Henrico Delegate Lamont Bagby has made a fast start in his quest to succeed Jennifer L. McClellan in the state Senate.

Delegate Bagby received 72 percent of the votes cast Sunday in the Democratic Party’s “firehouse” primary to win the nomination over two rivals, Alexsis Rodgers and Richmond Delegate Dawn M. Adams.

He now only must get by little-known Republican Stephen Imholt, 70, in the special election set for Tuesday, March 28, to gain the 9th Senate District seat.

Sen. McClellan is giving up the seat representing Richmond, Charles City County and parts of Henrico and Hanover counties to go to Congress. She won a Feb. 21 special election to replace the late A. Donald McEachin as the representative for the 4th Congressional District, and is to be sworn into her new office Tuesday, March 7.

“I am thrilled about the energy voters showed and am grateful for the support,” the 46-year-old Bagby, chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, texted.

A member of the House since 2015, Delegate Bagby won credit from party leaders for backing away from a challenge to Sen. McClellan after she decided to seek the congressional seat.

Though Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Congresswoman-elect McClellan did not issue endorsements, Delegate Bagby still gained backing from a major chunk of state and local elected officials.

He also secured significant support from prominent members of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Richmond and Vicinity, which he said helped get “souls to the polls.”

According to the state Democratic Party, Delegate Bagby won 4,726 of the 6,525 votes cast at four polling places, receiving the majority at all four.

Ms. Rodgers, an organizer for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, finished with 1,375 votes and Delegate Adams received 424 votes, the party reported.

This victory is only temporary, and there could be a rematch in a June Democratic primary.

As a result of redistricting, the 9th Senate District has been reshaped and renumbered as the 14th Senate District, which includes a big chunk of Richmond and a smaller chunk of Henrico.

The new 14th changes the dynamics as the 9th has a majority of its voters in Henrico.

“I’m hoping the party will unite behind me,” Delegate Bagby said, though he is aware he may face another battle.

Neither Delegate Adams nor Ms. Rodgers has responded to queries as to whether they plan to run in the June Democratic primary for the 14th Senate District, though both hinted at do- ing so in messages they issued after losing to Delegate Bagby. The candidates have an April 6 filing deadline to participate in the Democratic primary.

Meanwhile, the likelihood that Delegate Bagby will soon be giving up his 74th House District seat, could lead to a special election to fill it and is certain to set up an intraparty fight for the new 80th House District he would have run for but for the vacancy in the state Senate.