Jamaal Jackson announced last week he was dropping out of the Democratic primary for Roanoke City Council, but officially, he’s still on the ballot — and could win.
That’s because while he’s sent out a press release saying he was withdrawing, he hasn’t officially notified the registrar’s office so he legally remains a candidate, according to registrar Andrew Cochran.
What that might mean for the other three Democrats who are seeking their party’s nomination remains unclear.
There are three open seats up for election this fall. If Jackson had officially withdrawn, the other Democratic candidates — Terry McGuire, Phazhon Nash and Benjamin Woods — would have automatically advanced to the ballot in November.
But Cochran said Wednesday that Jackson has not sent official word of his withdrawal. And if he were to place in the top three on Tuesday, he would be on the ballot in November.
Jackson unofficially announced his withdrawal on June 3, after early voting had begun; Cochran estimates that 600 in-person and 500 mail-in ballots had already been cast.
There are a few other factors at play.
Cochran said Jackson still owes $3,100 in fines from an unsuccessful 2022 council run, meaning in the event that Jackson were to win a seat in the November election, he could not “take office or act in any official capacity” before his debts were paid.
According to Cochran, Jackson didn’t pay the required campaign fees from his previous run, and also racked up penalties for filing late campaign finance reports.
Cochran said that having outstanding fines is “unusual,” and that Jackson has received notifications of the fines through the elections office as well as from the city treasurer.
Further complicating the situation is an ongoing investigation regarding the validity of Jackson’s petitions.
Cochran said his office reviewed the petitions at the request of Mark Lazar, the Democratic Party chair — who had already signed off on them — and discovered that Jackson had not collected enough signatures to get on the ballot. Lazar did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.
According to reporting by the Roanoke Rambler, questions also have been raised about whether Jackson’s campaign reused voter signatures that he had obtained during his 2022 campaign.
In his June 3 statement, Jackson said he was dropping out to prioritize “my family, my church, as well as my personal well-being and mental health.” He did not respond to an email seeking further comment on Wednesday.
Donald Caldwell, the Roanoke commonwealth’s attorney, said Wednesday that the investigation has been referred to the city police department and might “take a while.” He said there are no further updates on the investigation.
The elections office doesn’t have legal authority to take Jackson’s name off the ballot, Cochran said.
The three Democratic nominees will face Republicans Jim Garrett and Nick Hagen, as well as any independents who make the ballot.
Two of the other Democrats who will be on the ballot on Tuesday commented on the importance of the primary.
“[My campaign] is working really hard to make sure my supporters turn out and vote,” McGuire said. “We don’t know what the outcome is going to be, but as of right now, it’s on and people still need to get out and vote.”
In a written statement, Woods also expressed the need to let voters know there is still an election.
“If we can’t turn our party out, the GOP will undoubtedly win a seat for the first time in decades,” he said. “It’s up to Democrats to show up and make sure that the party sends three candidates to the General election that can win.”
