The 48th District House of Delegates race is shaping up to have a little more drama in 2027, and Melody...

The 48th District House of Delegates race is shaping up to have a little more drama in 2027, and Melody Cartwright may no longer have a clear path to the Democratic nomination without a fight.

According to the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP), Cartwright has a Democratic challenger in Maeve McCulloch, a current Ridgeway Town Councilwoman.

That's right — the race for a seat representing Martinsville and portions of Henry and Pittsylvania counties could now feature two Democrats competing for the chance to take on Republican Delegate Eric Phillips.

Delegate Eric Phillips: "Whoever the Democrats nominate is up to them. I’m grateful the people of the 48th District put their trust in me in two elections.

Whoever ends up on the ballot, I think the people we’re asking to vote for us deserve a campaign focused on the issues they deal with every day. I hear many of the same concerns from folks across the district, regardless of party. They want roads they can count on, housing they can afford, good schools for their kids, and jobs that let them build a life here. There’s more common ground on those issues than you might think. I ran for this seat to go to work for the people of Southern Virginia. That means listening to folks back home, working with people in Richmond who can help get things done, and making darn sure our region has a strong voice at the table. That’s what I’ve worked to do since day one, and I intend to keep at it.”

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Source note: Star News TV · Nov 3, 2026 6:29 PM.