Democrats added at least 10 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates, building on the party’s victories in major state elections and across the country, The Associated Press projected.
The projections mark another victory for Democrats, who also scored commanding victories in state elections for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. The victories also came as state lawmakers sought to boost redistricting efforts, a move that would not have been possible if Democrats had been voted out of power.
The victory puts Democrats on track to take control of more than 60 seats and expand their slim majority in the chamber.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee touted the results, saying “Virginia House Democrats simply shattered expectations” and marked the party’s biggest election victory in decades.
“We invested early and aggressively to make this victory a reality, fielding candidates in all 100 districts,” the DLCC said in a post on X.
State Sen. Lamont Bagby, chairman of the state party, said in a statement that “Virgins came out in force to support candidates who embody the best of us: defenders of justice and truth over the forces of bigotry and deception.”
The projected state House wins handily over Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s chances of advancing her agenda upon taking office. Democrats Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones also won elections for lieutenant governor and state attorney general, respectively.
But it could also prove indicative of Democrats’ fortunes in the midterm elections, party strategists said.
In recent cycles, the out-of-power party’s performance in off-year congressional elections in Virginia (including 2009 Republican wins that preceded the 2010 Tea Party victories and 2017 Democratic wins that predicted the 2018 midterm elections) has been predictive of how that party performs in the following year’s midterm elections.
“Virginia’s House of Delegates elections are like a thermostat for how people view both parties, and defeating so many Republicans in power is a strong indicator that voters are feeling the pain and know who to blame,” said Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic strategist and Virginia campaign veteran.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, blamed the GOP’s losses on the shutdown, which affects thousands of federal workers living in the state.
“People in Virginia are going without paychecks. They’re worried about mortgages and rents and how they’re going to feed their families,” said Youngkin, who is term-limited. “The challenge of this government shutdown is real, and I incredibly understand that challenge for all Virginians, and I think it caused a great turnout yesterday.”
Last week, state lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment that marked the first step in advancing their redistricting plans. The efforts require additional measures, meaning Democrats’ efforts could have been hampered if Republicans had come to power on Tuesday. Now, Democrats have a runway to continue redistricting efforts as the fight continues in statehouses across the country ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
The victories for Virginia Democrats were among the many victories Democrats scored Tuesday night. In New Jersey, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill won the governor’s race and in New York City, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious in the mayoral race. California voters also approved a redistricting ballot measure known as Proposition 50, and Democrats retained their margins on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Democrats appeared to score victories in lower-profile elections across the country.
In Georgia, two Democrats unseated Republicans on the state’s Public Service Commission, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In Mississippi, Democrats gained three legislative seats and broke the Republican supermajority in the Senate, according to the Mississippi Free Press.
In Erie County, Pennsylvania, a Democrat changed the county executive position, the Erie Times-News reported. President Donald Trump had narrowly won the leading county in 2024.
