Democrats in Virginia held on to their majorities in the state Senate and House of Delegates on Tuesday, securing a critical victory in the first major election since President-elect Donald Trump's win in November.
The Virginia General Assembly elections saw them retain a narrow 21-19 majority in the state Senate and a 51-49 edge in the House of Delegates.
Why it Matters
The results offer a momentary rebound for the party in a state that has become a key battleground in national politics.
They come as Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin approaches the final year of his term, and will likely constrain his ability to advance his conservative legislative agenda in the state.
What to Know
One of the most closely watched races was in northern Loudoun County, where Democrat Kannan Srinivasan triumphed over Republican Tumay Harding to succeed Suhas Subramanyam, who won a seat in Congress.
In a concurrent House race, Democrat JJ Singh defeated Republican Ram Venkatachalam for Srinivasan's vacated position.
How Did Srinivasan and Singh Win the Virginia State House and Senate Race?
Both Srinivasan and Singh focused their campaigns on preserving abortion rights in the state, as Democrats push to enshrine reproductive rights into Virginia's constitution.
The wins come amid rising concerns over the future of abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
For Democrats, the Loudoun County results are particularly significant. In 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris won the area with 57 percent of the vote in her unsuccessful bid for the presidency against Trump.
Despite national setbacks for Democrats, the party managed to secure important victories that offer a bulwark against further conservative gains.
The candidates on the losing side—Harding and Venkatachalam—ran on issues including parental rights, crime, and the economy.
Harding, whose family hails from Turkey and Uzbekistan, and Venkatachalam, an Indian American immigrant, expressed disappointment but vowed to continue advocating for their communities.
Why is Virginia a Key Battleground in US National Politics?
Meanwhile, in central Goochland County, Republican Luther Cifers defeated Democrat Jack Trammell in a closely watched race to fill the seat of U.S. Rep. John McGuire, who won Virginia's 5th Congressional District earlier this year.
McGuire's victory in the district set the stage for Cifers' win in the district, which heavily favors Republicans.
What People Are Saying
Susan Swecker, chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said: "These victories give us the chance to continue moving Virginia forward while rejecting harmful policies from the far-right. Today, voters in Loudoun County once again rejected Republican extremism."
Democrat Kannan Srinivasan, Virginia's first Indian American to be elected to the House of Delegates, said: "Tonight, we have shown that when we stand together and fight for the issues we care about, we win."
Democrat JJ Singh, also the son of Indian immigrants, said in reference to abortion: "In Richmond, I will take on the toughest fights. I ran in this race because my two daughters have fewer rights than my wife did."
Republican Luther Cifers said: "A lot of people believed in me and decided to trust me with this responsibility. I will do everything in my power to ensure that their trust is well placed."
Defeated Republican Tumay Harding said: "While this is not the result we had hoped for, I want to thank everyone who put their blood, sweat, and tears into this race. I am not done working for our community and our kids."
What Happens Next
As Virginia's legislature faces another year of divided government, the outcome of these races highlights the ongoing tensions between progressive and conservative forces in the state, and signals that the fight for control of Virginia's political future is far from over.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press
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