Newport News City Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
16 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 8 Newport News City races, led by the Mayor, Newport News City contest.
School board
Member School Board - At Large, Newport News CityFrancis C. Jacobson (Independent) · Gary B. Hunter (Independent)
Francis C. Jacobson Independent
- Strengthen school safety policies and consistently enforce anti-bullying rules
- Support teachers with competitive compensation, manageable workloads and professional development
- Expand career and technical education, mentorship and workforce readiness pathways for students
Per the campaign site.
About Francis C. Jacobson
Jacobson has worked in community development, crisis resolution and public service, and describes himself as a United Nations certified crisis resolution specialist who has supported initiatives aligned with the Millennium Development Goals, per his campaign site. He is 39 years old, per a WAVY.com candidate profile.
Gary B. Hunter Independent Incumbent
Hunter is the incumbent at-large member of the Newport News School Board, first elected in 2022. He is 65 years old and works as a senior director for donor and external engagement at Hampton University, holding a bachelor's degree in business, per The Virginian-Pilot. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
2 certified candidates for Member School Board - At Large, Newport News City on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Gary B. Hunter is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot.
Full race pageMember School Board, Central DistrictLisa R. Surles-Law (Independent) · Adina R. Rivera (Independent)
Lisa R. Surles-Law Independent Incumbent
- STEM education and teacher professional development
Per Newport News School Board official bio.
About Lisa R. Surles-Law
Lisa R. Surles-Law works as STEM Workforce Development Manager at Jefferson Lab and has chaired the Newport News School Board since her election in May 2018, per the district's official school board page. She is described there as a proponent of STEM education and teacher professional development. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Adina R. Rivera Independent
Adina R. Rivera is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member School Board, Central District, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
2 certified candidates for Member School Board, Central District on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Lisa R. Surles-Law is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember School Board, North DistrictDouglas C. Brown (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Douglas C. Brown Independent Incumbent
- STEM workforce development
- Improving graduation rates
- Better information sharing with families
Per the campaign site.
About Douglas C. Brown
Douglas C. Brown works as Director of Data Science for a software company and has served on the Newport News School Board since 2014, per the district's official school board page. A product of Newport News public schools who has also taught, he says he believes in the power of public education to drive economic growth, per the same source.
1 certified candidate for Member School Board, North District on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Douglas C. Brown is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember School Board, South DistrictTerri L. Best (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Terri L. Best Independent Incumbent
- Youth development advocacy and community involvement
Per Newport News School Board official bio.
About Terri L. Best
Dr. Terri L. Best is a retired Newport News public school administrator and a graduate of Newport News Public Schools, per the district's official school board page. She has chaired the South District seat since her election in May 2018 and is noted there for her focus on youth development advocacy and community involvement. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
1 certified candidate for Member School Board, South District on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Terri L. Best is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageCities and towns
Mayor, Newport News CitySharon P. Scott (Independent) · Phillip D. Jones (Independent) · Phillip A. Hamilton (Independent)
Sharon P. Scott Independent
- Increase the supply of affordable housing and protect renters.
- Expand childcare access and maternal health services for families.
- Make city government more transparent with open community forums.
Per the campaign site.
About Sharon P. Scott
Sharon P. Scott served on the Newport News City Council representing the North District from 2002 to 2022, chaired the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport Commission, and was appointed by two Virginia governors to the Virginia Design-Build Review Management Board, per a WAVY-TV candidate questionnaire. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Phoenix and is president of SPS Professionals, Inc., and now works as a real estate agent with Black Lion Realty, per the Daily Press.
Phillip D. Jones Independent Incumbent
- Continuing to reduce crime and build safer neighborhoods
- Expanding affordable housing for working families
- Economic development and job creation
Per the campaign site.
About Phillip D. Jones
Phillip D. Jones, the current mayor of Newport News, is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former Marine Corps infantry officer who holds graduate degrees from Harvard University, per his campaign site. He is seeking reelection in the November 2026 election.
Phillip A. Hamilton Independent
- Reduce real estate, personal property and meals and prepared food tax rates, and seek state approval to limit real estate tax assessment increases.
- Fund core city services such as education, public safety, transportation and infrastructure before expanding entertainment and tourism offerings.
- Require a public hearing in each city election district before any data center proposal is considered.
Per the Daily Press/Virginian-Pilot candidate questionnaire.
About Phillip A. Hamilton
Phillip A. Hamilton is retired from Newport News Public Schools and the Virginia House of Delegates, where he represented the 93rd district from 1988 to 2009, per a Daily Press/Virginian-Pilot candidate questionnaire. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Richmond and a master's degree in education administration and supervision from William & Mary. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
3 certified candidates for Mayor, Newport News City on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Phillip D. Jones is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot.
