Democrats won two of three special elections Tuesday in the first ballot box showdown of 2025, maintaining a narrow majority in the Virginia General Assembly.
The race, which has been closely watched by political circles, is the first indicator of voters' mood since President-elect Trump won a landslide victory in November, when Republicans won a majority in the Senate and maintained a fragile House majority. It is regarded as
They are also seen as an early barometer for the high-profile gubernatorial showdowns in Virginia and New Jersey later this year, as well as the congressional races in next year's midterm elections.
The Associated Press predicted Democrats would win both special elections in Northern Virginia's Loudoun County.
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In the special state Senate election, Democrat Kanan Srinivasan, currently a state representative, defeated Republican Twomey Harding. The seat became vacant when Democratic state Sen. Suhas Subrahmanyam was elected in November.
And in a special state House election to fill Srinivasan's vacated seat, Democrat JJ Singh, a small business owner and former congressional aide, topped Republican Ram Venkachalam.
This Republican woman could become America's first black female governor.
Loudoun County, on the edge of the metropolitan area that surrounds the nation's capital, has been at the center of national debate in recent years over bathroom policies for transgender students and permission for women's sports.
Once a Republican-majority county, the county has trended Democratic over the past decade as Loudoun's population continues to grow rapidly. Vice President Kamala Harris easily won the county in November's White House election, but Trump did better than he did four years ago.
The Democratic margin of victory in Loudoun County on Tuesday was close to Harris' margin of victory over Trump in the county in November.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at the Salem Civic Center on Saturday, November 2, 2024 in Salem, Virginia. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A third special election was held Tuesday in the state Senate district in the central part of the state, where Republican Luther Schiffers defeated Democrat Jack Trammell.
The seat was won by state Sen. John McGuire, who narrowly defeated U.S. Rep. Bob Good in a controversial Republican primary last June with support from President Trump, and won the congressional election in November. The seat became vacant.
What happens next if this popular Republican governor leaves office within a year?
Democrats will hold a 21-19 majority in the Virginia Senate and a 51-49 majority in the state House of Representatives during the final year of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's term.
Youngkin energized Republicans across the country three years ago when a first-time candidate from the party's business wing defeated former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2021, becoming the first Republican candidate to win a gubernatorial race in 12 years. Ta. A swing state that has trended Democratic for the past decade.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally on Saturday, November 2, 2024 in Salem, Virginia. (AP Photo/Steve Herber)
Virginia is unique in that state law prohibits governors from serving two consecutive four-year terms, so Youngkin will not be able to run for re-election next year.
Virginia and New Jersey are the only two states in the United States where gubernatorial elections are held the year after the presidential election. As such, both contests have garnered significant national attention, with Virginia in particular often seen as a bellwether for Americans' feelings about the national political climate and the party in the White House.
Asked what Tuesday's election results mean for this year's gubernatorial race and next year's midterm elections, veteran Virginia-based Republican strategist Zach Roday told Fox News, “I hate being bored. But it's not a useful indicator yet. It's too close to the November election and people aren't getting involved at all.”
“The party in power usually suffers in these off-year elections, but there's nothing in the data I've seen that shows that yet,” Roday added.
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David Richards, a political scientist at the University of Lynchburg who has been based in Virginia for many years, pointed to Cypher's state Senate victory and said, “This shows that people still support Trump.'' “I don't think we're seeing the backlash that some people are saying.”
Roday gave a nod to Trump, but added that when it comes to Republicans he's voting for, “you can't run away from him. He's a valuable asset in the election.”
The special election was held the day after winter storms hit Virginia.
“The winter weather resulted in a slow turnout today,” Richards said.
He added that “in-person turnout is going to end up being pretty low, but early voting was pretty healthy, especially in special elections.”
