12 MINUTES AGO

The Mercury’s Markus Schmidt joins WWBT’s election night panel at 8 p.m.

BY: STAFF REPORT - TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2025 7:10 PM

The Virginia Mercury’s own Markus Schmidt — senior politics reporter, deputy editor and all-around precinct-return whisperer — will trade his notebook for a studio mic Tuesday evening as he joins WWBT’s election-night panel, offering live analysis as results roll in across the commonwealth.

Also on the panel are Rachel DePompa, 12 On Your Side’s award-winning evening anchor and director of investigations; Jasmine Turner, evening anchor and trusted voice of Richmond’s nightly news; and Ernest McGowen, political scientist at the University of Richmond whose students will no doubt be grading his takes in real time.

The quad-cast of news brains will be breaking down turnout trends, surprise flips, what the early precincts really mean — and yes, whether anyone can predict a concession speech before the coffee wears off.

The coverage airs live from 8–10 p.m. on WWBT 12 On Your Side and streams here.

{snip}