MANASSAS, Va. – Stephen Kent, a Manassas resident who ran for City Council in 2024, says he’s launching a write-in bid for Virginia House District 20 after the Republican nominee stepped down.
“Voters have a choice when they go to the ballot,” Kent told Potomac Local News, calling his effort a “long-shot” that will “require the grace of God to get past the finish line.” He said he’ll focus on affordability, housing supply, school quality, and immigration enforcement, and—while he won’t campaign full time—plans to lean on his personal network and talk with voters “when and where I can.”
Incumbent Del. Michelle Lopes Maldonado (D) currently represents HD-20, which includes Manassas, Manassas Park, and part of Prince William County. She first entered the House in 2022 and now serves on committees including Courts of Justice, Labor & Commerce, Privileges & Elections, and Communications, Technology & Innovation; her public materials highlight work on AI/technology, privacy, and housing.
The GOP field changed last week when Christopher Stone, the Republican nominee, announced he was withdrawing from the race, citing a new job out of state. That leaves Maldonado on the ballot and opens a path for write-in efforts like Kent’s.
For voters wondering how write-ins work in Virginia: write-in candidates don’t file standard ballot-access paperwork (though they must follow campaign-finance rules). Election officials advise checking the state’s candidate bulletins and guidance before voting.
Kent is a public relations professional and a resident of Manassas. Reflecting on his 2024 run, he said he learned not to hedge: “People can tell if you are being true to yourself, saying what’s on your heart and mind.” He and his wife, Mel, have been married for 15 years and have a 14-year-old daughter. “Virginia has a lot of promise in the years ahead,” he said, “and we’ve got some big challenges we have to overcome.”
