges to stand for education equity. He wants to increase public teacher pay to address Virginia’s below-average teacher pay. He advocates for funding for modernized school infrastructure, prioritizing Title I schools in Chesapeake.
Nickens believes housing is a human right and will stand up for affordable housing and tenant rights. He advocates for a $20/hour living wage and paid family and medical leave. He also supports repealing "right-to-work" laws.
Nickens supports prescription drug affordability and a cap of $35 per month on insulin prices. He pledges to expand Medicaid to cover 45,000+ uninsured people in Hampton Roads.
Nickens is committed to addressing mass incarceration, ending racial disparities, and promoting rehabilitation over punishment.
The Opposition
Incumbent Republican Delegate Jay Leftwich was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2013. He graduated from James Madison University and earned his J.D. from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. He is a partner at Basnight, Kinser, Leftwich and Nuckolls, P.C. Delegate Leftwich previously served on the Chesapeake City School Board.Delegate Leftwich voted against Constitutional Amendments to enshrine abortion rights, restore voting rights to returning citizens, and enshrine equal marriage rights in Virginia’s Constitution.
- Voted against authorizing public colleges and universities to prohibit guns on school property
- Voted for a “forced outing” bill targeting transgender students
- Voted against increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027
- Voted against establishing paid family and medical leave
- Voted against repealing prohibitions on collective bargaining for public employees
- Voted against establishing regulatory bodies to establish a Virginia cannabis industry
- Voted against prohibiting landlords from requiring tenants to cover extra fees
- Voted against establishing the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
- Voted against establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board
- Voted against establishing the right to access and use FDA-approved birth control
- Voted against requiring insurance providers to cover birth control
- Voted against a bill that would require secure storage of firearms in households where children live
- Voted against a bill establishing regulations for “high-risk” AI
- Voted against establishing Ranked Choice Voting for certain local elections
Recommendation
Based on his commitment to supporting workers' rights, access to quality, affordable healthcare, and environmental protections, Rodney Nickens Jr. is the progressive candidate in this race.
Ultima actualización 2025-09-22
