Hampton Roads Election Results: Council, School Board and Local Ballot Questions

November 4, 2026 morning snapshot: unofficial results. Election-night returns have put names to the next round of local leadership decisions across Hampton Roads, but the count is not yet certified. Two council contests stand out for especially narrow margins: 63 votes at the cutoff for Portsmouth’s third seat and 50 votes in Suffolk Borough.

CVA reviewed the Virginia Department of Elections returns for all seven cities below. Every locality showed its precincts as election-night complete, while provisional and post-election ballot categories remained unreported. Chesapeake’s mailed-absentee category was partially reported at 11:08 a.m. The lists identify candidates leading for the available seats—not certified winners. They reflect source updates between 9:26 a.m. and 11:08 a.m. on November 4 and will not change automatically as the official count develops.

For full candidate totals, district information and official election-office links, use CVA’s election guide. Our Civic & Community section connects the results with local government and community coverage.

11:08 a.m. update: The latest state returns changed the Suffolk Borough council leader to Tyron Riddick and revised Chesapeake’s totals. Chesapeake’s fifth council position now has a 415-vote gap between Jeff Jefferies and Jennifer Naperala. All remain unofficial.

The close counts to watch

• Portsmouth: William E. “Bill” Moody Jr. leads Mark M. Whitaker 12,755–12,692 for the third of three seats: a 63-vote margin. Official contest returns.
• Suffolk: Tyron D. Riddick now leads Dwight S. “D.J.” James 1,894–1,844 in Suffolk Borough: 50 votes. Official contest returns.
• Virginia Beach: Carolyn D. Weems leads Suzanne F. Berman 8,882–8,704 in School Board District 9: 178 votes. Official contest returns.

Those differences are comparisons of the reported vote totals, not declarations about recount eligibility or the final outcome. A lead can change as officials complete the canvass.

Virginia Beach: who is leading

• City Council: District 2 — Barbara M. Henley (8,537); District 4 — Janet L. Byrnes (6,846); District 6 — Robert W. "Worth" Remick (10,792); District 8 — Stacy Cummings Jr. (11,867); District 9 — Joashua F. "Joash" Schulman (8,929); District 10 — Jennifer Valentine Rouse (12,353).
• School Board: District 2 — Zachery C. Taylor (11,761); District 4 — Alveta J. Green (8,395); District 6 — Antoinette D. Kahan (7,778); District 8 — Natalie L. Bray (11,587); District 9 — Carolyn D. Weems (8,882); District 10 — Betty J. Spencer (8,021).

Virginia Beach official returns — source updated November 4 at 10:01:08 AM; vote totals remain unofficial.

Norfolk: who is leading

• City Council: Ward 1 — Scott R. Guirlinger (6,151); Ward 2 — Courtney R. Doyle (14,370); Ward 3 — Mamie B. Johnson (7,755); Ward 4 — John E. "J.P." Paige (7,592); Ward 5 — Tommy R. Smigiel, Jr. (12,408).
• School Board: Ward 1 — Joshua L. Howell (3,498); Ward 2 — Veleka S. Gatling (9,858); Ward 3 — Jodi M. Slaughter (11,409); Ward 4 — Tiffany R. Moore-Buffaloe (7,680); Ward 5 — Ken D. Paulson (7,541).

Norfolk official returns — source updated November 4 at 9:26:17 AM; vote totals remain unofficial.

Chesapeake: who is leading

• City Council: 5 citywide seats — Janelle K. "Dr. J" St Louis (41,867), Amanda L. Newins (40,683), Santiera Brown-Yearling (40,443), Daniel E. "Lieutenant Dan" Rosinski (39,474), E.R. "Jeff" Jefferies Jr. (38,887).
• School Board: 5 citywide seats — Kim A. Scott (44,918), Janika N. "Dr. Jay" Phillips (44,627), Amanda F. Quillin (44,570), Jeremiah O. Harrell (40,399), Andrea G. Bolden (40,174).

