Democrats held on to their narrow majority Virginia Legislature They won two of three special elections on Tuesday in the first ballot box showdowns of 2025.
The political scientist considered the closely watched elections to be the first measure of the mood of voters since then President-elect Trump A convincing victory in November, in the elections that also witnessed the Republicans winning control of the US Senate and retaining their fragile majority in the House of Representatives.
They are also seen as an early barometer for high-profile gubernatorial showdowns later this year in Virginia and New Jersey and next year's congressional battle in the midterm elections.
The Associated Press expected that Democrats would win both special elections in Loudoun County, in northern Virginia.
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In a special election for the state Senate, Democrat Kannan Srinivasan, currently a member of the House of Representatives, defeated Republican Tomai Harding. The seat became vacant after Democratic state Sen. Suhas Subramaniam was elected to Congress in November.
In a special House race to fill Srinivasan's vacant seat, Democrat JJ Singh, a small business owner and former congressional aide, edged out Republican Ram Venkatachalam.
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Loudoun County, on the outer fringes of the urban area surrounding the nation's capital, has in recent years been the center of a national debate over bathroom policy for transgender students and allowing them to play women's sports.
The once Republican-dominated county has trended Democratic over the past decade as Loudoun's population continues to rise. Vice President Kamala Harris easily won the district for the White House in November, despite Trump's improved performance compared to four years ago.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at the Salem Civic Center, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Salem, Virginia. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The third special election took place Tuesday in a state Senate district west of Richmond, Virginia's capital, where Republican Luther Cyphers defeated Democrat Jack Trammell.
The seat became vacant when state Sen. John McGuire, backed by Trump, narrowly beat U.S. Rep. Bob Good in a contentious GOP primary last June before winning election to Congress in November.
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Democrats will maintain their 21-19 majority in the Virginia Senate and 51-49 control of the state House of Delegates, during Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's final year in office.
Youngkin is active Republicans nationwide Three years ago, the first-time candidate from the party's business wing bested former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2021 to become the first GOP candidate in more than a decade to win a gubernatorial election in the one-time swing state that had been trending Democratic for last decade.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks in front of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Salem, Virginia, on Saturday, November 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helper)
Virginia is unique because of a state law that bars its governors from serving two consecutive four-year terms, so Youngkin cannot run for re-election next year.
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Virginia and New Jersey are the only states in the country that hold gubernatorial elections in the year following a presidential election. For this reason, both contests receive significant national attention, and Virginia in particular is often seen as a bellwether in the national political climate and how Americans feel about the party in the White House.
