Re-Vote on the Casino

The disconnect between Richmond voters and City leaders, including City Council, is exemplified by the City’s refusal to accept the defeat of the casino referendum delivered by a majority of Richmond voters in 2021.


Resistance to the casino referendum was evident in all nine council districts, and when the votes were tallied, the casino was rejected by a majority of Richmond voters. Mayor Stoney acknowledged the outcome,  saying, “from the beginning, we said the people would decide. They have spoken, and we must respect their decision.”  Within weeks however, Stoney would renege on his statement and seek a second casino referendum. Eight out of nine Councilors supported the Mayor, ignoring the voice of the people and denying their own promises to “let the people decide.”


Accepting the results of a free and fair election is a fundamental principle of democracy. Referendums allow the people to vote directly on an issue and are a powerful tool for the people provided that the government respects the democratic process. The failure of Mayor Stoney and City Council to honor the people’s vote to reject the casino referendum demonstrates a failure of leadership and undermines the democratic process. This sets a dangerous and reckless precedent for our city at a time when the country faces threats from efforts to deny election results.

The plan to schedule a re-vote plainly reveals that our elected officials are pursuing their own agendas rather than representing the will of the citizens who elected them.