Credit: SeanPavonePhoto
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The capital building in Richmond, Virginia.
Democrats regained control of the Virginia House of Delegates and retained control of the Senate — both by the narrowest of margins.
Initial election results show Democrats won control of 21 of the 40 seats in the Virginia State Senate and 51 of the 100 House of Delegates seats.
"Despite breaking spending records, Governor Youngkin was just served the biggest political rejection by voters of any Virginia governor in over three decades. Virginians sent Youngkin a message loud and clear tonight. In spite of his unprecedented campaign spending – and attempts to deny the right to vote to thousands in the run up to this election – his campaign to divide Virginia failed," Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) wrote in a statement sent overnight.
"Virginians don’t want the government banning books, and interfering with their personal freedoms--whether it’s their reproductive rights, the right to breathe clean air, the safety of our communities from gun violence, or the sanctity of our democracy. Democrats remain ready to work across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions for the betterment of our Commonwealth," Ebbin wrote.
Ebbin, the Democrat incumbent, won easily against his challenger, Republican Sophia Moshasha, in the 39th State Senate District. Ebbin garnered 78.12% of votes cast in his district, which includes the City of Alexandria, part of the Belle Haven neighborhood, southeast Arlington County and the Bailey's Crossroads area.
In neighboring Senate District 34, incumbent Democrat Scott Surovell beat a challenge from Republican Mark Springman, getting 69.28% of the vote. District 34 includes most of Southeast Fairfax County.
Surovell and fellow Democrat Sen. Mamie E. Locke (who serves the Hampton area) held up painted-blue bricks at an election party. “This brick wall means we maintain our majority in the Senate. The governor made a big deal about trying to tear down this brick wall but it’s not going to happen,” Surovell said.
House Races in Virginia
Democrats also kept control of the House of Delegates, with 51 of 100 seats. The closest race was in the 82nd District, where fewer than 200 votes separated projected winner Republican Kim Taylor over Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams. There may be a recount in that district, which includes the Petersburg area south of Richmond.
Here in the Alexandria area, in House District 3, incumbent Democrat Alfonso Lopez defeated Major Mike Webb. Lopez received 81.45% of votes in that district, which includes part of the northwest area of Alexandria city and southwest Arlington County.
Other House of Delegates races in districts that include the Alexandria area were unopposed. In House District 4, Democrat Charniele Herring ran unopposed. In House District 5, Democrat Elizabeth Bennett-Parker ran unopposed. In House District 16, Democrat Paul Krizek ran unopposed. In House District 17, Democrat Mark Sickles ran unopposed.
