HAMPTON – Hampton races were too early to call at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday.

With 12 of the 30 precincts reporting, Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray is leading in the mayoral race to replace Donnie Tuck, with 70.35% of the vote. His opponent, Richelle Wallace, received 29.02% of the vote.

The seat became available after Tuck announced this spring that he did not want to seek a third term. Gray campaigned to continue the path laid out by Tuck, but with an additional focus on addressing homelessness and climate change. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Gray has served on the council since 2016 and as vice mayor since 2018.

Wallace ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2018 and for mayor in 2020, garnering less than 10% of the vote in each race.

While the mayor’s salary is currently $25,000, the salary will increase to $47,000 starting in July.

City hall

But the mayor isn’t the only potential shakeup happening in Hampton, as nine candidates are vying for the other three full-term seats on the Hampton City Council. All seats are at-large and the three candidates with the most votes will end up on the council. Incumbents Hope Harper, Billy Hobbs and Chris Bowman are seeking re-election. Competing for their seats are Carolyn S. Campbell, Randy Bowman, Aaron T. Weaver, Latoya Fleming, Whalan McDew and Janice Richison.

As of 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, Harper, Randy Bowman and Campbell were the top three vote-getters, with 18.67%, 17.93% and 14.98% of the vote respectively.

In addition to the regular council race, the city also held a special election for Gray’s remaining council term, which ends in 2026.

Jeannie Belgrave, Michelle Taylor Ferebee and Chelsea Greenwood competed for that spot. As of 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, Ferebee had 58.98% of the vote, while Greenwood had 22.77% and Belgrave had 17.44%.

school board

In Hampton, five candidates were vying for four school board seats. In this election, the four vote-getters won positions.

Four of the five candidates are division starters. Natalie Kidd was the only newcomer candidate on the ballot.

During the campaign, candidates pointed to community building, teacher retention and state accreditation as top concerns for the Hampton School Division. When asked about how to address student mental health, candidates said working with community resources and creating more resources within the district could be options in the future.

The newly elected candidates will join Jason Samuels, Joseph Kilgore and Richard Mason on the board.