The newer state returns place Andrea G. Bolden fifth for School Board, 388 votes ahead of Antonia F. Fauntleroy. This differs from the city’s earlier election-night news post; the figures above use the November 4 state update.

Chesapeake official returns — source updated November 4 at 11:08:02 AM; vote totals remain unofficial.

Portsmouth: who is leading

• City Council: 3 citywide seats — Vernon Lamont Tillage, Jr. (19,026), Lisa L. Lucas-Burke (15,244), William E. "Bill" Moody, Jr. (12,755).
• School Board: 4 citywide seats — Cardell C. Patillo, Jr. (14,919), Melvin Cotton Jr. (13,356), Tamara L. Shewmake (13,080), Quniana D. "Q" Futrell (12,715).

Portsmouth official returns — source updated November 4 at 9:26:13 AM; vote totals remain unofficial.

Suffolk: who is leading

• City Council: Chuckatuck Borough — Mary Ellen Hill (4,062); Cypress Borough — Will J. Smith (3,400); Holy Neck Borough — Timothy J. Johnson (6,386); Suffolk Borough — Tyron D. Riddick (1,894).
• School Board: Chuckatuck Borough — Karima M. Lockwood (4,095); Cypress Borough — Karen L. Jenkins (5,462); Holy Neck Borough — DawnMarie Brittingham (4,276); Suffolk Borough — Steven Cheeks (2,763).

Suffolk official returns — source updated November 4 at 11:07:59 AM; vote totals remain unofficial.

Hampton: who is leading

• City Council: 3 citywide seats — Michelle Taylor Ferebee (22,520), Martha M. Mugler (22,358), Joseph M. "Joe" Griffith (20,010).
• School Board: 3 citywide seats — Richard M. Mason Jr. (25,311), Joseph C. Kilgore (24,124), Natalie M. Kidd (22,967).

Hampton official returns — source updated November 4 at 9:26:13 AM; vote totals remain unofficial.

Newport News: who is leading

• Mayor: Phillip D. Jones (39,392).
• City Council: North District, Seat B — Curtis D. Bethany III (15,335); Central District, Seat B — Cleon M. Long (9,244); South District, Seat B — John R. Eley III (11,298).
• School Board: At large / citywide — Francis C. Jacobson (26,297); North District — Douglas C. Brown (15,256); Central District — Lisa R. Surles-Law (12,867); South District — Terri L. Best (15,120).

The at-large School Board count is also close: Francis C. Jacobson’s 26,297 votes put him 456 ahead of Gary B. Hunter’s 25,841 in this snapshot.

Newport News official returns — source updated November 4 at 9:26:15 AM; vote totals remain unofficial.

School-construction sales taxes: No leads in three cities

Norfolk, Portsmouth and Newport News asked voters about an additional local retail sales tax of up to 1% dedicated to school construction or major renovation. The questions specify a June 30, 2046 expiration, with Portsmouth’s wording saying no later than that date. In each city, No was ahead in the reviewed returns.

• Norfolk: No 36,611; Yes 28,953. Official ballot-question returns.
• Portsmouth: No 19,605; Yes 12,402. Official ballot-question returns.
• Newport News: No 33,944; Yes 23,570. Official ballot-question returns.

These are preliminary local results, not certified pass-or-fail declarations. The separate statewide constitutional amendments require statewide totals; one city’s vote cannot establish their outcome.

What happens next—and who represents you now

The Virginia Department of Elections explains that local election results become official after certification by the local electoral board. Election-night completion does not mean the canvass and all ballot categories are complete.

Keep the distinction between an election lead and taking office. Current representatives continue to appear in CVA’s civic directory until the relevant change in office is verified. To follow your locality, open its official returns above or return to the election guide; check the source timestamp before sharing a count.

Reporting note: CVA compiled this original summary directly from official Virginia election returns. Names and totals are a dated snapshot; no campaign statements, party affiliations or neighborhood voting patterns have been inferred. The lead image is an original illustration, not a photograph of a polling place.