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Dr. Danny Avula elected Richmond’s first immigrant and Asian mayor
Avula gained recognition as a steadfast leader during Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign under an appointment by Governor Ralph Northam.
Dr. Danny Avula / Facebook
Dr. Danny Avula has made history by winning Richmond’s mayoral race, becoming the first immigrant and Asian American to lead the city, and the first non-Black mayor in over 20 years. Avula, who emerged victorious among five candidates, will succeed in a city that last saw a white mayor in 1998 when Senator Tim Kaine held the office through City Council appointment.
A prominent figure in public health, Avula gained recognition as a steadfast leader during Virginia’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign under an appointment by Governor Ralph Northam. Over the years, he has been celebrated locally for his dedication to community service, earning titles like “Top Doc” from 2013 to 2022, Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Person of the Year in 2019, and Style Weekly’s Richmonder of the Year in 2020.
Avula’s journey is deeply rooted in public service and family values. His father, Raj, who grew up in rural India, immigrated to the United States at 19, serving in the U.S. Navy before working with the Department of Defense. Avula’s mother, Lalitha, brought him to the U.S. when he was just six months old.
With degrees in biology from the University of Virginia, a medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a graduate degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University, Avula has dedicated his life to public service in Richmond. He resides in the city’s East End with his wife, Mary Kay, a Richmond Public Schools teacher, and their five children who are also students and alumni of the same school system.
Avula’s election signals a new chapter for Richmond, marked by his commitment to health, education, and community engagement.
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