Republican Wins First Roanoke City Council Seat Since 2000 As Wave of Young Leaders Elected

Republicans ended a two-decade drought on Roanoke City Council as voters on Tuesday elected Nick Hagen to a Council seat, along with Democrats Terry McGuire and Phazhon Nash.

“First time in 24 years. Absolutely!” Hagen said, pumping his fists in the air after the last precinct reported around 11 p.m. during a Republican watch party at Sidewinders Steakhouse and Saloon downtown. “We’ve done it!”

The wave of younger leaders broke historical records, with the victory from 25-year-old Nash cementing him as perhaps the youngest person ever elected to City Council and Hagen, 36, being the first Republican elected since 2000. Depending on the final vote count, McGuire, 42, could earn the honorary title of vice mayor, the youngest such in a dozen years.

McGuire took 17,602 votes (42.6 percent out of 41,281 ballots cast), Nash took 17,275 (41.8 percent) and Hagen clinched a seat with 14,663 votes (35.5 percent), according to preliminary results from the Virginia Department of Elections.

Former city treasurer Evelyn Powers, a longtime Democrat who ran as a political independent, trailed Hagen with 13,413 votes, preliminary results show. Several top Democrats had publicly endorsed Powers.

The third Democratic nominee, Benjamin Woods, fell short of his counterparts McGuire and Nash, landing in sixth place with 11,420 votes. Republican Jim Garrett took 11,970 votes, and independent Cathy Reynolds came last with 5,562 votes, according to preliminary results.

Hagen, an attorney focused on cannabis issues, ran for Council in 2022, placing fourth in three-seat election.

“We look forward to being able to bring some common sense values to Council and making sure that so many people have a voice again,” Hagen said. “I think that this is a win for Roanoke, ultimately.”

During the campaign Hagen emphasized the lack of Republican representation on Council and said he would bring a new perspective. He said he wants to repeal a recent policy change that ends single-family-only zoning, protect Evans Spring woodlands and bring crime rates down.

Hagen said he wants to bring new businesses into the city and bring down taxes.

“Never ran before, no political experience really at all … to running my first time and being able to say, ‘I am Councilman Phazhon Nash!’” Nash said to cheers at a watch party he held at a Holiday Inn in Northwest Roanoke.

“This day is the proudest moment of my life,” said Nash, who works at Carilion Clinic as an operations consultant.

Nash had said he got into the campaign because of the city’s decision to adopt a master development plan for Evans Spring. He cited tackling gun violence and improving the city’s infrastructure as key issues.

McGuire has been substituting as a kindergarten teacher in a career switch. He previously worked as an environmental lobbyist for a Washington, D.C. nonprofit law firm.

McGuire’s victory comes two years after he fell short in a contested Democratic primary for Council.

On the campaign trail, McGuire said his number one policy priority was increasing funding for after-school programming and restoring the budget for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department that was slashed during the Great Recession.

“It’s very humbling,” McGuire said at a Democratic watch party. “I care a lot about Roanoke. It’s a huge honor for me to have people trust me with their vote. I am ready to get to work.”

Journalist Natalee Waters contributed reporting to this story.