11-06-2026 1:18am

Shellie Bowman wins Spotsylvania revenue commissioner race, leads in Battlefield

John Williams Editor

Shellie Bowman wins Spotsylvania revenue commissioner race, leads in Battlefield

Unofficial returns show Bowman ahead by 3,606 votes countywide. He carried 16 of 29 Election Day precincts, including three of four in the district he and Chris Yakabouski call home.

By The Spotsylvania Gazette

Dr. Shellie Marcellous Bowman Sr. won Spotsylvania County’s Nov. 3 special election for Commissioner of the Revenue, defeating Battlefield District Supervisor Chris J. “Yak” Yakabouski, according to unofficial returns posted by the Virginia Department of Elections. Bowman received 30,973 votes, or 52.76%, to Yakabouski’s 27,367 votes, or 46.62%. Virginia Department of Elections⁠

Unofficial countywide results

Candidate	Votes	Vote share	Election Day precincts carried
Shellie Marcellous Bowman	30,973	52.76%	16
Chris J. â€œYakâ€ Yakabouski	27,367	46.62%	13
Write-ins	365	0.62%	â€”

The countywide tally includes Election Day votes, early in-person votes and mailed absentee ballots. The state’s Nov. 5 update listed provisional and post-election ballots as unreported. Virginia Department of Elections⁠

Bowman carried three of Battlefield’s four precincts

In Battlefield, where both candidates live and where Yakabouski serves on the Board of Supervisors, Bowman led by 447 Election Day votes. He received 2,317 votes to Yakabouski’s 1,870 across the district’s four precincts. These district figures use Election Day votes. Virginia Department of Elections precinct returns⁠

Battlefield precinct	Bowman	Yakabouski	Margin
Spotswood Elementary	509	448	Bowman +61
Eastland Church	504	445	Bowman +59
Lee’s Parke	914	399	Bowman +515
Courtland Elementary	390	578	Yakabouski +188
Election Day total	2,317	1,870

Lee’s Parke gave Bowman his largest margin in Battlefield. Yakabouski’s strongest showing in the district came at Courtland, where he won by 188 votes. The Battlefield subtotal reflects votes recorded in the four precincts. Early and mail votes reported separately at the county level are included in the countywide tally.

How the vote broke elsewhere in Spotsylvania

Bowman also led at Salem Library by 191 votes, Massaponax High School by 153 and Cosner Park by 17. Yakabouski led at Partlow Ruritan by 353 votes, Fire Rescue 7 by 295 and Riverbend High School by 169.

Bowman will complete the term through 2027

Bowman, a Navy veteran, business owner and former IRS revenue officer, will complete the unexpired term of Deborah Williams, who died in February after winning eight consecutive elections for the office. The term ends Dec. 31, 2027.