NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Richmond, VA, November 13, 2024: Dr. Danny Avula, former health official and pediatrician, has emerged as the likely winner in Richmond’s mayoral race, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections. Avula received 44,832 votes, securing 46% of the total, outpacing his closest rival, Michelle Mosby, who garnered 24,798 votes, or approximately 25%. Avula’s anticipated victory marks a historic moment as he is set to become the city’s first mayor of Indian descent.
While the unofficial results showed Avula leading the polls across key precincts, he fell short of winning a full five districts out of the city’s nine, which is typically required by Virginia law to secure the mayoral seat outright. He won the majority in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th districts, positioning him strongly for the office. Current Mayor Levar Stoney won his election in 2020 with a plurality, garnering 37.7% of the vote, showing a slightly different path to victory.
Dr. Avula took to social media on Wednesday morning to express gratitude, writing, “I am incredibly humbled and honored by your confidence in me, and I hope you’ll continue to share your ideas and experience with me going forward. My door and inbox is always open. It’s going to take all of us, but together we will build a Richmond where everyone’s rights are protected, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and where no one gets left behind.”
According to Dr. Avula, his father immigrated to the United States from India at 19 and joined the U.S. Navy, where he served before retiring to a career at the Department of Defense alongside Avula’s mother. Avula grew up in Northern Virginia, influenced by his family’s commitment to service.
Dr. Avula’s career has spanned 12 years with the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts, where he championed public health initiatives focused on maternal and childhood health, reproductive care, and community safety. In January 2021, Governor Ralph Northam appointed Avula to lead Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout, where he elevated the state’s ranking from 50th to one of the top ten in the nation. Following this role, he became Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services, where he introduced legislative advocacy initiatives to help families break cycles of poverty.
In addition to his public health achievements, Avula is a practicing pediatrician at Chippenham Hospital, and a devoted father and family man. He and his wife, Mary Kay, a teacher at Richmond Public Schools’ Chimborazo Elementary, have lived in Richmond’s East End for 20 years. The couple has five children, all of whom are proud students or alumni of Richmond Public Schools.
As Richmond’s new mayor, Avula will officially take office on January 1, 2025, with an ambitious agenda focused on creating equal opportunities and addressing systemic inequalities across the city.
Cover photo courtesy: Dr. Avula’s campaign website.