Full race pageMember City Council - Seat B, Central DistrictCleon M. Long (Independent) · Andrea R. Diggs (Independent) · Michael A. Gale (Independent)
Cleon M. Long Independent Incumbent
- Continuing established community progress
- Responsive leadership for constituent needs
Per the campaign site.
About Cleon M. Long
Cleon M. Long, a professional engineer, is the current Newport News City Council member for Central District Seat B, per the city's official website. He is seeking reelection in the November 2026 election.
Andrea R. Diggs Independent
- Housing development aligned with actual wage levels
- Job creation with living-wage employers
- Public safety through family stability and youth opportunity
Per the campaign site.
About Andrea R. Diggs
Andrea R. Diggs, a licensed clinical social worker and small business owner with more than 16 years in the mental health field, is running for the Central District seat on Newport News City Council, per her campaign site. She has lived in Newport News since 2015 and serves on the NNRHA Commission and the city's Human Services Advisory Board.
Michael A. Gale Independent
Michael A. Gale is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member City Council - Seat B, Central District, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
3 certified candidates for Member City Council - Seat B, Central District on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Cleon M. Long is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember City Council - Seat B, North DistrictCurtis D. Bethany III (Independent)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Curtis D. Bethany III Independent Incumbent
- Stronger public safety
- Better public education
- Economic development, including for the Uptown area
Per the campaign site.
About Curtis D. Bethany III
Curtis D. Bethany III serves as Vice Mayor of Newport News and holds the North District Seat B on the city council, per his campaign site. He has a background in Fortune 500 corporate finance and nonprofit leadership, and holds degrees from Old Dominion University and a master's in public policy from Liberty University, per the same source.
1 certified candidate for Member City Council - Seat B, North District on the November 3, 2026 ballot; Curtis D. Bethany III is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageMember City Council - Seat B, South DistrictJohn R. Eley III (Independent) · Clifton J. Atkins (Independent) · Devon P. Hamilton (Independent)
John R. Eley III Independent Incumbent
- Working with local businesses and higher-education partners to expand access to good-paying jobs and career opportunities
Per the campaign site.
About John R. Eley III
John R. Eley III owns Your Hair Boutique and works as a marketing consultant, per a WAVY.com candidate profile. A lifelong resident of Southeast Newport News, he previously served on the Newport News School Board before his election to the city council's South District Seat B, per the same profile. His campaign site, johneley.com, frames the 2026 race as a re-election bid.
Clifton J. Atkins Independent
- Supports eliminating real estate taxes for senior homeowners and expanding first-time homeownership opportunities
- Supports cleanup and revitalization of older neighborhood structures and expanding adult and vocational education programs
- Supports directing more city construction bids to local small contractors and small businesses
Per the campaign site.
About Clifton J. Atkins
Clifton J. Atkins has lived in Newport News for almost fifty years and holds a Virginia Class B contractor's license after training in the building trades, per his candidate questionnaire response to WAVY-TV. He organizes an annual eight-mile run from the MLK Plaza to the Emancipation Oak at Hampton University marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, and previously ran for city council in 2024. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Devon P. Hamilton Independent
- Says his top priorities are jobs, education, transportation and public safety
- Supports limiting the influence of large corporate donors in local elections and wants city government to be more transparent and accountable to residents
- Opposes allowing new data centers to be developed in the city
Per the campaign site.
About Devon P. Hamilton
Devon P. Hamilton is a lifelong resident of Newport News who works for the city's Parks Facility Maintenance Division, per his candidate questionnaire response to WAVY-TV. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
3 certified candidates for Member City Council - Seat B, South District on the November 3, 2026 ballot; John R. Eley III is listed as the incumbent by the Department of Elections, per the Virginia Department of Elections' certified local candidate list (updated September 3, 2026). Virginia local offices are nonpartisan on the ballot unless a candidate was nominated by a party; the number of seats filled and the district lines come from the locality's own ballot. Only the seats for your town, ward or district appear on your ballot.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Virginia elects its governor, statewide officers and General Assembly in odd years, and most county constitutional officers in 2027, so the November 3, 2026 ballot carries the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, three statewide constitutional amendments, and the local offices on the even-year cycle: city councils, school boards, town councils and mayors, a few county board and constitutional-officer special elections, and the House of Delegates District 20 special, per the Department of Elections' certified candidate lists. Congressional nominees were set by the August 4 primary; there are no runoffs.
Who is on the ballot in Newport News City, Virginia on November 3, 2026?
Newport News City sample ballot 2026: see where the mayor, city council - and school board - at large candidates stand on jobs, growth and schools. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Virginia?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Virginia are listed on the Virginia election hub. Virginia election hub →
How do I see my exact Newport News City ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Virginia statewide racesEvery Virginia race on this county's ballot.All Virginia ballot measures3 statewide ballot measures