Portsmouth City Council Member, At-Large
November 3, 2026 · Portsmouth city, Virginia · City · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 13 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 97,190 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(456,349 ÷ 97,190) ÷ ln(456,349 ÷ 6) = 13.76, comparing cities and towns in VA (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
City Council Member is responsible for:
- Passing city laws, called ordinances
- Approving the city budget
- Overseeing city departments and services
- Representing residents' concerns at city hall
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Government Efficiency, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Civil Rights, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Bill Moody
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
William E. 'Bill' Moody, Jr. is an incumbent at-large member of the Portsmouth City Council, currently serving as Vice Mayor, and is seeking re-election in the November 2026 nonpartisan election.
Donna Lee Biggs
Nonpartisan · declared
Donna Lee Biggs is a candidate for the Portsmouth City Council (at-large) in the November 2026 nonpartisan election. She has not previously held elected office.
Jonathan Adam Smallwood
Nonpartisan · declared
Jonathan Adam Smallwood is a candidate for the Portsmouth City Council (at-large) in the November 2026 nonpartisan election. He has not previously held elected office.
Lisa Lucas-Burke
Nonpartisan · declared
Lisa Lucas-Burke is a candidate for the Portsmouth City Council (at-large) in the November 2026 nonpartisan election, seeking a return to the council. She previously served on the council from 2017 to 2025, including terms as Vice Mayor, and stepped down in 2024 to run unsuccessfully for mayor.
Mark Hugel
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Mark A. Hugel is an incumbent at-large member of the Portsmouth City Council seeking re-election in the November 2026 nonpartisan election.
Mark Micaiah Whitaker
Nonpartisan · declared
The Rev. Dr. Mark M. Whitaker is a candidate for the Portsmouth City Council (at-large) in the November 2026 nonpartisan election. He previously served on the council from 2014 to 2024. In 2018 he was convicted of felony forgery in connection with a credit-union matter and later received an absolute pardon from Governor Ralph Northam.
Vernon Tillage
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Vernon L. Tillage, Jr. is an incumbent at-large member of the Portsmouth City Council seeking re-election in the November 2026 nonpartisan election.
Election sources
Source: portsmouthva.gov
Source: vpap.org