Fairfax County’s most prominent Republican policymaker is mulling a run for statewide office.
Pat Herrity, the lone conservative voice on the county’s Board of Supervisors, will announce within the next two months whether or not he will seek the office of lieutenant governor next year, he told FFXnow.
The 64-year-old Herrity, who represents West Springfield, Clifton, Fair Oaks and parts of Fairfax and Burke in the county’s Springfield District, is scheduled to have a minor surgery next Monday (Nov. 25) and did not want the procedure to impact his plans.
“I did not want to announce and then go into a recovery period,” Herrity said. “Early December, depending on how I’m doing, or early January is when I will make an announcement.”
Herrity’s interest in the job was reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch last month after current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears announced she will run for governor. Current Gov. Glenn Youngkin can’t run for reelection, since Virginia’s Constitution bars governors from serving consecutive terms.
Incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares was the last of the state’s top officeholders to commit to a path for 2025, stating earlier this week that he’ll seek reelection.
Herrity has traveled across the commonwealth in recent months, meeting with community leaders and donors in Virginia Beach, southwest Virginia and other areas. He has also spoken with Earle-Sears, Miyares and Youngkin, who have weighed in on his potential bid.
“The only negative feedback I’ve gotten has actually been from Fairfax County residents who don’t want to lose my voice on the Board of Supervisors, which is a big concern of mine and is weighing into my decision,” Herrity said. “But other than that, it’s been nothing but encouragement.”
Katie Gorka, chair of the Fairfax County Republican Committee, echoed that support.
“Pat Herrity has relentlessly fought for lower taxes and lower spending as the lone Republican on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors,” Gorka said. “He would have a lot of support from northern Virginia if he decides to run for lieutenant governor.”
Herrity was first elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2007, joining the legislative body that his father, John, served on for 12 years. He has been the lone Republican on the 10-member board since 2020.
“It’s evolved from what used to be very commonsense decision-making for the better of Fairfax County to more of a partisan environment,” Herrity said. “It’s been challenging in that regard, but at the same time, it’s been very rewarding.”
Herrity has championed a variety of causes during his tenure, including pension reform and increased funding for law enforcement while combatting efforts to impose a countywide meals tax. He was reelected to his fifth term last year, besting his Democratic opponent by nearly 11 percentage points.
“I think what the people of Virginia want are commonsense solutions to their everyday problems, and that’s what I focus on in Fairfax,” Herrity said. “It’s why I’ve been reelected in Fairfax. It’s why I’ve been successful in Fairfax, and I intend to take commonsense solutions to people’s everyday problems.”
Only one Republican candidate has declared candidacy for Virginia’s second-highest executive office: John Curran, a business consultant in Williamsburg. John Reid, a Richmond-based radio host, is also reportedly considering a campaign.
Four Democratic candidates have stepped into the race: state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (15th District), Prince William County School Board chair Babur Lateef, state Sen. Aaron Rouse (22nd District) and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney.
