Three Republicans Lose Lynchburg Council Reelection Bids
Mayor Larry Taylor and council members Stephanie Reed and Marty Misjuns will leave office after failing to win second terms.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in City Hall
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Three Republican Lynchburg City Council members lost their bids for reelection, including Mayor Larry Taylor, Stephanie Reed and Marty Misjuns. Each had served four years on council, and all three were seeking a second term.
Why it matters
The defeats reshape the makeup of Lynchburg's governing body after the Republican Party of Virginia overturned the Firehouse Primary that had selected these candidates. The outcome leaves the city with a changed council as current members prepare to hand over their seats.
Three Republican council members who had served four years each were defeated in their bids for a second term. The source does not report vote tallies or margins of defeat.
The players
Larry Taylor
Lynchburg mayor who lost his bid for reelection to City Council.
Stephanie Reed
Lynchburg City Council member who lost her bid for a second term.
Marty Misjuns
Lynchburg City Council member who lost his bid for a second term and has not responded to requests for comment.
The details
Mayor Larry Taylor, Stephanie Reed and Marty Misjuns were all seeking reelection as Republicans. The Republican Party of Virginia overturned the Firehouse Primary, a party-run selection process used instead of a standard state-run primary, which had nominated these candidates.
Timeline
The current council is scheduled to meet for a final time on December 8.
Political Context
The defeats follow the Republican Party of Virginia's decision to overturn the Firehouse Primary, a party-run contest used in place of a normal state-run Republican primary. Curt Diemer and Jacqueline Timmer declined to comment on the results.
Lynchburg residents will see a new mayor and council members take over after the current members leave office. The shift affects who makes city decisions going forward.
The takeaway
Local election outcomes can change city leadership quickly, and voters in Lynchburg will now be represented by a different council.
What happens next
The current council is scheduled to meet for a final time on December 8, when the outgoing members will leave office.
Further reading
Follow local decisions at City Hall, where the council's final meeting on December 8 will mark the end of these terms.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSET.
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