RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Democrats held their majority in the state Senate on Tuesday, but control of the House of Delegates remained unsettled late into the evening, with vote counting still underway in key races.
The Democrats’ victory in the upper chamber ended the prospect of a Republican trifecta that would have allowed Gov. Glenn Youngkin to swiftly move on conservative policy priorities that Senate Democrats have been able to stymie in his first two years in office. The chamber has been under Democratic control since 2020.
Victories by Schuyler VanValkenburg in suburban Richmond and Russet Perry in northern Virginia, along with other Democratic wins, brought to at least 20 the number of seats the party will hold in the state's 40-seat upper chamber, where the Republican lieutenant governor breaks ties. Other key Senate battlegrounds were too early to call.
Democrats, including VanValkenburg and Perry, made protecting abortion access the centerpiece of their campaigns, while Republicans in many of the key swing districts coalesced around Youngkin's pledge to try again for an abortion ban after 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and situations where the mother’s life is at risk. Such legislation was defeated this year in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Candidates spent the run-up to Election Day hosting last-minute get-out-the-vote rallies and canvasses, and some were door-knocking even in the waning hours of voting Tuesday. Speaking to reporters Tuesday evening at a suburban Richmond polling place, Youngkin said he hoped voters would extend Republicans’ “license to lead."
In her victory speech, Roem referred to her groundbreaking win in 2017 as a transgender woman: “Six years later they doubled, tripled and quadrupled down on transphobia in their closing message in this race. ... And we won.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Virginia Democrats hold Senate majority, ending GOP hopes to win full control of state governmentRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Democrats held their majority in the state Senate on Tuesday, but control of the House of Delegates remained unsettled late into the evening, with vote counting still underway in key races.
Read more »
US Senate Democrats block Republican bid to aid Israel, not UkraineExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »
Democrats fight off Senate challenge, pick up Assembly seats in New JerseyTRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Democrats fended off a Republican challenge in a pivotal state Senate race and flipped three Assembly contests from GOP control Tuesday, buoying the party’s prospects after a bleak showing in the last election.
Read more »
Glenn Youngkin’s Presidential Ambitions Face Test in Virginia State ElectionsAs Donald Trump’s Republican primary challengers struggle to dent his enormous polling lead, some GOP donors are increasingly tantalized by the presidential prospects of someone on the sidelines: Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
Read more »
Virginia's governor declares a state of emergency as firefighters battle wildfiresVirginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Tuesday as firefighters responded to two wildfires that amid dry conditions and high winds.
Read more »
Virginia’s governor declares a state of emergency as firefighters battle wildfiresVirginia’s fall fire season runs through Nov. 30, but officials said drought conditions have made these fires challenging to contain
Read more »