House confirms judicial and commission nominees, clerk reports special‑election winner

The Virginia House of Delegates met in Richmond on Jan. 21 and completed a joint order under House Joint Resolution 74 to elect and confirm a slate of judicial and administrative nominees.

The clerk reported that a special election held Jan. 20 in the 17th House District produced a majority winner: “It has been determined that Garrett Z. McGuire received a majority of the votes cast and was duly sworn in earlier today,” the clerk said. The House then proceeded with scheduled roll-call and voting business.

Under the joint order, the House adopted House Joint Resolution 74, which placed nominations before both chambers for election. The House conducted block votes to elect circuit court judges (terms of eight years) and general district and juvenile and domestic relations district court judges (terms of six years), and to fill two executive commission posts. The clerk recorded 97 ayes and 0 nays on the initial roll call when the resolution was agreed to.

Jamal t Hudson was declared duly elected as a member of the State Corporation Commission for a six‑year term beginning Feb. 1, 2026. Robert Allen Rappaport was declared duly elected as a member of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission for a six‑year term beginning Feb. 1, 2026. The clerk noted that judges named in House Resolutions 24–26 received the necessary majorities and were declared elected to their respective courts for the terms specified in the resolutions.

Several ceremonial and recognition resolutions also were agreed to without recorded opposition. The House agreed to House Resolution 21, which commended First Baptist Church of Midlothian; House Resolution 23 commending Chesapeake Regional Healthcare was also adopted.

Separately, the House agreed to a motion that, when it adjourned, it do so in honor and memory of Dr. Gladys B. West. Delegate Pope Adams outlined West’s biography on the floor, noting her academic achievements and work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center that contributed to developments leading to the global positioning system. Members rose and the motion carried.

With the joint order concluded and the calendar called, the clerk said there was no other business for the day. Delegate Herring moved that the House adjourn and reconvene on Jan. 22 at 12:00 p.m.; the motion was agreed to and the House adjourned.

What happens next: nominees elected under the joint order will begin their terms on the dates specified in the corresponding resolutions, and the House will reconvene at noon on Jan. 22.